Johann Christian Bach (September 5, 1735 – January 1, 1782) was a German composer of the Classical era, the eighteenth child of Johann Sebastian Bach, and the youngest of his eleven sons.[1] After living in Italy for several years, Bach moved to London in 1762,[2] where he became known as "the London Bach".[3] He is also sometimes known as "the English Bach", and during his time spent living in the British capital, he came to be known as John Bach. He is noted for playing a role in influencing the concerto styles of Haydn and Mozart. He contributed significantly to the development of the new sonata principle.[4]
Johann Christian Bach was born to Johann Sebastian and Anna Magdalena Bach in Leipzig, Germany. His distinguished father was already 50 at the time of his birth—an age gap exemplified by the sharp differences in the musical styles of father and son. Even so, father Bach instructed Johann Christian in music until his death in 1750.[5] After his father's death, he worked (and lived) with his second-oldest half brother Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach,[5] who was twenty-one years his senior and considered at the time to be the most musically gifted of Bach's sons.
He enjoyed a promising career, first as a composer then as a performer playing alongside Carl Friedrich Abel, a distinguished player of the viola da gamba. He composed cantatas, chamber music, keyboard and orchestral works, operas and symphonies.
J. C. Bach's memorial, St Pancras Churchyard, London
Bach lived in Italy for many years starting in 1754,[1] studying with Padre Martini in Bologna. He became organist at the Milan cathedral in 1760. During his time in Italy, he converted from Lutheranism to Catholicism[5] and devoted much time to the composition of church music, including music for a Requiem Mass and a Te Deum.[6] Johann also composed a quantity of Latin sacred music during his time in Italy.[7] His first major work was a Mass, which received an excellent performance and acclaim in 1757.[6] In 1762, Bach travelled to London to première three operas at the King's Theatre, including Orione on 19 February 1763. In 1764 or 1765, the castratoGiusto Fernando Tenducci, who became a close friend, created the title role in his opera Adriano in Siria at King's.[8]
That established his reputation in England, and he became music master to Queen Charlotte. In 1766, Bach met soprano Cecilia Grassi, who was eleven years his junior, and married her shortly thereafter. They had no children. J. C. Bach performed symphonies and concertos at the Hanover Square Rooms. This was London's premier concert venue in the heart of fashionable Mayfair. The surrounding Georgian homes offered well-to-do clientele for his performances. One of London's primary literary circles, which included Jane Timbury, Robert Gunnell Esq., Lord Beauchamp, and the Duchess of Buccleuch, was acquainted with Bach, and members were regular attendees at his events.
In 1777, he won a landmark case, Bach v Longman, which established that (in English law) copyright law applied to musical scores.
By the late 1770s, both his popularity and finances were in decline. By the time of Bach's death on New Year's Day 1782,[9] he had become so indebted (in part due to his steward embezzling his money), that Queen Charlotte stepped in to cover the expenses of the estate and provided a life pension for Bach's widow. He was buried in the graveyard of St. Pancras Old Church, London.
Legacy
Sinfonia in G minor, Op. 6, No. 6 I. Allegro
Performed by Camerata Budapest, Hanspeter Gmur (conductor), courtesy of Naxos Records
A full account of J. C. Bach's career is given in the fourth volume of Charles Burney's History of Music.
There are two others named Johann Christian Bach in the Bach family tree, but neither was a composer.
In 1764, Bach met with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who was aged eight at the time and had been brought to London by his father.[10] Bach then spent five months teaching Mozart in composition.[10] Bach is widely regarded as having a strong influence on the young Mozart, with scholars such as Téodor de Wyzewa and Georges de Saint-Foix describing him as "The only true teacher of Mozart".[10] Mozart arranged three sonatas from Bach's Op. 5 into keyboard concertos, and in later life Mozart "often acknowledged the artistic debt he owed" to Johann Christian.[11] Upon hearing of Bach's death in 1782, Mozart commented, "What a loss to the musical world!"[12]
^ abcBagnoli, Giorgio (1993). The La Scala Encyclopedia of the Opera. Simon and Schuster. p. 38. ISBN9780671870423.
^Burnett, Henry (2017). Composition, Chromaticism and the Developmental Process: A New Theory of Tonality. Routledge. p. 211. ISBN9781351571333.
