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- Music Department
- Composer
- Soundtrack
Johann Sebastian Bach was born on March 21, 1685, in Eisenach, Thuringia, Germany, into a large and distinguished family of professional musicians. His father, named Johann Ambrosius Bach, was a violinist and trumpeter, employed by the city of Eisenach. His uncles were church organists, court musicians and composers. His mother and father died before Bach was 10. As an orphan, he moved in with his eldest brother, J. C. Bach, an organist and composer, under whose tutelage Bach studied organ music as well as the construction and maintenance of the organ.
Education: At the age of 14, Bach received a scholarship and walked on foot 300 kilometers to the famous St. Michael's school in Luneburg, near Hamburg. There he lived and studied for 2 years from 1699-1701. It was there that he sang a Capella at the boys chorale. Bach's studies included organ, harpsichord, and singing. In addition he took the academic studies in theology, history and geography, and lessons of Latin, Italian, and French. Besides his studies of music by the local Nothern German composers, Bach had important exposure to the music of composers from other European nations; such as the French composers Jean-Baptiste Lully, Marais, and Marchand, the South German composers Johann Pachelbel and Froberger, and the Italians Arcangelo Corelli and Antonio Vivaldi.
Personality and character: Bach was 17 when he made a 4-month pilgrimage, walking on foot about 400 kilometers from Arnstadt to the Northern city of Lubeck. There he studied with 'Dietrich Buxtehude' and became so involved that he overstayed his leave by three months. Buxtehude being probably the best organist of his time became the living link between the founder of Baroque music Heinrich Schütz and the biggest Baroque genius, Bach. Back in Arnstadt, Bach wrote 'Toccata and Fugue in D Minor' (1702), his first masterpiece; which stemmed from his bold organ improvisations. At that time he was in love with his second cousin Maria Barbara; whom he was taking upstairs to the church organ, where her presence was inspirational for his creativity. Bach was punished for the violation of the restrictions on women's presence in the church and he was fired. However, he eventually married Maria Barbara.
Cross-cultural studies: Bach studied the orchestral music of Antonio Vivaldi and gained insight into his compositional language by arranging Vivaldi's concertos for organ. Six French suites were written for keyboard; each suite opens with 'Allemande' and consists of several pieces, including 'Courante', 'Sarabande', 'Menuet', 'Gavotte', 'Air', 'Anglaise', 'Polonaise', 'Bourree', and 'Gigue'. As suggested by their titles, the pieces were representing songs and dances from various cultures. From the music of the Italians Antonio Vivaldi, Arcangelo Corelli, and 'Giuseppe Torelli'; Bach adopted dramatic introductions and endings as well as vivacious rhythmical dynamism and elaborate harmonization. Bach also performed the music of English, French, and Italian composers; motets of the Venetian school, and incorporated their rhythmical patterns and textural structures in the development of his own style.
Teaching: Bach selected and instructed musicians for orchestras and choirs in Weimar and Leipzig. His work as a Cantor included teaching instrumental and vocal lessons to the church musicians and later to the musicians of the court orchestra. Bach was also a teacher of his own children and of his second wife. In 1730, Bach presented his second wife with a musical notebook for studies, known as the 'Notebook of Anna Magdalena Bach'. Compositions in the notebook were written in a form of minuete, polonaise, gavotte, march, rondeau, chorale, sonata, prelude, song, and aria; written mainly by Bach, as well as by his sons 'Carl Philip Emanuel Bach', Johann Christoph Bach, and composers 'Francois Couperin', Georg Bohm, and others.
Family: Bach married his second cousin, named Maria Barbara, who was the inspirational force for his early compositions. They had seven children, 4 of whom survived to adulthood. W. F. Bach, J. C. Bach, and C. P. E. Bach became composers. Maria Barbara died in 1720. On December 3, 1721, Bach married Anna Magdalena (bee Wilcke), a talented soprano, who was 17 years his junior. They had thirteen children. Bach fathered a total of 20 children with his two wives. His sons 'Friedemann Bach', Johann Christoph Bach, and 'Carl Philip Emanuel Bach' became important composers in the Rococo style. The descendants of Bach are living in many countries across the world.
