LIFE AND WORKS OF J.S BACH AND AKIN EUBA

JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH

Johann Sebastian Bach was born Eisenach, Germany on march 21th , 1685 (the same year Handel was born), and He son of a town musician. At age 8, because of his great love for music he trekked 64 kilometers to listen to an organ recital. When the boy was ten, his father died. Johann’s musical training was taken over by his elder brother, Johann Christophe, an organist. During his early career, Bach was known more as an organist genius than as a composer. After two brief positions as organist, Bach was appointed to his firsts important post at the age of twenty-three, that of court organist and musician to the Duke of Weimar. He stayed nine years, and it was during his Weimar years he concentrated on organ, both as a performer and as a composer.

In October 1707, Bach married his cousin Maria Barbara Bach; together they eventually have seven children.

Bach was born and died in Germany, and spent his entire life there, working as an organist, and composer. He had over 20 children including four who became famous musicians in their own right.

HIS MUSIC  

Johann Sebastian Bach wrote music which is includes:

• Jesu joy of man desiring
• Passion according to St. Mathew
• The Great B minor mass
• The magnicat
•  Anna Magdalene
• Merry Peasant

AKIN EUBA

           Akin Euba was born in 1935, the same year with Ayo Bankole. He received his first music lessons from his father who was a civil servant. He studied music at the Trinity College of music, London, the University of California, Los Angelis and University of Ghana where he bagged his Doctorate degree in music.

         Upon his return to Nigeria, he worked with the Nigerian broadcasting Corporation. Thereafter he lectured at University of Lagos and Ife respectively.

      Akin Euba spent a good part of his life studying African traditional music, particularly Yoruba music. This author is privileged to have listened to Mr. Euba personally perform his composition scenes from traditional life at MUSON concert some years ago.

His music   

• Olurombi for symphony and orchestra
• The wanderer for cello and piano
• Abiku
• Chaka a setting of a dramatic poem