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It would have been very unusual for Johann Sebastian Bach to be involved in anything other than music considering his family's background. His father, Johann Ambrosius, was the court trumpeter for the Duke of Eisenach and director of the musicians of the town of Eisenach in Thuringia.

Born on March 21, 1685, Johann followed right in the footsteps of various members of the Bach family who held positions such as organists, town instrumentalists, or Cantors and were well known as musically inclined throughout Thuringia.

Poor sewage and the lack of refuse disposal during this era and the absence of medical knowledge, mortality rates were high and Bach lost a sister, brother and Mother when he was nine years old. Within a year, his father also passed away. His eldest brother Johann Christoph (born 1671) took him and another brother into his family, continuing to lead Johann toward a musical career by studying composition and copying music by German organist composers. He was sent to Ohrdruf, one of the most progressive schools in Germany and made excellent progress.

At 18, Bach traveled the area, constantly looking for a way to better himself in the musical world. He met may cultured individuals, played in orchestras and sang in choirs. On October 17, 1707, Bach married his cousin, Maria Barbara, from Arnstadt, her father also being an organist from the Bach family tree and together they began their life together.

kBach's first effort in composing was created with his cantata 'Gott ist mein Konig' (BWV 71) in celebration of the Town Council inauguration in February 1708. This presentation gave him just the courage tat he needed to move ahead in what he loved. In 1713, he accepted the position of Capellmeister, the highest rank given to a musician during the baroque age. Life was informal and easy-going and Johann was able t concentrate on his music composition.

Tragedy struck in 1720 while Bach was visiting Carlsbad, the meeting place of the European aristocracy. His wife who had been in perfect health when he left on a trip, had died and been buried in his absence, leaving four motherless children. He continued his work at Cothen, composing and performing cantatas and in 1721, met and married Anna Magdalena, a fine soprano singer from a nearby Court. He was 36, Anna 20, but she was very kind to Bach's children, a good housekeeper and took a lively interest in his work. Over the next twenty-eight years, thirteen children were born to the Bach family (though few of them

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