Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach (21 June 1732 – 26 January 1795) was a German composer and harpsichordist, the fifth son of Johann Sebastian Bach, sometimes referred to as the "Bückeburg Bach".
Born in Leipzig in the Electorate of Saxony, he was taught music by his father, and also tutored by his distant cousin . He studied at the St. Thomas School, and some believe he studied law at the university there, but there is no record of this. In 1750, William, Count of Schaumburg-Lippe appointed Johann Christoph harpsichordist at Bückeburg, and in 1759, he became concertmaster. While there, Bach collaborated with Johann Gottfried Herder, who provided the texts for six vocal works; the music survives for only four of these.
Bach wrote keyboard sonatas, symphonies, oratorios, liturgical choir pieces and motets, operas and songs. Because of Count Wilhelm's predilection for Italian music, Bach had to adapt his style accordingly, but he retained stylistic traits of the music of his father and of his brother, C. P. E. Bach.
He married the singer Lucia Elisabeth Münchhausen (1732–1803) in 1755 and the Count stood as godfather to his son Wilhelm Friedrich Ernst Bach. J.C.F. educated his son in music as his own father had, and Wilhelm Friedrich Ernst went on to become music director to Frederick William II of Prussia.
In April 1778 he and Wilhelm travelled to England to visit Johann Christian Bach. J. C. F. Bach died in 1795 in Bückeburg, aged 62.
Assessment The 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica says of him: "He was an industrious composer, ... whose work reflects no discredit on the family name." He was an outstanding virtuoso of the keyboard, with a reasonably wide repertory of surviving works, including twenty symphonies, the later ones influenced by Haydn and Mozart; hardly a genre of vocal music was neglected by him.New Grove, p. 312
A significant portion of J. C. F. Bach's output was lost in the World War II destruction of the Staatliches Institut für Musikforschung in Berlin, where the scores had been on deposit since 1917. Musicologists Hansdieter Wohlfahrth, who catalogued his works, and Ulrich Leisinger, consider Bach a transitional figure in the mold of his half-brother C. P. E., his brother Johann Christian, the Grauns (Carl and Johann), and Georg Philipp Telemann, with some works in the style of the high Baroque, some in a galant idiom, and still others which combine elements of the two, along with traits of the nascent classical style.
Works "BR-JCFB" denotes "Bach-Repertorium Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach". "Wf" denotes "wohlfahrt verzeichnis". Bach Digital Work (BDW) pages contain information about individual compositions.
Keyboard works Two Sonatas from "Musikalisches Vielerley" collection of works made by CPE Bach – not after 1770. BR-JCFB A 1 \ Keyboard Sonata in F major (Wf XI/1) BR-JCFB A 2 \ Keyboard Sonata in C major (Wf XI/2) "Six easy Sonatas for Clavier or Pianoforte" – composed before December 26, 1783. BR-JCFB A 3 \ No. 1 – Keyboard Sonata in C major (Wf XI/3.1) BR-JCFB A 4 \ No. 2 – Keyboard Sonata in F major (Wf XI/3.2) BR-JCFB A 5 \ No. 3 – Keyboard Sonata in E major (Wf XI/3.3) BR-JCFB A 6 \ No. 4 – Keyboard Sonata in D major (Wf XI/3.4) BR-JCFB A 7 \ No. 5 – Keyboard Sonata in A major (Wf XI/3.5) BR A 8 \ Keyboard Sonata in E-flat major (Wf XI/3.6) Three Sonatas and Sonatina from "Musikalische Nebenstunden" Collection of works made by JCF Bach – Not after 1787/88 BR-JCFB A 9 \ Keyboard Sonata in C major (Wf XI/4) BR-JCFB A 10 \ Keyboard Sonata in G major (Wf XI/5) BR-JCFB A 11 \ Keyboard Sonata in F major (Wf XI/6) BR-JCFB A 12 \ Keyboard Sonatina in A minor (Wf XI/7) "Three easy Sonatas for Clavier of Pianoforte" – composed before October 1788, published in 1789 BR-JCFB A 13 \ No. 1 – Keyboard Sonata in D major (Wf XI/8.1) BR-JCFB A 14 \ No. 2 – Keyboard Sonata in A major (Wf XI/8.2) BR-JCFB A 15 \ No. 3 – Keyboard