Johann Ludwig Bach facts for kids
Johann Ludwig Bach (born February 14, 1677 – died May 1, 1731) was a German composer and violinist. He was a distant cousin of the very famous composer Johann Sebastian Bach.
He was born in a town called Thal, near Eisenach. When he was 22 years old, he moved to Meiningen. There, he became a "cantor," which was a church music director. Later, he became a "Kapellmeister," a leader of musicians. He wrote a lot of music and often led performances in Meiningen and nearby places.
Interestingly, his cousin Johann Sebastian Bach liked Johann Ludwig's music so much that he copied some of his "cantatas" (a type of vocal music) and performed them. One of Johann Ludwig's cantatas, called Denn du wirst meine Seele nicht in der Hölle lassen, was even thought to be by Johann Sebastian Bach for a long time!
Johann Ludwig Bach died in Meiningen.
Johann Ludwig Bach's Music
Johann Ludwig Bach wrote many different kinds of music. Most of his known works are "cantatas" and "motets."
- A cantata is a piece of music for singers and instruments. It often tells a story or expresses a religious message.
- A motet is usually a shorter piece of choral music, often without instruments, and usually religious.
Early lists of his music appeared in the 1800s. A special list, called the Johann-Ludwig-Bach-Verzeichnis (JLB), now includes 39 of his compositions.
Church Cantatas
Many of Johann Ludwig Bach's cantatas were written for church services. His cousin, Johann Sebastian Bach, performed many of these in Leipzig. Here are a few examples:
- JLB 1: Gott ist unser Zuversicht (God is our confidence) – This was a sacred cantata for the fourth Sunday after Epiphany. It was performed in Leipzig on February 3, 1726.
- JLB 5: Ja, mir hast du Arbeit gemacht (Yes, you rather burden me) – This cantata was for the last Sunday before Lent. It has different parts, including songs for solo singers (arias), spoken parts (recitatives), and choruses.
- JLB 8: Die mit Tränen säen (Who has sorrow planting) – This sacred cantata was for the third Sunday after Easter. It was performed in Leipzig on May 12, 1726.
- JLB 21: Denn du wirst meine Seele nicht in der Hölle lassen (For you will not abandon my soul in hell) – This famous cantata was for Easter. For a while, people thought Johann Sebastian Bach wrote it! It was performed in Leipzig on April 21, 1726.
Other Works
Johann Ludwig Bach also wrote other types of music:
- JLB 19: O Herr, ich bin dein Knecht (O Lord, I am your servant) – This was funeral music written for a duke named Ernst Ludwig I.
- JLB 20: An Ouvertüre (a type of instrumental introduction) in G major.
- JLB 38: A Kyrie–Gloria Mass in E minor. A "Mass" is a musical setting of parts of a church service. Johann Sebastian Bach even added a small part to his copy of this piece.
- JLB 39: A Concerto for two violins and orchestra in D major. A concerto is a piece for a solo instrument (or two, in this case) with an orchestra.
Finding His Music
You can find Johann Ludwig Bach's music in different ways:
- Published Scores: Some of his music, like the Kyrie-Gloria Mass and several cantatas, has been printed by music publishers like Carus Verlag.
- Online Copies: You can also find copies of his old handwritten music on websites like Bach Digital.
- Recordings: Many of his works have been recorded by musicians and choirs. This means you can listen to his beautiful music!
