2.  Johann Sebastian Bach was born March 21, 1685 in Eisenach, Germany  He was the youngest 10 children.  As a young boy Bach played many instruments which contributed to his success as an adult.

3.  Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist.  Bach composed almost 1200 compositions.

4.  From 1693 to 1695 Bach attended Latienschule in Eisenach.  Between those years Bach lost his mother and father within a year of each other.  Immediately he was sent to live with his eldest brother Johann Christoph

5.  From 1695 to 1700 Bach attended the Gymnasium (grammar school) of Ohrdruf.  He excelled greatly in Latin, Greek, and theology.  The scholars of the Gymnasium had high opinions of Bach’s voice and musical capabilities.

6.  Later Bach went to a North-German musical center, he was welcomed because of his uncommonly beautiful soprano voice.  He was quickly appointed to a body of singers who formed the ‘Mettenchor’.  Unfortunately Bach lost his soprano voice but became a useful violinist in the orchestra and an accompanist at the harpsichord during choir rehearsal.

7.  Bach’s first wife was actually his own cousin Maria Barbara Bach.  She bore seven of his children, but only four them survived.  Unfortunately Maria died unexpectedly in 1720.  A year and a half later Bach married again to Anna Magdalena Wilcke  She bore 13 of Bach’s children.  Six of those children survived.

8.  Bach wrote almost 1200 compositions.  Three of his compositions are:  Tocata & Fugue in D Minor  Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring  Air on A G String

9.  On the 28 th of July in 1750, Johann Sebastian Bach had a stoke and suffered a severe fever.  At a quarter to nine Bach died.  Bach was 65 years of age.

10.  www.hoasm.org www.hoasm.org  www.baroquemusic.org www.baroquemusic.org  www.lycos.com www.lycos.com  en.wikipedia.org