The greatest genius of the Baroque Period was Johann Sebastion Bach.  His career is considered one of the wonders of music.
    On March 21, 1685 in Eisenach, Germany Johann Sebastion Bach was born into a large family of musicians.  It was no wonder that Bach grew up loving music because his father played the violin while other family members played oboe, organ, and other string instruments.
    At the age of 10 both of his parents died and he went to live with his oldest brother Christoph who taught him to play the harpsichord and organ.  He sang in the boys' choir while attending school until his voice changed. He studied the violin, but became interested in the organ.  He became an organist at Armstad where he began composing.
    At the age of 22 he married Maria Barbara Bach.  They had seven children.  During this time he was appointed as organist and violinist for the Duke of Weimer. At this time, he also composed some of the finest organ music, including Toccata and Fugrie in D minor as well as church cantatas and keyboard suites.
    In 1717, at the age of  32, Bach worked for Prince Leopold of Anhalt-Cothen as master of music.  He composed much of his orchestra music including "Brandenburg Concertos" and music for the harpsichord and clavichord.  In 1720 Bach's wife died and he remarried Anna Magdalena Wulken in 1721.  Bach had 13 more children and taught most of them to play musical  instruments.  He composed the Little Book for the Keyboard for his son Wilhem F. Riedemanm.
    Bach was deeply religious and his religious feelings were reflected in his work.  Like most of the baroque composers, he felt that everything people do and believe is religious.  His music was signed "S.D.G." (Soli Deo Gloria) which means "to the glory of God."  Bach became blind in 1749 and died in 1750.  Johann Sebastion Bach is considered to be the greatest of the Baroque Period.

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