Johann Friedrich Fasch

Composer and Kapellmeister Fasch was one of the most important contemporaries of J.S. Bach. His compositions included the genres of vocal church cantatas, psalms, serenades, secular operas and instrumental music in the forms of overtures, concertos, symphonies and sonatas. The work of Fasch is extremely important as his music epitomizes the transition between Baroque and Classical periods. Having been a young friend of Telemann and Fasch's son -- who was the harpsichordist in the court of Frederick The Great -- being connected with C.P.E. Bach, the influences are clear. Extending far from his bass in Zerbst, where he was Kapellmeister for 35 years, Fasch's music made impacts in Prague and Vienna and was original in its intent and character. (He lived in near musical isolation from other sources and was probably not influenced by other composers with the few exceptinal people already present in his life.) Wind instruments were employed by Fasch in new and innovative manners; not in true solo forms but in portions of lighter passages or repeated musical phrases. ~ Keith Johnson