Johann Bach / Johann Michael Bach (?) We must vanish like a shadow

The Erfurt organist Johann Bach (1604– 1673) is the earliest member of the Bach family to make his mark as a composer. His work was overshadowed by the privations caused by the Thirty Years’ War and the no less difficult years which followed. Those uncertain times also threatened the preservation of musical works of art with the result that we possess few examples of Johann Bach’s music. Three choral works are currently associated with his name, but none of these attributions are considered to be certain. The simple, majestic motet “Sei nun wieder zufrieden” may in fact be a composition by the Arnstadt cantor and pupil of Schütz, Jonas de Fletin, and the solemn funeral motet “Unser Leben ist ein Schatten” has also been attributed to Johann Michael Bach. Finally the score of the choral aria “Weint nicht um meinen Tod” bears the initials “J.B.”, yet at the same time it is dated “1699”, i.e. more than a quarter of a century after Johann Bach’s death. Personal details

The cantor of Gehren Johann Michael Bach the elder (1648–1694), the younger brother of Johann Christoph, is described in the family chronicle as a "skilful composer". According to a contemporary document he was quiet and reserved in character, with deep artistic understanding, and these qualities are reflected in his compositions. Those which survive consist of some dozen motets, solo strophic arias with instrumental accompaniment, and a few cantatas and organ chorales. Personal details

The publisher, church musician and teacher Günter Graulich is one of the major personalities in German publishing of the post-war period. With his wife Waltraud he founded Carus-Verlag Stuttgart in 1972, which he built up from a 2-person family firm to a medium-sized business with around 60 employees. A trained church musician and Kantor for many years at the Matthäuskirche Stuttgart, he also directed the Motettenchor Stuttgart for 50 years. With his choir he made LP and CD recordings, and undertook numerous concert tours to other European countries and America. Personal details