Johann Sebastian Bach (31 March [O.S. 21 March] 1685 – 28 July 1750) was a … Read Full Bio ↴Johann Sebastian Bach (31 March [O.S. 21 March] 1685 – 28 July 1750) was a German composer and musician of the Baroque period. He is known for instrumental compositions such as the Brandenburg Concertos and the Goldberg Variations, and vocal music such as the St Matthew Passion and the Mass in B minor. Since the 19th-century Bach Revival he has been generally regarded as one of the greatest composers of all time.

The Bach family already counted several composers when Johann Sebastian was born as the last child of a city musician in Eisenach. Having become an orphan at age 10, he lived for five years with his eldest brother, after which he continued his musical formation in Lüneburg. From 1703 he was back in Thuringia, working as a musician for Protestant churches in Arnstadt and Mühlhausen and, for longer stretches of time, at courts in Weimar—where he expanded his repertoire for the organ—and Köthen—where he was mostly engaged with chamber music. From 1723 he was employed as Thomaskantor (cantor at St. Thomas) in Leipzig. He composed music for the principal Lutheran churches of the city, and for its university's student ensemble Collegium Musicum. From 1726 he published some of his keyboard and organ music. In Leipzig, as had happened in some of his earlier positions, he had a difficult relation with his employer, a situation that was little remedied when he was granted the title of court composer by the Elector of Saxony and King of Poland in 1736. In the last decades of his life he reworked and extended many of his earlier compositions. He died of complications after eye surgery in 1750.

Bach enriched established German styles through his mastery of counterpoint, harmonic and motivic organisation, and his adaptation of rhythms, forms, and textures from abroad, particularly from Italy and France. Bach's compositions include hundreds of cantatas, both sacred and secular. He composed Latin church music, Passions, oratorios and motets. He often adopted Lutheran hymns, not only in his larger vocal works, but for instance also in his four-part chorales and his sacred songs. He wrote extensively for organ and for other keyboard instruments. He composed concertos, for instance for violin and for harpsichord, and suites, as chamber music as well as for orchestra. Many of his works employ the genres of canon and fugue.

Throughout the 18th century Bach was primarily valued as an organist, while his keyboard music, such as The Well-Tempered Clavier, was appreciated for its didactic qualities. The 19th century saw the publication of some major Bach biographies, and by the end of that century all of his known music had been printed. Dissemination of scholarship on the composer continued through periodicals and websites exclusively devoted to him, and other publications such as the Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis (BWV, a numbered catalogue of his works) and new critical editions of his compositions. His music was further popularised through a multitude of arrangements, including for instance the Air on the G String, and of recordings, for instance three different box sets with complete performances of the composer's oeuvre marking the 250th anniversary of his death.

Mass in B minor BWV 232: I. Kyrie: Kyrie eleison
Johann Sebastian Bach Lyrics

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Kyrie Eleison
Kyrie Eleison
Kyrie Eleison
Kyrie Eleison
Kyrie Eleison
Kyrie Eleison
Kyrie Eleison
Kyrie Eleison

Kyrie Eleison
Kyrie Eleison
Kyrie Eleison
Kyrie Eleison

Kyrie Eleison
Kyrie Eleison

Overall Meaning

The song "Kyrie Eleison" is a part of the larger work by Johann Sebastian Bach, known as the Mass in B minor BWV 232. The lyrics "Kyrie Eleison" are actually Greek, and they translate to "Lord, have mercy." This song is a plea for mercy and a humbling recognition of one's own flaws and shortcomings.

The song begins with a repetition of the phrase "Kyrie Eleison" twelve times, emphasizing its importance and urgency in the plea for mercy. The repetition of this phrase also serves as a structure for the song and creates a sense of unity and continuity within the piece. Each repetition builds upon the previous one, leading to a sense of mounting desperation.

The music itself is characterized by its soaring, almost ethereal quality, with a focus on the vocal harmonies and intricate counterpoint. The use of minor key tonality adds to the somber, reflective tone of the piece. The music starts softly and builds in intensity, adding layers of complexity and emotion with each repetition of the phrase.

Overall, the song "Kyrie Eleison" is a powerful expression of the human need for mercy and forgiveness. Its combination of expressive music and simple yet profound lyrics make it a timeless masterpiece that continues to resonate with audiences today.

Line by Line Meaning

Kyrie Eleison
Lord have mercy