MeetJohannSebastianBach. JohannwasborninEisenach, Germany, in 1685. Germanyisthehomeofcuckooclocks, pretzels, andtheNeuschwansteinCastle, whichinspiredWalt
DisneytocreatetheSleepingBeautyCastleforDisneyland. As a child, Johann's fathertaughthimtoplaytheviolinandharpsichord. Hisbrother, JohannChristophBach, taughthimtoplaytheorgan. In 1707, Bachmarriedhissecondcousin, MariaBarbaraBach, andtheyhadsevenchildren. In 1708, Bachaccepted a postasthecourtcomposer, organist, andprincipalviolinistfortheDukeofWeimar. TheDukeprobablylikedorganmusicbecauseitwasduringthistimethatBachwrotemostofhisorganmusic, includinghisToccataandFuguein D minor, whichisoneofthebestpieceseverwrittenfortheorgan.
In 1716, theKapellmeisterfortheDukeofWeimar's orchestradied. Bachthoughthewouldbeofferedthisposition, buttheDukeappointedsomeoneelseinstead. BecauseBachwantedtobe a conductor, andtherewasanopeningin Köthen, hepolitelyaskedthe