What church did bach compose music for?

Answer 1

Although Johann Sebastian Bach's church employment was strictly with those of the Lutheran faith, he composed music for the both the Lutheran church and Catholic Church.

Here is a brief outline of which churches he worked for. These are only the churches, he also had other appointments.

1703- August 9 appointed organist at Neuekirche in Arnstadt

1707- June moved to Mühlhausen, appointed organist at Blasiuskirche

1723- April 22 appointed to post of Thomaskantor in Leipzig; provided music for

the city's four principal churches;

Answer 2

J.S. Bach operated under the patronage system, meaning he had patrons who paid him a salary to produce music for them. Notable ones were the Duke Johann Ernst during Bach's time in Weimar, Prince Leopold (Bach's patron while he was in Kothen) and the Leipzig council during the final years of his life.

But not all his music was composed for his patrons. Bach composed for his family as well. The Little Organ book was written for his eldest son Wilhelm Friedemann (a man who would become a respectable muscian in his own right). J.S. Bach also composed the Little Book for Anna Magdalena in order to teach his second wife (Anna Magdalena) music.

On top of that, Bach composed his most famous pieces: Well Tempered Clavier Volumes I and II for educational purposes - showing the benefits of equally spaced semitones. He was also known for allegedly curing Count Kaiserling's insomnia by composing the Goldberg Variations for the count.

Also, Bach was a dedicated Lutheran and devoted much of his works to the Church. Specifically in Leipzig, he wrote enormous amounts of cantatas (around 300), sometimes one for nearly every Sunday of the year.

And last of all, Bach wrote much organ music for himself, as he was frequently asked to demonstrate and inaugurate new organs, and he had a collection of "showpieces" he would use for this purpose, all of which were written by him, but most probably not used for liturgical purposes.

Answer 3

He wrote church music played on the organ for churches.

Answer 4

Bach composed for many instruments. He wrote full orchestral pieces, which require many instruments to be performed.

Answer 5

Bach composed his music for people.