Beginning of Essay
Born at Eisenach, in Thuringia, he came of a distinguished musical family. At 15 he became a chorister at Luneburg and at 19 organist at Arnstadt. Subsequent appointments included positions at the courts of Weimar and Anhalt-Kother, and finally in 1723, that of mu ....

Middle of Essay
.... and four orchestral suites. Bach's keyboard music for clavier and for organ is of equal importance and includes the collection of 48 preludes and fugues known as THE WELL-TEMPERED CLAVIER, the GOLDBERG VARIATIONS, and the FRENCH and ENGLISH SUITES. Of his organ music, the most important examples are the choral preludes. He also wrote chamber music and songs. Two important works written in the later years illustrate the principles and potential of his polyphic art - THE MUSICAL OFFERING and THE ART OF FUGUE. ....