BACH, JOHANN SEBASTIAN, a celebrated musician, b. at Eisenach, upper Saxony, in Mar., 1685. When he was ten years old, his father, who was a musician at Eisenach, died, and B. sought the protection of an elder brother, who dying soon after, he was again left destitute, and, to earn a livelihood, entered the choir of St. Michael's, Lune burg, as a soprano singer. In 1703, he became court-musician at Weimar, and the for= lowing year, organist to a new church at Arnstadt. His reputation in this capacity soon spread, and in 1708 he was appointed court-organist at Weimar, by the reigning duke. While holding this office, he labored assiduously to make himself master of every branch of music. In 1717, he was made director of concerts, and six years afterwards, director of music, and cantor to St. Thomas's school, Leipsic, an appointment whch he held to his death. About ten years later, the honorary distinctions of kapellmeister to the duke of Weissenfels, and court composer to the king of Poland, were conferred upon him. B., who had a son in the service of Frederick the great, received a pressing request to visit Potsdam on the occasion of a concert there. He went, and acquitted himself greatly
to the satisfaction of that monarch, some of whose music lie played at first sight. B.'s close studies affected his eyes, and an operation, designed to benefit them, left him totally blind, and hastened his death, which took place in July, 1750. With the exception of Handel, B. had no rival as an organist; and his compositions for the organ have a deserv edly ffigh reputation. They are too elaborate, however, ever to become very popular, though his fame as a composer is sure to advance with the progress of scientific musical culture. The highly educated musician will best appreciate the grandeur of some of his works. In 1850, a Bach society for the study and practice of his compositions was formed in London, and since that time they have often been publicly performed in this country. Three of his sons were also musicians of some note. One of them, Johann Christian, held the appointment of music-preceptor to queen Charlotte.