Johann Sebastian Bach

Bach, Johann Sebastian (1685–1750), German composer. He composed preludes, passacaglias, toccatas, and fugues for the organ, perfecting the art of polyphony. The 48 preludes and fugues he wrote for the keyboard, published collectively as The Well-Tempered Clavier, are particularly renowned. Bach wrote much music for other solo instruments, notably the cello, as well as a number of concertos and orchestral suites. He also wrote hundreds of church cantatas. Among his religious compositions are the St. John Passion, the Mass in B Minor, and the Christmas Oratorio. His music is seen as the crowning achievement of the Baroque Age.

See also: Baroque; Cantata.