Heinrich Bach

• Period: Baroque (1600-1749)
• Born: September 16, 1615 in Wechmar
• Died: July 10, 1692 in Arnstadt

Biography

Distinguished first of all as one of the few male Bachs not to be named Johann, Heinrich Bach, third son of Hans (Johannes Bach, "der Spielmann"), started out as a town musician and organist at St. Johannis Church in Schweinfurt in 1629 when he was 14 years old. He had already studied music with his father and an elder brother named Johann. Heinrich moved on to Erfurt in 1635 to live with a brother, but there's no evidence of any professional activity there. Ultimately he moved to Arnstadt in 1641. That was the year he became organist at Arnstadt's Liebfrauenkirche, where he remained until his death 51 years later. Like his most famous relative, Heinrich wrote a number of organ pieces, chamber works, and cantatas, although very few of them survive. Upon his death, he was eulogized as "an organist who touched the heart." ~ James Reel, All Music Guide