This is one title in a series of short, illustrated biographies. They tell the stories of those who have shaped our present and our past, from Beethoven to Dietrich and from Einstein to Churchill. Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) can be thought of as the father of modern music, a supreme craftsman able to bridge the gap between the music of the Renaissance and the glories of Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven. This biography shows us Bach in his time, offering a portrait of the personal, political and social circumstances that shaped some of the greatest music ever written. It analyses Bach's musical achievement and considers why music such as the "Brandenburg Concertos" and the "St Matthew Passion" continues to hold its appeal centuries later.

Author Biography

Martin Geck is the founding editor of the collected works of Richard Wagner and has written several books on the great composers, including the critically acclaimed Bach: Life and Work (FSG). His biography of Ludwig van Beethoven was published in the Lifex series in May 2003.