Sonata in E major (Wf XI/8.3) Six easy Sonatas – composed around 1785 – perhaps composed for Christoph Ernst Abraham Albrecht von Boineburg, at that time the judiciary in Rinteln. BR-JCFB A 16 \ No. 1 – Keyboard Sonata in D major BR-JCFB A 17 \ No. 2 – Keyboard Sonata in A major BR-JCFB A 18 \ No. 3 – Keyboard Sonata in F major (Wf XI/9) BR-JCFB A 19 \ No. 4 – Keyboard Sonata in B-flat major BR-JCFB A 20 \ No. 5 – Keyboard Sonata in G major BR-JCFB A 21 \ No. 6 – Keyboard Sonata in E-flat major Six Sonatas – composed around 1785 – probably like A 16 – 21 for C.E.A.A von Boineburg. BR-JCFB A 22 – 25 \ 4 Keyboard Sonatas (lost) BR-JCFB A 26 \ No. 5 – Keyboard Sonata in E-flat major BR-JCFB A 27 \ No. 6 – Keyboard Sonata in F major Seven Sonatas – Composed before around and not after March 1789, only one Sonata survived. BR-JCFB A 28–30, A 32–34 \ 6 Keyboard Sonatas (lost) BR-JCFB A 31 \ Keyboard Sonata in D major BR-JCFB A 35 – 37 \ 3 Keyboard Sonatas (lost) BR-JCFB A 38 – 39 \ 2 Keyboard Sonatas (lost) BR-JCFB A 40 \ keyboard Sonata for 4 hands in A major (Wf XIII/1) – around 1786 BR-JCFB A 41 \ keyboard Sonata for 4 hands in C major (Wf XIII/2) – perhaps around 1791 BR-JCFB A 42 – 43 \ 2 Sonatas for 2 keyboards (lost) BR-JCFB A 44 \ Variations in A major (Wf XII/1) (lost) BR-JCFB A 45 \ Allegretto in G major with 18 Variations on "Ah vous dirais-je Maman" (Wf XII/2) – Composed around 1785/90 – originally comprised only 13 variations and was later expanded by 5 variations. Five Pieces from "Musikalisches Vielerley" – not after 1770 BR-JCFB A 46 \ Minuet for dance and Trio in D major (Wf XII/3) BR-JCFB A 47 \ Alla polacca in G major (Wf XII/7) BR-JCFB A 48 \ Minuet and Trio in F major (Wf XII/4) BR-JCFB A 49 \ Two minuets for dance in D major (Wf XII/5) BR-JCFB A 50 \ Alla polacca in F major (Wf XII/6) Seventy pieces from "Musikalische Nebenstunden" – The keyboard pieces belong to different genre traditions and are likely to come from different creative periods. (Wf XII/13) BR-JCFB A 51 \ Allegro in C major BR-JCFB A 52 \ Minuet in C major (BWV deest) BR-JCFB A 53 \ Andante in G major BR-JCFB A 54 \ March in G major BR-JCFB A 55 \ Allegretto in F major BR-JCFB A 56 \ Minuet alternating between F major and B-flat major BR-JCFB A 57 \ Polonaise in F major BR-JCFB A 58 \ Allegretto in D major BR-JCFB A 59 \ March in D major BR-JCFB A 60 \ Schwäbisch (Swabian) in D major (kind of folk dance) BR-JCFB A 61 \ Minuet in D major and Trio in G major BR-JCFB A 62 \ Angloise in G major BR-JCFB A 63 \ Villanella in C major BR-JCFB A 64 \ Scherzo in C major BR-JCFB A 65 \ Allegro moderato in G major BR-JCFB A 66 \ Minuet in G major and Trio in C major BR-JCFB A 67 \ Polonaise in G major BR-JCFB A 68 \ March in G major BR-JCFB A 69 \ Angloise and trio in G major BR-JCFB A 70 \ Allegro F major BR-JCFB A 71 \ Schwäbisch F major BR-JCFB A 72 \ Minuet in F major and Trio in B-flat major BR-JCFB A 73 \ Allegro in D minor BR-JCFB A 74 \ Angloise in F major BR-JCFB A 75 \ Minuet in C major BR-JCFB A 76 \ March in G major BR-JCFB A 77 \ March in D major and Trio in G major BR-JCFB A 78 \ Allegro in G major BR-JCFB A 79 \ Minuet and Trio in G major BR-JCFB A 80 \ Allegro in B-flat major BR-JCFB A 81 \ Villanella in D major BR-JCFB A 82 \ Angloise in D major and Trio in G major BR-JCFB A 83 \ March in G major BR-JCFB A 84 \ Villanella in B-flat major BR-JCFB A 85 \ Angloise in B-flat major BR-JCFB A 86 \ Presto in G minor BR-JCFB A 87 \ Allegro in E-flat major BR-JCFB A 88 \ Adagio in C minor BR-JCFB A 89 \ March in E-flat major BR-JCFB A 90 \ Minuet in E-flat major and Trio in B-flat major BR-JCFB A 91 \ Polonaise in E-flat major BR-JCFB A 92 \ Angloise in E-flat major and Trio in B-flat major BR-JCFB A 93 \ March in E-flat major BR-JCFB A 94 \ Minuet alternating between E-flat major and C minor BR-JCFB A 95 \ Allegro in E minor BR-JCFB A 96 \ Minuet alternating between A major and E major BR-JCFB A 97 \ Angloise in D major BR-JCFB