Johann Sebastian Bach
“音乐之父”巴赫

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) was a German composer and musician of the Baroque period. He enriched established German styles through his skill in counterpoint, harmonic and motivic organization, and the adaptation of rhythms, forms, and textures from abroad, particularly from Italy and France. Bach's compositions include the Brandenburg Concertos , the Goldberg Variations , the Mass in B minor, two Passions, and hundreds of cantatas. His music is revered for its technical command, artistic beauty, and intellectual depth.
约翰·塞巴斯蒂安·巴赫(1685—1750)是巴洛克时代的德国作曲家和音乐家。巴赫发展了在复调、和声组织和乐旨组织方面的技能，并改编了来自国外尤其是意大利和法国的音乐韵律、形式和组织，从而丰富了德国原本的音乐形式。巴赫的作品包括《勃兰登堡协奏曲》《哥德堡变奏曲》《B小调弥撒曲》，两大受难曲和上千首康塔塔。巴赫作品体现了对音乐技巧的掌控、艺术上的美感和思想上的深度，为世人敬仰。

Bach was born in Eisenach, Saxe-Eisenach, into a great musical family. His father, Johann Ambrosius Bach, was the director of the town musicians, and all of his uncles were professional musicians. Apparently at his own initiative, Bach attended St. Michael's School in Lüneburg for two years. After graduating he held several musical posts across Germany, including Royal Court Composer to Augustus III. Bach's health and vision declined in 1749, and he died on 28 July 1750. Modern historians believe that his death was caused by a combination of stroke and pneumonia.
巴赫出生在德国(萨克森)艾森纳赫一个伟大的音乐世家，他的父亲约翰·安普罗修斯·巴赫统领着镇上的音乐家，他的所有叔叔都是专业音乐家。巴赫主动申请去吕内堡的圣迈克尔学校学习了两年。毕业后，巴赫在德国从事几份音乐方面的工作，其中包括奥古斯都三世的皇室宫廷作曲家。1749年巴赫的健康状况和视力下降，于1750年7月28日辞世。现代历史学家认为巴赫死于中风和肺炎的并发症。

Bach's abilities as an organist were respected throughout Europe during his lifetime, although he was not widely recognized as a great composer until a revival of interest and performances of his music in the first half of the nineteenth century.
在欧洲，巴赫作为一名杰出的风琴演奏者，一生都受到人们的敬仰，但直到19世纪上半叶对巴赫音乐的兴趣和演奏重新兴起，人们才广泛认可巴赫是伟大的作曲家。