The Triumph and Tragedy of Johann Sebastian Bach

by Brian Foden

One of classical music's greatest composers didn't have an easy life.

Ask anyone to name the best classical composers of all time and Johann Sebastian Bach will almost inevitably be at or near the top of the list. Examples of his enormous influence include statues erected in his honor, streets named after him, and samples of his works blasted into outer space for aliens to discover.

Born into a family of musicians in the city of Eisenach, Germany in 1685, Bach experienced tragedy at an early age. When he was nine years old, his mother died, and eight months later, his father, the man that taught him how to play the violin and harpsichord, also passed away. Bach then went to live with his oldest brother, Johann Christoph Bach, who helped develop his brother's skill on the harpsichord and organ. Later, Bach won a scholarship to study at a prestigious school, where his fine singing voice was recognized. After graduating, he held several musical posts in Germany, including being the director of music for Prince Leopold. Bach's most productive period for musical composition was from 1708 to 1717.

Tragedy revisited Bach in his adulthood. After his marriage to his second cousin, Maria Barbara Bach, the couple had seven children, three of whom died young. Then, in 1720, Bach's wife suddenly died. He remarried shortly thereafter, and this union with Anna Magdalena Wilcke produced 13 children. Unfortunately, only six of those saw adulthood.

Bach died in 1750 at the age of 65. Historians believe it was a stroke and pneumonia that killed him. During his lifetime, Bach was known as a superb musician and teacher. It wasn't until the early 19th century that his genius as a composer began to be fully appreciated.

    1.     Which is NOT mentioned as a way Bach has been honored?

(A) Specially prepared paths that people use for transportation.

(B) Pieces of art constructed in memory of him.

(C) Sending his music into outer space.

(D) Naming space shuttles after him.

    2.     Who taught Bach how to play musical instruments?

(A) His second wife.

(B) His mother.

(C) His father.

(D) His second cousin.

    3.     Why is the period from 1708 to 1717 mentioned in the article?

(A) It was when Bach wrote the most music.

(B) It was when he took his talent on the road.

(C) It was when he earned his reputation as a great violinist.

(D) It was how long his first marriage lasted.

    4.     What happened last?

(A) Tragedy struck Bach's family.

(B) People began to think of Bach as a stellar composer.

(C) Bach became a music teacher.

(D) Bach passed away due to lung cancer.

巴哈的成功与悲剧

古典音乐其中一位最伟大的作曲家却没有平顺的一生。

如果你要任何人列出有史以来最优秀的古典音乐作曲家，约翰．塞巴斯丁．巴哈几乎都无可避免地会被列在前几名。巴哈对人们巨大影响的例子包括为纪念他而建的雕像、以他命名的街道，以及发射到外层空间让外星人去发现的作品样本。

巴哈在 1685年出生于一个位于德国艾森纳赫市的音乐世家，他年纪很轻就经历了悲剧。他 9 岁时母亲就过世了，而 8 个月后，教导他拉小提琴和弹奏大键琴的父亲也撒手人寰。巴哈后来去和他的大哥约翰．克里斯托弗．巴哈一起住，他大哥帮助他将弹奏大键琴和风琴的技巧更加精进。之后，巴哈赢得了奖学金得以进入一所颇富盛名的学校就读，在那里他卓越的歌声受到肯定。毕业之后，他在德国担任了几份音乐方面的职位，其中还包括担任利奥波尔王子的宫廷音乐长。巴哈的音乐作品产量最多的时期是从 1708 年到 1717 年。

巴哈成年时，悲剧又再度造访。在他和他的二堂妹玛丽亚．芭芭拉．巴哈结婚之后，这对夫妻生了 7 个孩子，而其中有 3 个很早就夭折了。接着在 1720 年，巴哈的妻子突然过世了。他不久之后便再婚，而他和安娜．玛德莲娜．威尔肯结婚生下了 13 名子女。很不幸地，其中只有 6 位长大成人。

巴哈在 1750年过世，享年 65 岁。历史学家相信他的死因是中风和肺炎。在他一生中，巴哈以一流音乐家和老师的身份而闻名。直到 19 世纪初，他身为作曲家的天份才开始完全获得欣赏。

答案：    D   C   A   B

羽管键琴是一种曾经盛行于欧洲的键盘乐器和拨弦乐器，拨弦的是鸟类羽毛管。结构原理和翼琴相似，只是琴键比较大，故亦称『大键琴』。

大键琴的琴身是三角形，比翼琴稍大。因此音色比翼琴更华丽一些，巴洛克时期的作曲家十分喜爱这种乐器，巴哈也为大键琴写作了大量的作品。但是大键琴的缺点和翼琴一样，音量有点小，而且力度不能完全受演奏者控制，但世界各地仍有大量的爱好者在演奏和学习这两种古老的乐器。

（数据源：维基百科）