Johann Sebastian Bach was born in Eisenach, Germany, in 1685, into a family of musicians. As a child, he studied violin and organ and served as a choirboy at the parish church. By early adulthood, Bach had already achieved an enviable reputation as a composer and performer.

His assignments as a church musician began in 1707 and, a yearlater, he became the organist and chamber musician for the court of the Duke of Weimar. In 1723, Bach was appoi…