Ancestors of Johann Sebastian Bach
Four branches of the Bach family were known at the beginning of the 16th century, and in 1561 we hear of Hans Bach of Wechmar, a village between Gotha and Arnstadt in Thuringia, who is believed to be the father of Veit Bach.
- Veit (Vitus) Bach (d. 1619) was "a white-bread baker in Hungary" who had to flee Hungary because he was a Lutheran and who "found the greatest pleasure in a little cittern which he took with him even into the mill".
- His son Johannes (Hans) Bach (d. 1626) "der Spielmann" (lit. the player), was the first professional musician of the family. "At first took up the trade of baker, but having a particular bent for music" he became a piper.
- His second grandson Christoph (1613–1661) was an instrumentalist.
- His first great-grandson Johann Ambrosius was Johann Sebastian Bach's father.
Read more about this topic: Bach Family
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