Heinrich Bach was a German organist

Organist

An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...

, composer

Composer

A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...

 and a member of the Bach family

Bach family

The Bach family was of importance in the history of music for nearly two hundred years, with over 50 known musicians and several notable composers, the best-known of whom was Johann Sebastian Bach...

.

Heinrich Bach was born at Wechmar

Günthersleben-Wechmar

Günthersleben-Wechmar is a municipality in the German state of Thuringia in the district of Gotha. The village of Wechmar is notable for being the home of the Bach family of musicians and composers.-Geography:...

, Germany

Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...

, and is the father of the so-called Arnstädt Line. After the early death of his father, his older brother Johannes Bach

Johannes Bach

Johann 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....

 continued his music education and teaching him organ playing. They moved to Suhl

Suhl

- Geography :Suhl sits on the south edge of the Suhler Scholle, an upthrust granite complex that is streaked by numerous dikes. This is part of the Ruhla-Schleusingen Horst that defines the southwest side of the Thuringian Forest...

 (Stadtpfeifer Hoffmann) and Schweinfurt

Schweinfurt

Schweinfurt is a city in the Lower Franconia region of Bavaria in Germany on the right bank of the canalized Main, which is here spanned by several bridges, 27 km northeast of Würzburg.- History :...

. From 1635 to 1641, he was Ratsmusikant 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...

 Ratsmusikanten-Compagnie led by Johannes. From 1641, he became organist in Arnstadt St. Mary's Church and the Upper Church, a post he kept until his death. In 1642, he married Eva Hoffmann, the younger daughter of Suhl Stadtpfeiffer Hoffmann. He died in ,Arnstadt.

Three of his sons, Johann Christoph Bach

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...

, Johann Michael Bach

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 Günther Bach, were musicians.

Works

Only a few of his works have been preserved:

• Cantata Ich danke dir, Gott
• Ach, dass ich Wassers gnug hätte
• Kyrie
• Zwei Sonaten à 5
• Da Christus an dem Kreuze stund
• Erbarm dich mein, o Herre Gott

External links