^Siblin, Eric (2011). The Cello Suites: J. S. Bach, Pablo Casals, and the Search for a Baroque Masterpiece. p. 234. ISBN9780802197979.
^Norwich, John Julius (1985–1993). Oxford Illustrated Encyclopedia. Judge, Harry George., Toyne, Anthony. Oxford [England]: Oxford University Press. p. 28. ISBN0-19-869129-7. OCLC 11814265.
^Stephenson, Joseph. Johann Christian Bach at AllMusic
^ abcShore, Rebecca Ann (2002). Baby Teacher: Nurturing Neural Networks From Birth to Age Five. R&L Education. p. 86. ISBN9781461648079.
^Denis Arnold and Basil Smallman, "Bach family", in Oxford Companion to Music, ed. Alison Latham, Oxford University Press, 2002, p. 80. ISBN978-0-19-866212-9
^Mersmann, Hans (1972). Letters of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. New York: Dover Publications. p. 194. ISBN0-486-22859-2.
Further reading
Hans T. David, A. Mendel, C. Wolff. The New Bach Reader: A Life of Johann Sebastian Bach in Letters and Documents (New York: Norton, 1998).
Heinz Gärtner (trans. by Reinhard Pauly). John Christian Bach: Mozart's Friend and Mentor. (Portland, Oregon: Amadeus Press, 1994).
johann, christian, bach, september, 1735, january, 1782, german, composer, classical, eighteenth, child, johann, sebastian, bach, youngest, eleven, sons, after, living, italy, several, years, bach, moved, london, 1762, where, became, known, london, bach, also,. Johann Christian Bach September 5 1735 January 1 1782 was a German composer of the Classical era the eighteenth child of Johann Sebastian Bach and the youngest of his eleven sons 1 After living in Italy for several years Bach moved to London in 1762 2 where he became known as the London Bach 3 He is also sometimes known as the English Bach and during his time spent living in the British capital he came to be known as John Bach He is noted for playing a role in influencing the concerto styles of Haydn and Mozart He contributed significantly to the development of the new sonata principle 4 Johann Christian Bach painted in London by Thomas Gainsborough 1776 National Portrait Gallery London Contents 1 Life 2 Legacy 3 Works 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksLife EditJohann Christian Bach was born to Johann Sebastian and Anna Magdalena Bach in Leipzig Germany His distinguished father was already 50 at the time of his birth an age gap exemplified by the sharp differences in the musical styles of father and son Even so father Bach instructed Johann Christian in music until his death in 1750 5 After his father s death he worked and lived with his second oldest half brother Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach 5 who was twenty one years his senior and considered at the time to be the most musically gifted of Bach s sons He enjoyed a promising career first as a composer then as a performer playing alongside Carl Friedrich Abel a distinguished player of the viola da gamba He composed cantatas chamber music keyboard and orchestral works operas and symphonies J C Bach s memorial St Pancras Churchyard London Bach lived in Italy for many years starting in 1754 1 studying with Padre Martini in Bologna He became organist at the Milan cathedral in 1760 During his time in Italy he converted from Lutheranism to Catholicism 5 and devoted much time to the composition of church music including music for a Requiem Mass and a Te Deum 6 Johann also composed a quantity of Latin sacred music during his time in Italy 7 His first major work was a Mass which received an excellent performance and acclaim in 1757 6 In 1762 Bach travelled to London to premiere three operas at the King s Theatre including Orione on 19 February 1763 In 1764 or 1765 the castrato Giusto Fernando Tenducci who became a close friend created the title role in his opera Adriano in Siria at King s 8 That established his reputation in England and he became music master to Queen Charlotte In 1766 Bach met soprano Cecilia Grassi who was eleven years his junior and married her shortly thereafter They had no children J C Bach performed symphonies and concertos at the Hanover Square Rooms This was London s premier concert venue in the heart of fashionable Mayfair The surrounding Georgian homes offered well to do clientele for his performances One of London s primary literary circles which included Jane Timbury Robert Gunnell Esq Lord Beauchamp and the Duchess of Buccleuch was acquainted with Bach and members