

"Jesus, help me show your glory through the music I write. Whenever he began a new piece, he bowed his head and prayed. The Duke encouraged Bach to continue writing sacred music, and for a while, Bach had the freedom for which he had searched.Įven though the Duke gave Johann the freedom to write what he wanted, Johann never forgot that it was God who made the music through him. This was the first time Bach did not work for a church, but his boss, the Duke of Weimar, was a religious man. He found a temporary refuge in the town of Weimar. In fact, Bach changed jobs many times during his life, searching for the freedom to write the music he heard in his soul. Unfortunately, Bach and the church could not agree on this matter, so he started looking for another job.

This honors God no matter what musical style I use." I haven't chosen to use a simple style, but my music comes from my heart as a humble offering to God. Some people do this with music that is simple. "The main purpose of my music is to glorify God.

Music should be simple so that it draws attention to God, not to the music or the performers."īach couldn't believe it! His music was "sinful"? How could people call his music sinful when he only tried to glorify God? Bach took a deep breath before defending his music. Some of our members even think it is sinful. The man continued, "The music is too showy. He knew that some of the recent pieces were his best work. "Johann, people are complaining about the music you've been composing."īach was stunned. But even though he used his musical talents to glorify God, a problem soon arose. He directed the choir and wrote the worship music used in the church service. In fact, he once said, "I play the notes as they are written but it is God who makes the music." After a few years, Johann got another job as a church organist and choir director at a small German church. When Johann played music, he felt his soul praising God. "The Frenchman heard of your amazing talent and didn't want to risk getting beaten. "But I haven't even played a single note! How did I win?" he asked.
#BACH COMPOSITIONS MEANINGS HOW TO#
How to Build a Marriage That Goes the Distance: My Top 3 Game-Changing Pillars "I guess you've won the organ contest Johann!" the judges said. One day, he went to compete in an organ contest, only to learn there was no contest. Word of his musical abilities spread quickly. His Lutheran family was pleased to see him carry on the family tradition in music. At just seventeen years old, he got his first job as a church organist. Johann Bach's love of music and dedication to practice began to pay off. Music is the way Johann Bach expresses his thoughts and feelings. For young Johann, music is more than something to listen to or practice. Johann returns to his own bed, filled with anticipation of playing the new music. Once he has copied the final line, he carefully places the music back in the locked cabinet. The rest of his night will be spent carefully copying the notes of the piece he will begin to learn the following day. He spreads the precious pages out on the table. Very carefully, he rolls a manuscript and eases it out of the cabinet. Johann sets down his candle and squeezes his arm through the lattice of the locked music cabinet. If I could picture myself writing, or even conceiving, such a piece I am sure that the extreme excitement and emotional tension would have driven me mad.' the man writes a whole world of the deepest thoughts and most powerful feelings. The great composer Johannes Brahms wrote to a friend about a composition by Bach (the Chaconne): ". And remember that he not only had to create the music, but also get it copied for the performers, and rehearse with them. Anna Magdalena supported his musical work, sang his compositions in a bold soprano, and bore him many more children.īach lived until age 65, always the feisty musician, fiercely dedicated to quality, passionately creating music for the glory of God.īach set before himself and accomplished the seemingly impossible task of preparing a different cantata for every Sunday for a three-year period. A second marriage was a happy one, however.
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Shortly after taking the new job, his wife died, leaving him with a house full of children.
