Wilhelm Friedemann Bach was perhaps mostly known for being J.S Bach’s eldest son, but he built a career of his own as a composer and musician. Born in Weimar in 1710, he received a thorough musical education under the supervision of his father. He took up the position of organist at the St. Sophia's Church in Dresden in 1733, and remained a well-established organist throughout his life. He moved to Halle in 1746 after accepting an organist position. 

In 1751, he married Dorothea Elisabeth Georgi. The couple had three children, with only one of them reaching adulthood. Wilhelm Friedemann was very unhappy in Halle and tried to leave, but could not. The family’s financial situation became dire when they left the town without any job prospects. He worked for the court of Princess Anna Amalia, but fell out of favor. With this, he began teaching again to support his family. He died in 1784 in Berlin, where he was living. Wilhelm Friedemann Bach had quite a troubled life and many writers and biographers think it was because of the changing society and his difficult personality. As a composer, he leaves a legacy consisting of many church cantatas and instrumental works, of which the most notable are the fugues, polonaises, fantasias for clavier, and the duets for two flutes. 

Photo credit: Dr. Martin Falck-Leipzig : C. F. Kahnt Nachfolger