Bach, << bahk, >> Johann Christian (1735-1782), a German composer, was the youngest son of the famous composer Johann Sebastian Bach. Johann Christian is best known for his chamber music, symphonies, and operas in the Italian style. He was born on Sept. 5, 1735, in Leipzig, and lived there and in Berlin until he moved to Italy in 1754. From 1762 until his death on Jan. 1, 1782, he worked in London but made frequent trips to the continent. In London, he became known as “John Christian Bach.”
The influence of Bach’s international travels on his work is evident in the international operatic and symphonic styles he developed. The Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was deeply influenced by his combination of northern European and Italian styles. Johann Christian wrote nearly 500 works, 35 of them concertos for harpsichord or piano with orchestra. Using the style of Italian religious music, he composed music for the Roman Catholic Church, to which he had been converted. He also produced concerts and Italian operas in London.