Social activity: Bach replaced his friend Georg Philipp Telemann as the director of the popular orchestra known as Collegium Musicum, which he led from 1729-1750. It was a private secular music society that gave concert performances twice a week at the Zimmerman's Coffeehouse near the Leipzig market square. Bach's exposure to such a secular public environment inspired him to compose numerous purely entertainment pieces for solo keyboard and several violin and harpsichord concertos.
Politics: Being the undisputed musical genius, Bach still suffered from ugly political machinations. Although the Leipzig Council had enough money, they never honored the promised salary of 1000 talers a year; promised to Bach by the Mayor of Leipzig, Gottlieb Lange, at the hiring interview. Bach worked diligently, in spite of being underpaid for 27 years until his death. On top of that local political factions in the Leipzig Council manipulated Bach's educational work as well as his compositions and public performances. They were pressuring him as the Cantor and Composer and interfering his creative efforts by imposing restrictions on his performances because of their ugly political games. Bach prevailed as he composed and played his "Mass in B Minor" to the monarch of Saxony and was appointed the Royal Court Composer of Saxony.
King Frederick the Great invited Bach to Potsdam in 1747. There the king played his own theme for Bach and challenged the composer to improvise on it. Bach used the 'royal theme' and improvised a three-part fugue on the king's piano. Later Bach upgraded the king's theme to a more sophisticated melody, and composed an array of pieces based on the improved 'royal theme', which he titled "Musical Offering" and later presented this composition to the king.
Legacy: Bach wrote over eleven hundred music compositions in all genres. In Leipzig alone he wrote a cantata for every Sunday and feast day of the year, of which 224 cantatas survive. Some of his compositions were written on the same theme at different times in his life, like choral cantatas and organ works on similar themes with significantly reworked arrangements. The complete list of Bach's works, BWV, has 1127 compositions for voice, organ, harpsichord, violin, cello, flute, chamber music for small ensembles, orchestral music, concertos for violin and orchestra, and for keyboard and orchestra. His music became the essential part of the education for every musician. Bach influenced such great composers as Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz Liszt, Frédéric Chopin, Felix Mendelssohn, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Sergei Prokofiev and many other prominent musicians.
Bach is by far the most performed and recorded composer in history. His 'Das Wohltemperierte Clavier' (The well-tempered keyboard, or The well-tuned piano, in modern terminology) is the definitive work for all students as well as concert musicians. Bach's 'Orgebuchlein' (The little organ book) is a staple in the repertoire of organists and pianists, and some pieces from it were arranged for ensembles. Bach's many chorales, especially the "Mass in B Minor" are considered the best works in the genre. His last work 'The Art of Fugue' is best known for it's acclaimed performance by Glenn Gould. Bach's music was used in hundreds of films, thousands of stage productions, and continues being played all over the world.
The definitive biography of J. S. Bach was written by the Nobel Prize Laureate Albert Schweitzer.- Music Department
- Composer
- Soundtrack
Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (3 February 1809 - 4 November 1847), born and widely known as Felix Mendelssohn, was a German composer, pianist, organist and conductor of the early Romantic period. Mendelssohn's compositions include symphonies, concertos, piano music, organ music and chamber music. His best-known works include the overture and incidental music for A Midsummer Night's Dream, the Italian Symphony, the Scottish Symphony, the oratorio St. Paul, the oratorio Elijah, the overture The Hebrides, the mature Violin Concerto and the String Octet. The melody for the Christmas carol "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" is also his. Mendelssohn's Songs Without Words are his most famous solo piano compositions.- Fred Delmare was born on 24 April 1922 in Hüttensteinach, Thuringia, Germany. He was an actor, known for Orpheus in der Unterwelt (1974), Die Leute von Züderow (1985) and Naked Among Wolves (1963). He was married to Renate Schuck, Silvia Kallenbach, Dagmar Marquardt, Mona Winzer and Iris Brockmeier. He died on 1 May 2009 in Leipzig, Saxony, Germany.
- Johannes Gabriel was born on 27 November 1969 in Leipzig, German Democratic Republic. He was an actor, known for The Red Cockatoo (2006), In aller Freundschaft (1998) and Police Call 110 (1971). He died on 7 June 2022 in Leipzig, Germany.
