Musician Spotlight: Johann Christian Bach
Johann Christian Bach was a German composer whose surname is certainly one that many will know of, even if they don’t know his work by titles. Bach was a composer of the classical era and like many during that time, he traveled to many different countries during his time on this earth. He’s also noted to have played an influential role when it comes to concerto styles of Haydn and Mozart.
Who was Johann Christian Bach?
The world welcomes Johann Christian Bach on September 5th, 1735 in Leipzig. He was one of eighteen children and the youngest of eleven sons. Now that’s quite a big family! He became known as the ‘the London Bach’ or ‘the English Bach’ when he moved to London after a brief spell in Italy.
His father, of course, was also a well-known German composer and so the age gap between the two meant that the musical style was quite different as a result.
What genre did Bach cover?
As music ran in the family, Bach enjoyed a very promising career. He lived in Italy for many years studying in Bologna. He became an organist at the Milan cathedral and devoted a lot of his time as such to church-style music. However, once he moved from Italy, he went on to travel to London where he would reside for the remainder of his life and career. This is where he premiered three operas at the King’s Theatre.
His style again was that of the Classical era and actually taught Mozart when he was just eight years old. Talk about passing the talent and legacy down to an equally famous composer!
Major accomplishments
His career came as a composer and then as a performer. He played alongside Carl Friedrich Abel and composed many major works over his lifetime. His first major work would be a Mass that had received plenty of acclaim in 1757. The three operas premiered in the King’s Theatre included Orione. He contributed to the development of the new sonata principle too.
Take a listen to one of his more popular pieces, “Symphony in G-minor, Op.6, No.6”:
He became a music master to the Queen Charlotte and performed in the heart of Mayfair with symphonies and concertos at the Hanover Square Rooms. Although his popularity would decline in his later years, it seemed he found a real friend in Queen Charlotte. Interestingly, Bach became so indebted at one point that the Queen would step in to cover the expenses and provided a pension for Bach’s widow when he passed.
What instruments did Bach use?
When it came to instruments, he composed plenty of chamber music, keyboard, and orchestral work and as mentioned, operas and symphonies. Although not quite as talented with multiple instruments as his father was, Bach still learned a fair amount.
These were the violin, harpsichord and the organ. As a willing student and influenced by his father and uncle, he was fortunate to have plenty of musical talent in his family to help him learn his craft from a young age.
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