Bach family
Encyclopedia
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
for nearly two hundred years, with over 50 known musicians and several notable composers, the best-known of whom was Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity...
(1685–1750). A family genealogy was drawn up by Johann Sebastian Bach himself and completed by his son Carl Philipp Emanuel
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach
right|250pxCarl Philipp Emanuel Bach was a German Classical period musician and composer, the fifth child and second son of Johann Sebastian Bach and Maria Barbara Bach...
.
The Bach family never left Thuringia
Thuringia
The Free State of Thuringia is a state of Germany, located in the central part of the country.It has an area of and 2.29 million inhabitants, making it the sixth smallest by area and the fifth smallest by population of Germany's sixteen states....
until the sons of Sebastian went into a more modern world. Through all the misery of the peasantry at the period of the Thirty Years' War
Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
this clan maintained its position and produced musicians who, however local their fame, were among the greatest in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. So numerous and so eminent were they that in Erfurt
Erfurt
Erfurt is the capital city of Thuringia and the main city nearest to the geographical centre of Germany, located 100 km SW of Leipzig, 150 km N of Nuremberg and 180 km SE of Hannover. Erfurt Airport can be reached by plane via Munich. It lies in the southern part of the Thuringian...
musicians were known as "Bachs", even when there were no longer any members of the family in the town. Sebastian Bach thus inherited the artistic tradition of a united family whose circumstances had deprived them of the distractions of the century of musical fermentation which in the rest of Europe had destroyed polyphonic
Polyphony
In music, polyphony is a texture consisting of two or more independent melodic voices, as opposed to music with just one voice or music with one dominant melodic voice accompanied by chords ....
music.
Ancestors of Johann Sebastian Bach
Gotha (town)
Gotha is a town in Thuringia, within the central core of Germany. It is the capital of the district of Gotha.- History :The town has existed at least since the 8th century, when it was mentioned in a document signed by Charlemagne as Villa Gotaha . Its importance derives from having been chosen in...
and Arnstadt
Arnstadt
Arnstadt is a town in Ilm-Kreis, Thuringia, Germany, situated on the Gera River. It is one of the oldest towns in Thuringia and is nicknamed Das Tor zum Thüringer Wald, The Gate to the Thuringian Forest....
in Thuringia
Thuringia
The Free State of Thuringia is a state of Germany, located in the central part of the country.It has an area of and 2.29 million inhabitants, making it the sixth smallest by area and the fifth smallest by population of Germany's sixteen states....
, who is believed to be the father of Veit Bach
Veit Bach
Vitus "Veit" Bach was a Hungarian miller who, according to Johann Sebastian Bach, founded the Bach family, which became the most important family in Western musical history. Veit's son, Johannes Bach was the grandfather of Johann Ambrosius Bach, J.S...
.
- Veit (Vitus) Bach (d. 1619) was "a white-bread baker in Hungary" who had to flee Hungary because he was a Lutheran and who "found the greatest pleasure in a little citternCitternThe cittern or cither is a stringed instrument dating from the Renaissance. Modern scholars debate its exact history, but it is generally accepted that it is descended from the Medieval Citole, or Cytole. It looks much like the modern-day flat-back mandolin and the modern Irish bouzouki and cittern...
which he took with him even into the mill". - His son Johannes (Hans) Bach (d. 1626) "der Spielmann" (lit. the player), was the first professional musician of the family. "at first took up the trade of baker, but having a particular bent for music" he became a piper.
- His second grandson ChristophChristoph BachChristoph Bach was a German musician of the Baroque period. He was the grandfather of Johann Sebastian Bach....
(1613–1661) was an instrumentalist. - His first great-grandson Johann AmbrosiusJohann Ambrosius BachJohann Ambrosius Bach was a German composer, father to Johann Sebastian Bach.The son of Christoph Bach , Ambrosius was born in Erfurt, Germany as the twin brother of Johann Christoph Bach...
was Johann Sebastian Bach's father.
Others born before 1685
Johann Ambrosius' uncle, HeinrichHeinrich Bach
Heinrich Bach was a German organist, composer and a member of the Bach family.Heinrich Bach was born at Wechmar, Germany, and is the father of the so-called Arnstädt Line. After the early death of his father, his older brother Johannes Bach continued his music education and teaching him organ...
of Arnstadt
Arnstadt
Arnstadt is a town in Ilm-Kreis, Thuringia, Germany, situated on the Gera River. It is one of the oldest towns in Thuringia and is nicknamed Das Tor zum Thüringer Wald, The Gate to the Thuringian Forest....
