Johann Sebastian Bach

## Overview

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), German composer and musician of the Baroque period, widely regarded as one of the greatest composers in Western musical history. His works include the Brandenburg Concertos, the Well-Tempered Clavier, the Mass in B minor, the St Matthew Passion, and hundreds of cantatas, fugues, and organ works.

## Relevance to Marie

Marie was musically trained and deeply engaged with music throughout her life. Before dedicating herself to painting, she studied singing seriously and considered a career as a vocalist. Bach's music would have been part of the standard repertoire she encountered in concerts and salons.

## Historical Context

The 19th century saw a major revival of interest in Bach's music, spurred by Mendelssohn's famous 1829 performance of the St Matthew Passion. By Marie's time, Bach was firmly established as a canonical composer, though his music was more studied and admired than popularly performed compared to the Romantic composers who dominated concert programs.

## References in Diary

- Referenced in musical contexts