Johann Sebastian Bach

Born 1685 in Eisenach, died 1750 in Leipzig; Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist and Thomaskantor. Posts in Arnstadt, Mühlhausen, Weimar, Köthen and Leipzig led to a body of work of exceptional stylistic breadth and generic range. In Weimar he shaped Protestant organ music, in Köthen central instrumental works were written, and as Thomaskantor he was responsible from 1723 for music and teaching at the principal churches of Leipzig. His cantatas, Passions, organ and keyboard works, concertos and contrapuntal cycles are among the foundations of European musical life.