The Bach family was of importance in the history of music for nearly two hundred years. Four branches of the family were known at the beginning of the 16th century

The Bach family never left Thuringia until the sons of Sebastian went into a more modern world. In Erfurt musicians were known as "Bachs," even when there were no longer any members of the family in the town. JS Bach thus inherited the artistic tradition of a popular musical family. Moreover, his ability as an organist ensured that he was never unemployed.

Bach's first wife, Maria Barbara, died in 1720. Maria bore him 10 children; 3 of whom died at an early age. Bach then remarried in 1721 to Anna Magdalena Wilcken (13 years his junior). In all Bach fathered 20 children.

Undated painting of JS Bach and some of his sons

Famous Sons

The fame of the Bachs did not fade in the generation following JS Bach; four of his sons were outstanding musicians in their own rights. Indeed, if one happened to mention the name "Bach" at the turn of the century, it would likely have been understood to mean Carl Philipp Emanuel, harpsichordist to Frederich the Great. Carl Philipp's elder brother, Wilhelm Friedemann, achieved renown as an organist in Halle; a position that had been rejected by his father years earlier. Of Sebastian's four sons to scratch their marks in history, the elder, products of the union with Maria Barbara, are more prominently remembered. Not forgotten are the progeny of Anna Magdalena: Johann Christian, music master to the Queen of England, Johann Christoph Friedrich, court chamber musician at Bückeburg, and grandson Wilhelm Friedrich Ernst, the last musician to have been furnished by the great family of Bachs.