Georg Böhm facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Georg Böhm
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| Born | 2 September 1661 Hohenkirchen, Thuringia, Germany
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| Died | 18 May 1733 (aged 71) |
| Era | Baroque |
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Notable work
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List of compositions |
Georg Böhm (born September 2, 1661 – died May 18, 1733) was a German organist and composer. He lived during the Baroque time. He is well-known for helping to develop a type of music called the chorale partita. He also had a big influence on the famous composer J. S. Bach when Bach was young.
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Life of Georg Böhm
Georg Böhm was born in 1661 in a town called Hohenkirchen, Thuringia. His first music lessons came from his father, who was both a schoolteacher and an organist. Sadly, his father passed away in 1675.
After his father's death, Böhm continued his studies. He went to school in Goldbach, Thuringia and later in Gotha. He finished his studies in 1684. On August 28, 1684, Böhm started at the University of Jena. We don't know much about what he did right after university.
He appeared again in 1693, living in Hamburg. We don't know how he made a living there. But he was likely influenced by the lively music scene in Hamburg. Many operas from France and Italy were performed there. Also, famous organists like Johann Adam Reincken played at St. Katharine's Church. Böhm might have also heard other great musicians nearby, like Vincent Lübeck or even Dieterich Buxtehude.
In 1698, Böhm became the organist at the main church in Lüneburg, which was the Church of St. John (Johanniskirche). He took over from Christian Flor, who had passed away. Böhm applied for the job and was quickly accepted. He stayed in Lüneburg and worked there until he died. He got married and had five sons.
Böhm's Connection with J. S. Bach
From 1700 to 1702, Böhm likely met and possibly taught the young Johann Sebastian Bach. Bach arrived in Lüneburg in 1700 and studied at a school called the Michaelisschule. This school was connected to the Church of St. Michael.
There isn't much direct proof that Bach studied with Böhm. However, it's very likely they knew each other well. Carl Philip Emmanuel Bach, one of J. S. Bach's sons, wrote in 1775 that his father loved and studied Böhm's music. He even first thought to say that Böhm was his father's teacher.
In 2006, an important discovery was made. It was one of the earliest known pieces of music copied by Bach himself. It was a copy of a famous piece by Johann Adam Reincken. On this copy, Bach wrote "Il Fine â Dom. Georg: Böhme descriptum ao. 1700 Lunaburgi." This means "finished at the house of Master Georg Böhm, copied in the year 1700 in Lüneburg." This shows that Bach definitely knew Böhm personally.
Their connection must have grown into a close friendship. In 1727, Bach even asked Böhm to help sell his keyboard partitas (a type of musical piece) in northern Germany.
Georg Böhm passed away on May 18, 1733, when he was 71 years old. His son Jakob Christian was supposed to take over his job, but he died young. The position eventually went to Ludwig Ernst Hartmann, who was Böhm's son-in-law.
Georg Böhm's Musical Works
Böhm is mostly known for the music he wrote for the organ and the harpsichord. These pieces often included preludes, fugues, and partitas. Many of his works were written so they could be played on different instruments. A piece could be played on the organ, harpsichord, or clavichord, depending on what the musician had available.
Böhm's music is special because he often used the stylus phantasticus. This was a style of playing that sounded like the musician was making it up on the spot, full of sudden changes and exciting parts.
The Chorale Partita
Böhm's most important contribution to keyboard music was the chorale partita. This is a long piece of music that takes a church hymn (called a chorale melody) and creates many different variations on it. He basically invented this type of music! He wrote several partitas of different lengths and based on various tunes.
Later composers, especially Johann Sebastian Bach, also started writing chorale partitas. Böhm's partitas have complex musical patterns in different voices, all built around the hymn's harmony. His partitas often have a simple, earthy feel and sound good on either the organ or the harpsichord.
Recordings of Böhm's Music
- Complete Harpsichord and Organ Music - Performed by Simone Stella (harpsichord, organ), released by OnClassical and Brilliant Classics, 2013.
- Die Claviersuiten (The Keyboard Suites) - Performed by Mitzi Meyerson (harpsichord), released by GLOSSA, 2003.
- Keyboard Works - Performed by Stef Tuinstra (organ & harpsichord), released by DOCUMENT, 2011.
See also
In Spanish: Georg Böhm para niños