, had two sons: Johann Michael
Johann Michael Bach
Johann Michael Bach was a German composer of the Baroque period. He was the brother of Johann Christoph Bach, as well as father-in-law of Johann Sebastian Bach...
and Johann Christoph
Johann Christoph Bach
Johann Christoph Bach was a German composer and organist of the Baroque period. He was born at Arnstadt, the son of Heinrich Bach, Johann Sebastian Bach's great uncle, hence he was Johann Sebastian's first cousin once removed. He was also the uncle of Maria Barbara Bach, J.S...
, who are among the greatest of J. S. Bach's forerunners, Johann Christoph being once supposed to be the author of the motet, Ich lasse dich nicht ("I will not leave you"), formerly ascribed to Sebastian Bach and now confirmed to be his (BWV
BWV
The Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis is the numbering system identifying compositions by Johann Sebastian Bach. The prefix BWV, followed by the work's number, is the shorthand identification for Bach's compositions...
159a). Another descendant of Veit Bach, Johann Ludwig
Johann Ludwig Bach
Johann Ludwig Bach was a composer and violinist.He was born in Thal. At the age of 22 he moved to Meiningen eventually being appointed cantor there, and later Kapellmeister...
, was admired more than any other ancestor by Sebastian, who copied twelve of his church cantatas and sometimes added work of his own to them.
Descendants of Johann Sebastian Bach
- Of the seven children that Johann Sebastian Bach had with his first wife only three survived him. Two of these had musical careers of their own: Wilhelm FriedemannWilhelm Friedemann BachWilhelm Friedemann Bach , the second child and eldest son of Johann Sebastian Bach and Maria Barbara Bach, was a German composer and performer...
and the aforementioned Carl Philipp Emanuel BachCarl Philipp Emanuel Bachright|250pxCarl Philipp Emanuel Bach was a German Classical period musician and composer, the fifth child and second son of Johann Sebastian Bach and Maria Barbara Bach...
. - Johann Sebastian Bach then married Anna Magdalena WilckenAnna Magdalena BachAnna Magdalena Bach was the second wife of Johann Sebastian Bach.-Biography:...
, herself a gifted soprano and daughter of the court trumpeter of Prince Saxe-WeissenfelsSaxe-WeissenfelsSaxe-Weissenfels was a duchy of the Holy Roman Empire from 1656/7 until 1746 with its residence at Weißenfels. Ruled by a cadet branch of the Albertine House of Wettin, the duchy passed to the Electorate of Saxony upon the extinction of the line....
. They had 13 children, of whom Gottfried HeinrichGottfried Heinrich BachGottfried Heinrich Bach was the firstborn son of Johann Sebastian Bach by his second wife Anna Magdalena Wilcke....
, Johann Christoph FriedrichJohann Christoph Friedrich BachJohann Christoph Friedrich Bach , the ninth son of Johann Sebastian Bach, sometimes referred to as the "Bückeburg Bach"...
and Johann ChristianJohann Christian BachJohann Christian Bach was a composer of the Classical era, the eleventh and youngest son of Johann Sebastian Bach. He is sometimes referred to as 'the London Bach' or 'the English Bach', due to his time spent living in the British capital...
became significant musicians. A further three survived into adulthood: Elisabeth Juliane Friederica (1726–1781) who married Bach's pupil Johann Christoph Altnikol, Johanna Carolina (1737–1781) and Regina Susanna (1742–1809)
Expanded genealogy
- Veit BachVeit BachVitus "Veit" Bach was a Hungarian miller who, according to Johann Sebastian Bach, founded the Bach family, which became the most important family in Western musical history. Veit's son, Johannes Bach was the grandfather of Johann Ambrosius Bach, J.S...
(about 1550–1619)- Johann(es) „Hans“ Bach I (d. 1626) (son of Veit Bach)
- Johann(es) „Hans“ Bach IIIJohannes BachJohann or Johannes Bach was a German composer and musician of the Baroque. He was the father of the so-called "Erfurt line" of Bach family musicians....
(1604–1673) - the so-called Erfurt Line- Johann Christian Bach I (1640–1682)
- Johann Jacob Bach II (1668–1692)
- Johann Christoph Bach IV (1673–1727)
- Johann Samuel Bach (1694–1720)
- Johann Christian Bach II (1696–)
- Johann Günther Bach II (1703–1756)
- Johann Aegidius Bach I (1645–1716)
- Johann Balthasar Bach (1673–1691)
- Johann Bernhard Bach IJohann Bernhard BachJohann Bernhard Bach was a German composer, and second cousin of J. S. Bach. He was born in Erfurt, and his early musical education was by his father, Johann Aegidus Bach. He took up his position as organist in Erfurt in 1695, and then took a similar position in Magdeburg...
(1676–1749)- Johann Ernst Bach IIJohann Ernst Bach IIJohann Ernst Bach was a German composer of the Bach family. He was the son of Johann Bernhard Bach.-Life:...