were regular attendees at his events In 1777 he won a landmark case Bach v Longman which established that in English law copyright law applied to musical scores By the late 1770s both his popularity and finances were in decline By the time of Bach s death on New Year s Day 1782 9 he had become so indebted in part due to his steward embezzling his money that Queen Charlotte stepped in to cover the expenses of the estate and provided a life pension for Bach s widow He was buried in the graveyard of St Pancras Old Church London Legacy Edit Sinfonia in G minor Op 6 No 6I Allegro source source Performed by Camerata Budapest Hanspeter Gmur conductor courtesy of Naxos Records Problems playing this file See media help A full account of J C Bach s career is given in the fourth volume of Charles Burney s History of Music There are two others named Johann Christian Bach in the Bach family tree but neither was a composer In 1764 Bach met with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart who was aged eight at the time and had been brought to London by his father 10 Bach then spent five months teaching Mozart in composition 10 Bach is widely regarded as having a strong influence on the young Mozart with scholars such as Teodor de Wyzewa and Georges de Saint Foix describing him as The only true teacher of Mozart 10 Mozart arranged three sonatas from Bach s Op 5 into keyboard concertos and in later life Mozart often acknowledged the artistic debt he owed to Johann Christian 11 Upon hearing of Bach s death in 1782 Mozart commented What a loss to the musical world 12 Works EditMain article List of compositions by Johann Christian Bach The works of J C Bach are given W numbers from Ernest Warburton s Thematic catalog of his works New York City Garland Publishing 1999 Bach s compositions include eleven operas 1 as well as chamber music orchestral music and compositions for keyboard 5 References EditNotes a b c Bagnoli Giorgio 1993 The La Scala Encyclopedia of the Opera Simon and Schuster p 38 ISBN 9780671870423 Burnett Henry 2017 Composition Chromaticism and the Developmental Process A New Theory of Tonality Routledge p 211 ISBN 9781351571333 Siblin Eric 2011 The Cello Suites J S Bach Pablo Casals and the Search for a Baroque Masterpiece p 234 ISBN 9780802197979 Norwich John Julius 1985 1993 Oxford Illustrated Encyclopedia Judge Harry George Toyne Anthony Oxford England Oxford University Press p 28 ISBN 0 19 869129 7 OCLC 11814265 a b c d Johann Christian Bach at the Encyclopaedia Britannica a b The Catholic Bach Cantica Nova Publications Bach Cantatas Website Baldwin Olive Wilson Thelma 2004 Tenducci Giusto Ferdinando Oxford Dictionary of National Biography doi 10 1093 ref odnb 67196 subscription required Stephenson Joseph Johann Christian Bach at AllMusic a b c Shore Rebecca Ann 2002 Baby Teacher Nurturing Neural Networks From Birth to Age Five R amp L Education p 86 ISBN 9781461648079 Denis Arnold and Basil Smallman Bach family in Oxford Companion to Music ed Alison Latham Oxford University Press 2002 p 80 ISBN 978 0 19 866212 9 Mersmann Hans 1972 Letters of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart New York Dover Publications p 194 ISBN 0 486 22859 2 Further reading EditHans T David A Mendel C Wolff The New Bach Reader A Life of Johann Sebastian Bach in Letters and Documents New York Norton 1998 Heinz Gartner trans by Reinhard Pauly John Christian Bach Mozart s Friend and Mentor Portland Oregon Amadeus Press 1994 Philipp Spitta trans by Clara Bell amp J A Fuller Maitland Johann Sebastian Bach his work and influence on the music of Germany 1685 1750 3 vols London Novello amp Co 1899 Vol I Vol II Vol III Charles Sanford Terry John Christian Bach London Oxford University Press 1967 Christoph Wolff et al The New Grove Bach Family New York Norton 1983 pp 315ff ISBN 0 393 30088 9 Percy M Young The Bachs 1500 1850 London J M Dent amp Sons 1970 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Johann Christian Bach Free scores by Johann Christian Bach at the International Music Score Library Project IMSLP J C Bach classical net J C Bach classicalarchives com Gainsborough and Music by Brian Robins Quartet in B flat major on YouTube Portals Classical music Opera Biography Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Johann Christian Bach amp oldid 1125490891, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
