Thursday, March 21, 2013

Johann Sebastian Bach


Today is  Johann Sebastian Bach's Birthday and he would have been a mere 328 years old. I just love classical music and will generally listen to it on my way home for relaxation, and then with some wine upon getting home, and Saturdays are the best with breakfast and coffee. So today was a treat as all the public radio was playing was Bach. But did you know some of these interesting facts........ 

Bach fathered 20 children: only nine of them survived him.
Sons of Bach: Several Bach sons became professional musicians and composers. The most famous were Carl Philipp Emmanuel Bach and Johann Christian Bach.
Orphan: Bach was orphaned at age 10 and was raised by an uncle.
Germany only: Although he traveled frequently, Bach never ventured beyond a 150-mile radius of his birthplace, and never left Germany.
Technical expert: Bach was often invited to inspect the mechanics of church organs.
Duel: In his early 20s, Bach pulled a sword on a bassoonist who had accused him of slander.
Jail: Bach spent about a month in jail after showing disrespect to the Duke of Weimar by illegally seeking employment elsewhere.
Third choice: Bach was hired at Leipzig only after Georg Friedrich Telemann and another (now practically forgotten) composer refused the post.
Old-fashioned: By the time of his death, Bach’s fugues and contrapuntal style were out-of-date with the newer, lighter style; his sons referred to him as “old powdered wig.”
In his own words: “The aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul. If heed is not paid to this, it is not true music but a diabolical bawling and twanging.”
 
and now for one of my favorite pieces......

Johann Sebastian Bach - Sonata no 5 in F min bwv 1018
 
 

12 comments:

  1. learn something new every day!

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  2. Bach is probably my favorite composer. And this piece is just relaxing and gives composure.

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  3. So nice to see a classical post for today! It sometime scare me to think of life without classical music. This is a wonderful music. The harpsichord is interesting to our ear, but the violin is amazing!!!!

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  4. It is very beutiful! And what facts.

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  5. One of my favorites, not bad for a guy with 20 kids when did he find the time to compose this wonderful piece

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    1. probably right in between kid 14 and 15.

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  6. when i read, "and now for one of my favorite pieces..."
    i expect to see a photo of another kind.

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    1. I thought about that Norma, but I didn't know if I should feature some meat without a side dish.

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  7. Always loved Bach, always makes me feel like painting, done my best works when I had him playing. There truly is something so elegant about him.

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  8. I can experience the Brandenburg Concerti by simply closing my eyes & letting myself go...

    Such a treat for those that have not yet discovered their beauty.

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  9. I love old J.S. He's my absolute favourite composer.

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  10. Anonymous3/22/2013

    I need to start listening to classical music more. Thanks for posting this!

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Go ahead darling, tell me something fabulous!