Was Bach's music popular when he was alive?

Answer 1

Sadly, Bach was largely ignored during his lifetime, although he achieved the post of Kapellmeister in quite a few places. It was only after his death that people started appreciating his music.

Answer 2

During JS Bach's lifetime (1685-1750), he was more well known as a performer than as a composer. Other composers such as Palestrina or Handel were far more popular during that time. The "Bach Revival" began in 1829 when Mendelssohn organized a performance of Bach's St. Matthew's Passion which had been neglected since Bach died in 1750. This became a turnpoint in the performance in Bach's music. 1850 an organization called the Bach Gesellshaft was founded, which was devoted to the finding, editing, and publication of Bach's music.

His music is amazing! In analyzing any of Bach's music, the motivic developments, progressions, use of voices against other voices, is simply genious.

Answer 3

Bach was both a great composer, and a great innovator, whose ideas about music have influenced literally every musician who has followed him, at least in the Western world. He invented music as we know it today.

Answer 4

Yes, it was, up to a point, as he was widely respected for his skill and instruction. His compositions were performed weekly at Leipzig by volunteer members of the Collegium Musicum of Leipzig, which comprised professional musicians and university students. However, his music enjoyed a revival after his death which overshadowed its popularity while he was still living.

Answer 5

Johann Sebastian Bach was initially well-known around Germany as an excellent organ player. It was much later that he became famous for his musical compositions.

Answer 6

Johann Sebastian Bach was a Baroque-era piano teacher, who was well known for the technical complexity of his pieces. In short, he was a really good teacher

Answer 7

He was a German composer, organist.