Springs of Hope

The Story of Johann Sebastian Bach (Joyce McPherson Biographies)

By: Joyce McPherson

Narrated by: Mike Kozlowski

Musicians of every age have hailed Johann Sebastian Bach as one of the greatest composers of all time. Beethoven called Bach “the progenitor of harmony.” He made a pun on the word Bach, which is German for brook, writing that “His name ought not to be Bach, but Ocean.” Johannes Brahms wrote: “Study Bach: there you will find everything.” Claude Debussy wrote: “And if we look at the works of J. S. Bach... on each page we discover things which we thought were born only yesterday, from delightful arabesques to an overflowing of religious feeling greater than anything we have since discovered.”

Felix Mendelssohn called his work “the greatest music in the world,” and wrote about one of Bach’s choruses: “If life had taken hope and faith from me, this single chorus would restore all.” The hope and faith that filled the life of Johann Sebastian Bach still lives in the music he wrote to glorify God. His life is a testimony to the hope that is a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul.

This book is written on a 5th-8th grade reading level, but younger children will enjoy listening to it also.

©2015 Joyce B. McPherson (P)2024 Joyce B. McPherson

An engaging biography in story form

I was swept away to Germany in the 1700's! Also, I was surprised at how well the story alone taught me about Bach, his family and his prolific musical accomplishments as well as the etiquette and culture of the day. This is an engaging Audible account. I highly recommend it.