Johann Sebastian Bach. Musician. Composer. Lutheran. It’s safe to say that Bach is a major influential figure in the music world, with his 1,128 pieces celebrated and performed across the globe. He has inspired thousands and moved millions. Even today, Bach’s concertos, cantatas, and arias have remained timeless staples in classical music. But for the walls of the Kristine Kay Hasse Library, this composer means something more than anyone could imagine.
While Bach is the most well-known of his family, he wasn’t the only musician. Bach came from a long line of musicians, all of whom were skilled in their craft and were beloved by many. Bach’s great-great-grandfather Veit Bach, a miller, was the one to start this line. While the mill was grinding, he would play his cittern—an instrument not unlike a mandolin or a guitar—and thus gave birth to a long line of devoted musicians.
Bach was born on March 31, 1685, and started receiving Latin and religious instruction when he was just seven years old. He ingrained the teachings of Christ into his mind and proceeded to pour Lutheranism into his works for the rest of his life.
By the age of ten, Bach was orphaned and spent the remainder of his adolescence with his older brother’s family. His brother, Johann Christoph, was an organist in Ohrdruf, Germany and made sure that Bach received the proper musical instruction. In fact, young Bach’s soprano singing voice landed him a spot at a school in Lüneburg. He went on to perform with the choir at school, and when his voice changed, switched to the violin and the harpsichord, both of which are instruments Bach was known for mastering.
Bach scored his first job at 18 working as a musician in a duke’s court, but his technical skills landed him a position as the organist of the New Church in Arnstadt. There he played for services and special events, even being asked to provide musical instruction to those wanting to learn. He was a rather lofty teacher and didn’t get along with many of his students, so he left on an extended leave one day and never went back.
Most of his more famous works came from the time he worked as an organist under yet another duke. During this time, he composed instrumental pieces for orchestras and soloists alike, inscribing “I.N.J.” into his more secular works, meaning “In Nomine Jesu” or “In the Name of Jesus.”
Throughout his career, he moved through many jobs and many positions, always improving his craft, and always learning more. In his final years, he was able to make up compositions instantly, like the time he played for the king of Prussia in 1747. He was 62 years old. He continued to compose and perform despite his fading vision, which soon became so problematic that he arranged for a surgery to fix his eyes. The surgery left him completely blind, and he died later that year of a stroke.
Bach’s legacy would continue long after his passing. His pieces were distributed around the world, where various composers were inspired to write their own pieces. But those pieces aren’t the only invaluable parts of Bach’s legacy—many of his tools still exist today. They're probably why you’ve come, aren't they?
The Kristine Kay Hasse Library is home to a Bible that was personally owned by Bach himself. Due to the printing process, the Bible is split up into three huge volumes, all of which you'll be able to view and examine during the event. The margins are filled with his notes and inspirations. Here, inscribed for all to see, are God’s teachings as Bach saw them; the words that pushed him to create such expressive masterpieces.
We hope you’ll enjoy the celebration; after all, Bach’s become a household name for both musicians and Lutherans alike. If you’re interested in learning more about him beyond what this event provides, we have numerous resources both on display by our References and throughout the rest of the library.
Bach and the Baroque by Anthony Newman