(1722–1777)- Johann Georg Bach IJohann Georg BachJohann Georg Bach was a german Organist.Johann Georg Bach came from the Bach family, being the son of Johann Ernst Bach. From 1777 he was organist at Georgenkirche in Eisenach....
(1751–1797)
- Johann Georg Bach I
- Johann Ernst Bach II
- Johann Christoph Bach VI (1685–1740)
- Johann Friedrich Bach II (1706–1743)
- Johann Aegidius Bach II (1709–1746)
- Johann Nicolaus Bach I (1653–1682)
- Johann Christian Bach I (1640–1682)
- Christoph BachChristoph BachChristoph Bach was a German musician of the Baroque period. He was the grandfather of Johann Sebastian Bach....
(1613–1661)- Georg Christoph Bach (1642–1697)
- Johann Valentin Bach (1669–1720)
- Johann Lorenz Bach (1695–1773)
- Johann Elias Bach (1705–1755)
- Johann Michael Bach III (1745–1820) - the music theorist
- Johann Georg Bach II (1786–1874)
- Georg Friedrich Bach (1792–1860)
- Johann Michael Bach III (1745–1820) - the music theorist
- Johann Valentin Bach (1669–1720)
- Johann Christoph Bach IIJohann Christoph Bach (1645–93)Johann Christoph Bach was a German musician of the Baroque period.A court and town musician in Arnstadt, he was the third son of Christoph Bach and the twin brother of Johann Ambrosius Bach. He was also the uncle of Johann Sebastian Bach...
(1645–1693)- Johann Ernst Bach I (1683–1739)
- Johann Christoph Bach VII (1689–1740)
- Johann Ambrosius BachJohann Ambrosius BachJohann Ambrosius Bach was a German composer, father to Johann Sebastian Bach.The son of Christoph Bach , Ambrosius was born in Erfurt, Germany as the twin brother of Johann Christoph Bach...
(1645–1695)- Johann Christoph Bach IIIJohann Christoph Bach (1671–1721)Johann Christoph Bach , was a German musician and composer. He was the eldest brother of the more famous German musician and composer Johann Sebastian Bach. Johann Christoph studied at Erfurt under Johann Pachelbel, and his library of keyboard music included works by Pachelbel, Johann Jakob...
(1671–1721)- Johann Andreas Bach (1713–1779)
- Johann Christoph Georg Bach (1747–1814)
- Johann Bernhard Bach IIJohann Bernhard Bach (the younger)Johann Bernhard Bach was a nephew of Johann Sebastian Bach. He was a German composer and organist....
(1700–1743) - Johann Christoph Bach VIII (1702–1756)
- Ernst Carl Gottfried Bach (1738–1801)
- Ernst Christian Bach (1747–1822)
- Philipp Christiann Georg Bach (1734–1809)
- Johann Andreas Bach (1713–1779)
- Johann Jacob Bach IIIJohann Jacob BachJohann Jacob Bach was a German musician, composer and an older brother of Johann Sebastian Bach....
(1682–1722) - Johann Sebastian BachJohann Sebastian BachJohann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity...
(1685–1750) - wed in his first marriage to second cousin Maria Barbara BachMaria Barbara BachMaria Barbara Bach was the first wife of composer Johann Sebastian Bach. She was also his second cousin, and the daughter of Johann Michael Bach.-Personal life:...
(1684–1720); in second marriage 1721 with Anna Magdalena WilckeAnna Magdalena BachAnna Magdalena Bach was the second wife of Johann Sebastian Bach.-Biography:...
(1701–1760)- Catharina Dorothea Bach (1708–1774)
- Wilhelm Friedemann BachWilhelm Friedemann BachWilhelm Friedemann Bach , the second child and eldest son of Johann Sebastian Bach and Maria Barbara Bach, was a German composer and performer...
(1710–1784) - the so-called „Dresden Bach“ or „Halle Bach“ - Carl Philipp Emanuel BachCarl Philipp Emanuel Bachright|250pxCarl Philipp Emanuel Bach was a German Classical period musician and composer, the fifth child and second son of Johann Sebastian Bach and Maria Barbara Bach...
(1714–1788) - the so-called „Hamburger Bach“ or „Berlin Bach“- Johann Sebastian BachJohann Sebastian Bach (painter)Johann Sebastian Bach the Younger was a German painter. He was the son of composer Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach and the grandson of composer Johann Sebastian Bach....
(1748–1778) - painter
- Johann Sebastian Bach
- Johann Gottfried Bernhard BachJohann Gottfried Bernhard BachJohann Gottfried Bernhard Bach was the fourth child to reach adulthood of Johann Sebastian Bach and Maria Barbara Bach. Born in Weimar, he attended the Thomasschule in Leipzig, his father providing for his musical formation...