- Karl Michael Balzer was born on 16 January 1944 in Germany. He was an actor, known for The Bridge (1959), Hundert Jahre Brecht (1998) and In aller Freundschaft (1998). He died on 6 March 2014 in Leipzig, Saxony, Germany.
- Director
- Writer
Joachim Herz was born on 15 June 1924 in Dresden, Germany. He was a director and writer, known for Der fliegende Holländer (1964), Aufstieg und Fall der Stadt Mahagonny (1977) and Schiller und die Musik (2009). He died on 18 October 2010 in Leipzig, Saxony, Germany.- Günther Grabbert was born on 15 January 1931 in Schwerin, Germany. He was an actor, known for Ernst Thälmann (1986), Hotel Elfie (2000) and Das unsichtbare Visier (1973). He was married to ???. He died on 15 December 2010 in Leipzig, Saxony, Germany.
- Thomas Kornack was born on 14 April 1976 in Erfurt, German Democratic Republic. He was an actor, known for Wir (2013), Beloved Sisters (2014) and In aller Freundschaft (1998). He died on 6 November 2014 in Leipzig, Saxony, Germany.
- Actor
- Director
Dieter Bellmann was born on 24 July 1940 in Dohna, Saxony, Germany. He was an actor and director, known for In aller Freundschaft (1998), In aller Freundschaft - Die jungen Ärzte (2015) and Gavroche (1987). He was married to Astrid Höschel. He died on 20 November 2017 in Leipzig, Saxony, Germany.- Gert Gütschow was born on 2 March 1928 in Rostock, Germany. He was an actor, known for Front ohne Gnade (1984), Leichensache Zernik (1972) and Addio, piccola mia (1979). He died on 10 March 2023 in Leipzig, Saxony, Germany.
- Borys Marynowski was born on 10 June 1946 in Wodzislaw Slaski, Slaskie, Poland. He was an actor, known for The War of the Worlds: Next Century (1981), A Short Film About Killing (1988) and Pilkarski poker (1989). He died on 26 April 2005 in Leipzig, Saxony, Germany.
- Yelena Obraztsova was born on 7 July 1939 in Leningrad, RSFSR, USSR [now St. Petersburg, Russia]. She was an actress, known for Cavalleria rusticana (1982), The Queen of Spades: Bolshoi Opera (1983) and Frenchman (1988). She was married to Algis Martselovich Zhiuraitis and Vyacheslav Petrovich Makarov. She died on 12 January 2015 in Leipzig, Saxony, Germany.
- Marinus van der Lubbe was born on 13 January 1909 in Leiden, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands. He died on 10 January 1934 in Leipzig, Germany.
- Werner Tronjeck was born on 29 July 1909 in Pirna, Germany. He was an actor, known for Der Teufel vom Mühlenberg (1955), Der Lotterieschwede (1958) and Der Weg ins Leben (1954). He died on 11 August 1978 in Leipzig, East Germany.
- Production Designer
- Art Department
- Art Director
Uwe Riemer was born on 24 September 1964. He was a production designer and art director, known for Der Kontrolleur (1995), Pi - Die Polizistin (1998) and Ne fais pas ça! (2004). He was married to Dana Juliane Riemer-Fret. He died on 25 March 2013 in Leipzig, Saxony, Germany.- Marylu Poolman was born on 3 October 1936 in Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands. She was an actress, known for Albert Einstein (1990), Einer muß die Leiche sein (1978) and Krupp und Krause (1969). She died on 22 May 2004 in Leipzig, Saxony, Germany.
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
Ernst Anschütz was born on 28 October 1780 in Goldlauter, Saxony, Holy Roman Empire [now Suhl, Thuringia, Germany]. He is known for Iron Man 3 (2013), The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011) and Adam (2009). He died on 18 December 1861 in Leipzig, Kingdom of Saxony [now Saxony, Germany].- Wolf Goette was born on 9 August 1909 in Leipzig, Germany. He was an actor, known for Johann Sebastian Bach (1985), The Assassination (1964) and Der Hauptmann von Köln (1956). He died on 8 November 1995 in Leipzig, Saxony, Germany.