A 98 \ Angloise in D major BR-JCFB A 99 \ Minuet in D major and Trio in A major BR-JCFB A 100 \ Musette in G major BR-JCFB A 101 \ Solfeggio in G major BR-JCFB A 102 \ Angloise in D major BR-JCFB A 103 \ Minuet in G major and Trio in D major BR-JCFB A 104 \ Polonaise in D major BR-JCFB A 105 \ March in D major BR-JCFB A 106 \ Andante in E major BR-JCFB A 107 \ Angloise in A major BR-JCFB A 108 \ Solfeggio in D major BR-JCFB A 109 \ Angloise in G major BR-JCFB A 110 \ March in B-flat major BR-JCFB A 111 \ Schwäbisch in F major BR-JCFB A 112 \ Angloise in B-flat major BR-JCFB A 113 \ Schwäbisch in D major BR-JCFB A 114 \ Polonaise in E-flat major BR-JCFB A 115 \ Minuet in E-flat major and Trio in B-flat major BR-JCFB A 116 \ Schwäbisch in C major BR-JCFB A 117 \ Minuet and Trio in C major BR-JCFB A 118 \ Angloise in F major BR-JCFB A 119 \ Alla Polacca in C major BR-JCFB A 120 \ Minuet in F major and Trio in F minor Five Pieces – composed around 1745/49, at least before taking up service in Bückeburg. BR-JCFB A 121 \ Polonaise in G major (Wf XII/8) BR-JCFB A 122 \ Minuet in F major (Wf XII/9) BR-JCFB A 123 \ Polonaise in F major (Wf XII/10) BR-JCFB A 124 \ Minuet in G major (Wf XII/11) BR-JCFB A 125 \ Minuet in A major (Wf XII/12) BR-JCFB A Inc1 \ Partia (Allegro) in C major – around 1745 (BWV deest) Six fugues – published under Telemann name – not after 1758 BR-JCFB A Inc2 \ Fugue for keyboard in G minor (lost) – based on G minor fugue from WTC I by JS Bach BR-JCFB A Inc3 \ Fugue for keyboard in E minor (lost) BR-JCFB A Inc4 \ Fugue for keyboard in C major (lost) BR-JCFB A Inc5 \ Fugue for keyboard in F major (TWV 30:27) – based on fugue – Wq 119.3 by CPEB BR-JCFB A Inc6 \ Fugue for keyboard in D major (lost) BR-JCFB A Inc7 \ Fugue for keyboard in C major (lost) BR-JCFB A Inc8 \ Galanterie-Stücke for keyboard
Chamber music The "Sonatas" denotes the Trio Sonata form. BR-JCFB B 1 \ Cello Sola in A major (Wf X/3)(1770)Sonata first published along with other works by his brother, C. P. E. Bach, in Musikalisches Vielerley, 1770 (pp. 118–125). source BR-JCFB B 2 \ Cello Solo in G major (Wf X/1) BR-JCFB B 3a \ Trio for traverso flute, violin & bc in A major (Wf VII/1) BR-JCFB B 3b \ Trio for traverso flute and keyboard in A major (Wf VII/1) BR-JCFB B 4 \ Trio for flute, viola & bc in E minor BR-JCFB B 5 – 10 \ Six Trios for two Flutes and Basso continuo – composed by May 1, 1770 – lost. Two trios for two Violins and Basso Continuo – Composed before December 23, 1768. BR-JCFB B 11 \ Trio for 2 violins & b.c. in A major (Wf VII/2) BR-JCFB B 12 \ Trio for 2 violins & b.c. in F major (Wf VII/3) BR-JCFB B 13 \ Trio for 2 violins & b.c. (lost) BR-JCFB B 14 \ Trio for keyboard and violin/flute in E-flat major (Wf VIII/2) Six Sonatas for Keyboard and flute (violin) – one of the most widely performed work by composer – published 1777 BR-JCFB B 15 \ Flute Sonata No. 1 in D minor (Wf VIII/3.1) BR-JCFB B 16 \ Flute Sonata No. 2 in D major (Wf VIII/3.2) – two versions 16a and 16b. BR-JCFB B 17 \ Flute Sonata No. 3 in C major (Wf VIII/3.3) BR-JCFB B 18 \ Flute Sonata No. 4 in C major (Wf VIII/3.4) – two versions 18a and 18b. BR-JCFB B 19 \ Flute Sonata No. 5 in A major (Wf VIII/3.5) BR-JCFB B 20 \ Flute Sonata No. 6 in C major (Wf VIII/3.6) versions 16b and 18b were versions made after the published collection, meaning that 16a and 18a are those found in the collection Two Sonatas for keyboard and violin from Musikalische Nebenstunden BR-JCFB B 21 \ Sonata in G major (Wf IX/2) BR-JCFB B 22 \ Sonata in D major (Wf IX/3) BR-JCFB B 23 – 24 \ 2 Flute Sonatas (lost) Three Sonatas for keyboard and flute (violin) – composed around 1770/80 BR-JCFB B 25 \ Sonata in F major (Wf VIII/1) BR-JCFB B 26 \ Violin Sonata in F major (incomplete) BR-JCFB B 27 \ Violin Sonata in D major (incomplete) BR-JCFB B 28 \ Sonata for Keyboard and Violin in G major (Wf IX/1) (lost) BR-JCFB B 29a \ Sonata for keyboard and flute/violin in D major (Wf VII/4)