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