- Günther Rössler was born on 6 January 1926 in Germany. He was married to ??? and Kirsten Schlegel. He died on 31 December 2012 in Leipzig, Saxony, Germany.
- Writer
- Soundtrack
Helmut Richter was born on 30 November 1933 in Bruntál, Czechoslovakia. He was a writer, known for Tatort (1970), Scheidungsprozeß (1973) and Alfons Köhler (1983). He died on 3 November 2019 in Leipzig, Saxony, Germany.- Composer
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
Friedrich Wilhelm Rust was born on 15 August 1822 in Dessau, Germany. He was a composer, known for Incognito (1936), Der Polizeibericht meldet (1934) and Enjoy Yourselves (1934). He died on 2 May 1892 in Leipzig, Germany.- Actor
- Writer
Jürgen Hart was born on 20 September 1942 in Treuen, Saxony, Germany. He was an actor and writer, known for Salto kommunale (1998), Heimatgeschichten (1994) and Langer Samstag (1992). He was married to Katrin Hart. He died on 9 April 2002 in Leipzig, Saxony, Germany.- Paul-Joachim Schneider was born on 30 April 1892 in Lübeck, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. He was an actor, known for Karriere in Paris (1952), Mich dürstet (1956) and Der Teufelskreis (1956). He died on 16 June 1977 in Leipzig, Saxony, Germany.
- Wolfgang Hennig was born in 1947 in Radebeul, Saxony, Germany. He died on 1 August 2016 in Leipzig, Saxony, Germany.
- Erich Loest was born on 24 February 1926 in Mittweida, Germany. He was a writer, known for Tatort (1970), Police Call 110 (1971) and Ein Recht seriöser Herr (1980). He was married to Annelies Richter. He died on 12 September 2013 in Leipzig, Saxony, Germany.
- Werner Godemann was born on 25 March 1924 in Satow, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. He was an actor, known for Addio, piccola mia (1979), Du und ich und Klein-Paris (1971) and Anton the Magician (1978). He was married to Hannelore Brenner. He died on 28 November 2010 in Leipzig, Saxony, Germany.
- Udo Reiter was born on 28 March 1944 in Lindau, Bavaria, Germany. He was married to Else Buschheuer and Ursula Reiter. He died on 10 October 2014 in Gottscheina, Leipzig, Saxony, Germany.
- Harry Förster was born in 1880. He was an actor, known for Der indische Todesring oder Sieben Worte (1920), Das schwarze Boot (1920) and Chemie und Liebe (1948). He died on 27 March 1950 in Leipzig, Germany.
- Writer
- Director
- Location Management
Peter-Hugo Scholz was born on 30 August 1954 in Apollensdorf, East Germany. He was a writer and director, known for The Presidents' Tailor (2024), 360° - Die GEO-Reportage (1999) and Nano (1999). He died on 23 September 2019 in Leipzig, Saxony, Germany.- Paul-Dolf Neis was born on 26 July 1933. He was an actor, known for The Gleiwitz Case (1961), Der Adjutant (1972) and Die Lügnerin (1992). He died on 3 December 1996 in Leipzig, Saxony, Germany.
- Ralph Niese died on 23 November 2020 in Leipzig, Saxony, Germany.
- Art Department
- Additional Crew
Werner Tübke was born on 30 July 1929 in Schönebeck, Germany. He is known for Martin Luther (1983), Christianity: A History (2009) and Werner Tübke: Vom Abenteuer der Bildfindung (1991). He died on 27 May 2004 in Leipzig, Germany.- Director
- Writer
- Producer
Tilman Jens was born on 5 September 1954 in Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg, West Germany. He was a director and writer, known for Kampf gegen das inferno (2010), Gangster und genetik: neueste methoden der forensik (2014) and Operation fernsehen (2004). He died on 29 July 2020 in Leipzig, Saxony, Germany.- Sound Department
Andreas Müller is known for Die Macht der Träume (2016). Andreas died on 8 August 2016 in Leipzig, Saxony, Germany.- Lene Voigt was born on 2 May 1891 in Leipzig, Saxony, Germany. She was a writer, known for Langer Samstag (1998). She was married to Friedrich Otto Voigt. She died on 16 July 1962 in Leipzig, Saxony, Germany.
