Johann Sebastian Bach

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) was a German composer, one of the greatest of musical composers, born in Eisenach, of a family of Hungarian origin, noted - sixty of them - for musical genius. He was in succession a chorister, an organist, a director of concerts, and finally director of music at the School of St. Thomas, Leipzig.

His works, from their originality and scientific rigour, are difficult of execution, which made him an exceptional and prolific baroque composer. His compositions range from violin concertos, suites, and the six 'Brandenburg Concertos' (1720-21) to clavier works and sacred cantatas. 'The Passion according to St John' (1723), 'The Passion according to St Matthew' (1729), and the 'Mass in B minor (1733-38) were most famous among his large-scale choral works.

His three sons J C Bach (1735-82), full name Johann Christian Bach, also known as the London Back; J C F Bach (1732-95), full name Johann Christoph Friedrich Back, also known as the Buckeburg Bach; and W F Bach (1710-84), full name Wilhelm Friedemann Bach, also known as the Halle Bach were also well known composers.