Who is Bach?
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) was one of the most prolific and famous German composers of the Baroque period. In his early life, his work was much celebrated, but as the onset of the Classical period dawned, the work of Bach was considered inferior. Later, Mozart and Beethoven would rediscover Bach and restore him to the position of greatness he now holds as composer. Little is known about the early life of Bach. He was the 8th child in a large family devoted to music. At the age of 9 he was orphaned and sent to live with his eldest brother. Bach is said to have learned to play the organ at 9, but given his talent as an organist, he probably had some experience with the harpsichord at some point. Bach was also a gifted soprano as a young boy, and at 14, he was given a scholarship to attend St. Michael’s school in Luneberg. He participated in the choir, and very likely received a fundamental education in several languages. He may also have practiced on the St. Michael’s organ, since
The name, I am told, means “A small running stream. A creek” At one time, the Bach family almost had a professional monopoly over the Art of Music. There were 54 professional composers named Bach (or Walther, a part of the family) during this period, and the Godfather of the group was a certain Johann Sebastian Bach. The question, instead, could have read : “Who ARE Bach?” EDIT…. Far from ‘revolutionising’ the Baroque period, J.S. Bach was thought so little of, that, on his death, vast quantities of his music (including 60% of his Cantatas!) was sold to the local fish market as wrapping paper. C.P.E.Bach, who was also mentioned, was the Bach that organised this hideously inappropriate sale! Of the small fraction of his composition that is left, the standard is unbelievably high, and a big percentage of it is regularly performed today. (That bit was correct!
Administratively, the Center is led by Director Dr. John P. Elder, Ph.D., MPH Senior Faculty Investigators: Dr’s.Terry L. Conway, Ph.D., Rafael Laniado-Laborin,M.D., MPH, Joni A. Mayer,Ph.D., Gregory A. Talavera, M.D., MPH, and Susan I. Woodruff, Ph.D., who report to the dean of the College of Health and Human Services; and Dr. Alan J. Litrownik, Ph.D., a member of the College of Sciences faculty. BACH encourages interdisciplinary collaboration among all university colleges and departments. Active investigators come from the Departments of Public Health and Psychology at SDSU, as well as the School of Medicine at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD).
