Johann Sebastian Bach (31 March 1685 – 28 July 1750) was a German composer and musician of the Baroque era, widely regarded as one of the greatest composers in Western music history. His works include the Brandenburg Concertos, The Well-Tempered Clavier, Goldberg Variations, St. Matthew Passion, and the Mass in B Minor. His mastery of counterpoint, harmonic innovation, and structural complexity influenced generations of composers.
Born in Eisenach into a musical family, Bach was orphaned at 10 and lived with his elder brother, Johann Christoph. He studied music in Luneburg before working as an organist in Arnstadt and Muhlhausen. He later served at the Weimar and Köthen courts, composing extensively for organ and chamber music. In 1723, he became Thomaskantor in Leipzig, where he spent 27 years composing sacred and secular music.
Bach’s compositions combined German, Italian, and French influences, creating intricate polyphonic structures. His works for keyboard, orchestral, and choral ensembles set new standards in musical expression. Despite limited recognition during his lifetime, his music gained prominence in the 19th-century Bach Revival, led by composers like Mendelssohn.
In his final years, Bach suffered from declining health and blindness. He died in 1750 after complications from eye surgery. Today, his music remains a cornerstone of classical repertoire, celebrated for its intellectual depth and artistic brilliance.