We were so poor ' ' '

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We were so poor . . .

• We had to eat cereal with a fork so we could pass
  the milk to the next kid.

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Johann Sebastian Bach1685-1750
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J. S. Bach

• Employment
• Church organist
• Court Organist
• Wanted to quit one job, thrown in jail for asking
  to be fired!
• Court conductor
• Church music director
• 4 churches at once

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J. S. Bach

• Composed, rehearsed, and conducted extended
  compositions for chorus, soloists, and orchestra
  for each Sunday and holiday of the church year.
• In charge of the music education at the church
  school

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J. S. Bachs Music

• Composed in every form except opera
• Vocal music written for Lutheran Church
• Instrumental music
• Orchestra
• Small groups
• Organ
• Harpsichord
• Clavichord
• Violin
• Cello

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Bach was a busy guy

• Besides the above, he found the time to sire some
  21 children
• With 2 wives

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Several sons became well-known musicians in their
own right
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J.S. Bachs Music

• Largely polyphonic texture
• Very complex and elaborate
• His music is used as the basis of study of
  harmony and counterpoint today
• Rhythmic drive perpetual motion