Background
He was born at Arnstadt, the son of Heinrich Bach, Johann Sebastian Bach"s great uncle, hence he was Johann Sebastian"s first cousin once removed.
He was born at Arnstadt, the son of Heinrich Bach, Johann Sebastian Bach"s great uncle, hence he was Johann Sebastian"s first cousin once removed.
He was also the uncle of Maria Barbara Bach, J.S. Bach"s first wife. He is not to be confused with Johann Sebastian Bach"s son, Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach. Johann Christoph had a reputation as a composer that was only equalled by that of Johann Sebastian within the Bach family during his lifetime.
Some of the works were later attributed to Johann Sebastian, but were recently recognized as written by Johann Christoph.
One of the most famous works is the cantata Meine Freundin, du bist schön, based on the Song of Solomon. Despite his success as a musician, Johann Christoph experienced financial difficulties, which may have resulted in his not having been selected as the guardian of Johann Sebastian when the latter"s parents died.
Johann Christoph was heavily in debt when he died at Eisenach. Sebastian Bach described him in his Genealogy (1735) as "the profound composer", thus hinting at his reputation, not just within the family, but within society.
He was organist at Eisenach and later a member of the court chamber orchestra there.