- Brigitte Rabald was born in 1934 in Markkleeberg, Germany. She was an actress, known for Star mit fremden Federn (1955) and Was halten Sie von Musik? (1962). She was married to Alo Koll. She died on 2 September 2019 in Leipzig, Saxony, Germany.
- Actress
Maria Wendt was born on 6 May 1876 in Bremerhaven, Germany. She was an actress, known for Eva (1913), Leuchtfeuer (1954) and Castles and Cottages (1957). She was married to Rudolf Lettinger. She died on 1 July 1961 in Leipzig, East Germany.- Wolfgang Mattheuer was born on 7 April 1927 in Reichenbach im Vogtland, Germany. He is known for Die sieben Affären der Dona Juanita (1973), Wolfgang Mattheuer (1991) and Zur Person (1963). He died on 7 April 2004 in Leipzig, Saxony, Germany.
- Siegfried Tiefensee was born on 20 October 1922 in Rastenburg, East Prussia, Germany [now Ketrzyn, Warminsko-Mazurskie, Poland]. He was a composer, known for Snow White (1961) and Lysistrata oder der Bettstreik der Athenerinnen (1959). He was married to Irmgard Morsbach. He died on 24 March 2009 in Leipzig, Germany.
- Rudolf Krause was born on 21 January 1927 in Leipzig, Germany. He died on 12 December 2003 in Leipzig, Germany.
- Director
- Additional Crew
Adolf Dresen was born on 31 March 1935 in Eggesin / Uecker-Randow, Germany. He was a director, known for Juno und der Pfau (1974), Der Mond scheint auf Kylenamoe (1968) and Iphigenie auf Tauris (1979). He was married to Barbara Bachmann. He died on 11 July 2001 in Leipzig, Germany.- Johannes Curth was born on 17 June 1899 in Leipzig, Germany. He was an actor, known for Hans Beimler, Kamerad (1969), Die Brüder Lautensack (1973) and Professor Mamlock (1961). He was married to Walpurgis Brückner. He died on 11 August 1983 in Leipzig, East Germany.
- Bernhard Wildenhain was born on 1 January 1873 in Werdau, Germany. He was an actor, known for The Rape of the Sabines (1936) and Der Schönheitswettbewerb (1924). He died in May 1957 in Leipzig, Germany.
- Klaus Köste was born on 27 February 1943 in Frankfurt, Germany. He died on 14 December 2012 in Leipzig, Germany.
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
Carl Reinecke was born on 23 June 1824 in Altona, Germany. He is known for Châteaux en Auvergne (1973). He was married to Margarethe Schifflin, Charlotte Scharnke and Betty Hansen. He died on 10 March 1910 in Leipzig, Saxony, Germany.- Siegfried Prölß was born on 11 September 1934 in Dresden, Saxony, Germany. He died on 9 October 2011 in Leipzig, Saxony, Germany.
- Composer
- Soundtrack
Peter Gläser was born on 7 January 1949 in Leipzig, Germany. He was a composer, known for Woran wir uns erinnern... (1984), Sachsenspiegel (1992) and Riverboat - Die MDR-Talkshow aus Leipzig (1992). He died on 23 October 2008 in Leipzig, Saxony, Germany.- Editor
- Editorial Department
Jürgen Schulz was born on 2 August 1943 in Königsberg, East Prussia, Germany. He was an editor, known for Der Staatsanwalt hat das Wort (1965), Schauspielereien (1978) and Variete (1985). He died on 20 June 2020 in Leipzig, Saxony, Germany.- Erich Gerberding was born on 15 October 1921 in Hanover, Germany. He was an actor, known for Sonntagsfahrer (1963), Hans Beimler, Kamerad (1969) and Sudba rezidenta (1970). He died on 24 May 1986 in Leipzig, German Democratic Republic.
- Arthur Nikisch was born on 12 October 1855 in Mosonszentmiklós, Hungary. He was married to Amélie Heussner. He died on 23 January 1922 in Leipzig, Germany.