1722Reputable sourceWell documented
Bach and the Well-Tempered Clavier
On the timeline · around 1722 · The Baroque
What happened
The German composer Johann Sebastian Bach brought Baroque counterpoint to its summit. In 1722 he completed the first book of The Well-Tempered Clavier, a set of preludes and fugues in all 24 major and minor keys, demonstrating a tuning that let a keyboard play in every key. Across his life he produced masterworks in nearly every form — the Brandenburg Concertos, the St Matthew Passion, the Mass in B minor.
Why it matters
Bach's mastery of harmony and counterpoint made him the touchstone for virtually every later composer. The Well-Tempered Clavier helped establish the system of keys that underlies Western music to this day.
Sources
- World History Encyclopedia. Johann Sebastian Bach · Reputable source