Johann Christoph Bach

Johann Christoph Bach was the uncle of Johann Sebastian, perhaps even being the most important influence on J. S. in reference to the organ. Johann Christoph was invited, examined and passed the Eisenach procedures for appointment to the position of organist for the town; he was their organist and harpsichordist for life. He served with his cousin Johann Ambrosius as a colleague and the latter copied music for J. C. Johann Christoph's compositions brought him the majority of praise as his music was pregnant with no less than five independent parts (for organ works) in any given composition. Johann Christoph's notes for the rebuilding of the organ at St. George's are thorough and completely extant. "Sei getreu bis in den Tod," and "Der Mensch, vom Weibe gebore" are the best examples of his later compositions. In comparison to his earlier works these can be described as spirited. ~ Keith Johnson