(1715–1739) - Gottfried Heinrich BachGottfried Heinrich BachGottfried Heinrich Bach was the firstborn son of Johann Sebastian Bach by his second wife Anna Magdalena Wilcke....
(1724–1763) - Johann Christoph Friedrich BachJohann Christoph Friedrich BachJohann Christoph Friedrich Bach , the ninth son of Johann Sebastian Bach, sometimes referred to as the "Bückeburg Bach"...
(1732–1795) - the so-called „Bückeburg Bach“- Wilhelm Friedrich Ernst BachWilhelm Friedrich Ernst BachWilhelm Friedrich Ernst Bach was the eldest son of Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach and the only grandson of Johann Sebastian Bach to gain fame as a composer. He was music director to Frederick William II of Prussia...
(1759–1845)
- Wilhelm Friedrich Ernst Bach
- Johann Christian Bach IIIJohann Christian BachJohann Christian Bach was a composer of the Classical era, the eleventh and youngest son of Johann Sebastian Bach. He is sometimes referred to as 'the London Bach' or 'the English Bach', due to his time spent living in the British capital...
(1735–1782) - the so-called „Milan Bach“ or „London Bach“
- Johann Christoph Bach III
- Georg Christoph Bach (1642–1697)
- Heinrich Bach IHeinrich BachHeinrich Bach was a German organist, composer and a member of the Bach family.Heinrich Bach was born at Wechmar, Germany, and is the father of the so-called Arnstädt Line. After the early death of his father, his older brother Johannes Bach continued his music education and teaching him organ...
(1615–1692) - the so-called Arnstädt Line- Johann Christoph Bach IJohann Christoph BachJohann Christoph Bach was a German composer and organist of the Baroque period. He was born at Arnstadt, the son of Heinrich Bach, Johann Sebastian Bach's great uncle, hence he was Johann Sebastian's first cousin once removed. He was also the uncle of Maria Barbara Bach, J.S...
(1642–1703)- Johann Nikolaus Bach IIJohann Nicolaus BachJohann Nicolaus Bach was a German composer of the Baroque period.Johann Nicolaus was the eldest son of Johann Christoph Bach and the second cousin of Johann Sebastian Bach. He was educated at the University of Jena, where he later became organist...
(1669–1753) - Johann Christoph Bach V (1676–)
- Johann Heinrich Bach II (1709–)
- Johann Friedrich Bach I (1682–1730)
- Johann Michael Bach II (1685–)
- Johann Nikolaus Bach II
- Johann Michael Bach IJohann Michael BachJohann Michael Bach was a German composer of the Baroque period. He was the brother of Johann Christoph Bach, as well as father-in-law of Johann Sebastian Bach...
(1648–1694)- Maria Barbara BachMaria Barbara BachMaria Barbara Bach was the first wife of composer Johann Sebastian Bach. She was also his second cousin, and the daughter of Johann Michael Bach.-Personal life:...
(1684–1720) - married Johann Sebastian BachJohann Sebastian BachJohann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity...
(1685–1750)
- Maria Barbara Bach
- Johann Günther Bach I (1653–1683)
- Johann Christoph Bach I
- Johann(es) „Hans“ Bach III
- Philippus „Lips“ Bach (1590–1620) - son of Veit Bach
- Wendel Bach (1619–1682)
- Johann Jacob Bach I (1655–1718)
- Nicolaus Ephraim Bach (1690–1760)
- Georg Michael Bach (1703–1771)
- Johann Christian Bach IV (1743–1814)
- Johann Ludwig BachJohann Ludwig BachJohann Ludwig Bach was a composer and violinist.He was born in Thal. At the age of 22 he moved to Meiningen eventually being appointed cantor there, and later Kapellmeister...
(1677–1731) - the so-called „Meininger Bach“, composer- Gottlieb Friedrich Bach (1714–1785) - court organist, court painter Meinigen
- Johann Philipp Bach (1752–1846) - musician, painter
- Samuel Anton Bach (1713–1781)
- Gottlieb Friedrich Bach (1714–1785) - court organist, court painter Meinigen
- Johann Jacob Bach I (1655–1718)
- Johann Bach IV (1621–1686) - nephew of Lips Bach
- Johann Stephan Bach (1665–1717)
- Wendel Bach (1619–1682)
- Johann(es) „Hans“ Bach I (d. 1626) (son of Veit Bach)
- Caspar Bach I (1570–1640) (brother of Veit Bach?)
- Caspar Bach II (1600–)
- Heinrich „Blinder Jonas“ Bach (–1635)
- Johann(es) Bach II (1612–1632)
- Melchior Bach (1603–1634)
- Nicolaus Bach (1619–1637)
External links
- Bach Family Tree Image map
- Bach Family
- Article on the Bach Family