One of Germany’s most famous composers is born
Born into a family of musicians in Eisenach on 31 March 1685, most of Johann Sebastian Bach’s male ancestors – and his extended family – worked as cantors, town musicians or instrument makers. His father was a trumpeter in the court orchestra of the small Duchy of Saxe-Eisenach and taught his son to play the violin at an early age.
Sebastian, as most people called him, was orphaned at the age of nine and placed into the care of one of his adult brothers. At the age of 14, he was sent to Lüneburg to be trained as a chorister. Following a career as an organist, chamber musician and composer in various locations in Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt, Bach finally moved to Leipzig in 1723, where he was appointed Cantor and Director of Music at St Thomas’ Church. The 18th century admired Bach as a virtuoso musician, but ranked him behind Telemann and Handel as a composer. Today, Johann Sebastian Bach, who died in 1750, is widely regarded as one of the most important composers in the history of music.
About the Deutschlandmuseum
An immersive and innovative experience museum about 2000 years of German history
The whole year at a glance
