The Life of Johann Sebastian Bach
Cantata BWV 1 “Wie Schön Leuchtet der Morgenstern”
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach held various musical positions all over what is now Germany. From the year 1723 until his death in 1750 he served as cantor and director of music in Liepzig. His job here was very structured and kept him busy; being the head of music at four churches , he had to compose a cantata for every Sunday and adhere to the ways of the church. It was here, and under these circumstances that Cantata BWV 1, “Wie Schön leuchtet der Morgenstern”, which translates to “how beauteous beams the morning star”, was composed in 1725. The piece was written for the annunciation of the Virgin Mary, where Mary is visited by the archangel Gabriel and informed of her task to bear and raise the son of God. The work is for soprano, tenor and bass soloists, four part chorus, orchestra and basso continuo. This piece is a prime example of Bach’s vocal compositional style and the type of work Bach was commissioned to write as director of music in Liepzig.
Johann Sebastian Bach was born on March 21, 1685, in Eisenach to Johann Ambrosius Bach and Maria Elisabeth Lämmerhirt. At the age of nine (1694) Bach lost his mother shortly followed by his father the year after. Now orphaned, he and his brother were taken in by his much elder brother Johann Christoph Bach who was the organist at Ohrdruf. It was here in Ohrdruf that Bach supposedly received his first organ lessons from his older brother and it is possible and theorized that during the five years spent here Bach taught himself how to compose and may have turned out a few compositions before moving to Lüneberg in 1700.
Johann Christoph Bach already had two children and another on the way; his small Ohrdruf Cottage could no longer house Johann Sebastian. So, in 1700, he was sent to Lüneberg to sing in the choir and be housed there. Though Bach now aged fifteen loses his fine boy-soprano voice shortly after arriving he continued to put his
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach held various musical positions all over what is now Germany. From the year 1723 until his death in 1750 he served as cantor and director of music in Liepzig. His job here was very structured and kept him busy; being the head of music at four churches , he had to compose a cantata for every Sunday and adhere to the ways of the church. It was here, and under these circumstances that Cantata BWV 1, “Wie Schön leuchtet der Morgenstern”, which translates to “how beauteous beams the morning star”, was composed in 1725. The piece was written for the annunciation of the Virgin Mary, where Mary is visited by the archangel Gabriel and informed of her task to bear and raise the son of God. The work is for soprano, tenor and bass soloists, four part chorus, orchestra and basso continuo. This piece is a prime example of Bach’s vocal compositional style and the type of work Bach was commissioned to write as director of music in Liepzig.
Johann Sebastian Bach was born on March 21, 1685, in Eisenach to Johann Ambrosius Bach and Maria Elisabeth Lämmerhirt. At the age of nine (1694) Bach lost his mother shortly followed by his father the year after. Now orphaned, he and his brother were taken in by his much elder brother Johann Christoph Bach who was the organist at Ohrdruf. It was here in Ohrdruf that Bach supposedly received his first organ lessons from his older brother and it is possible and theorized that during the five years spent here Bach taught himself how to compose and may have turned out a few compositions before moving to Lüneberg in 1700.
Johann Christoph Bach already had two children and another on the way; his small Ohrdruf Cottage could no longer house Johann Sebastian. So, in 1700, he was sent to Lüneberg to sing in the choir and be housed there. Though Bach now aged fifteen loses his fine boy-soprano voice shortly after arriving he continued to put his
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