Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), probably the best-known German composer of the Baroque period, was born in Eisenach (in the small Duchy of Saxe-Eisenach) to a family of composers. Orphaned at the age of ten, he spent the rest of his childhood living with his eldest brother, Johann Christoph, a composer from whom he received his initial musical education. At the age of 18 he began working as a musician for Protestant churches first in Arnstadt and then Mühlhausen. Appointments to courts in Weimar and Köthen followed, and Bach wrote most of his secular compositions during this period. From 1723 until the end of his life, he held the position of cantor at Leipzig’s Thomaskirche, composing music for the city’s major Lutheran churches and the university’s Collegium Musicum. In 1736, he was awarded the title of court composer by Augustus III of Poland, who also held the title of Elector of Saxony. 

In 1721, Bach presented a set of six instrumental works to Christian Ludwig, Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt. Christian Ludwig was the youngest son of the “Great Elector” Frederick William. He took a great interest in the music of both Händel and J.S. Bach and maintained a court orchestra at the Hohenzollern’s palace in Berlin. However, it is thought that the Brandenburg concertos, as they became known, were never actually played at his court since they were considered too difficult for his musicians. This excerpt is the Allegro, the first movement, from the concerto no. 1.