Sebastian Bach, The Boy from Thuringia

Great Musicians

by Opal Wheeler, Sybil Deucher

Back in print! We love the Wheeler & Deucher composers' series from the mid-20th century. This classic work for children will be enjoyed by all family members. We are amazed how much history, biographical material, and music are included in each work. Sebastian Bach, The Boy of Thuringia is the first complete work on the life of Bach ever written for children. Every important incident is mentioned and every detail of the story is true. It is filled with vivid descriptions of Bach's how he sat up many nights and copied music by the light of the moon, and how he walked two hundred miles to a choir school at Luneburg. Then his adult how he helped his wife Magdalena put the twenty children to bed every night; how he spread brown bread with honey for them to eat every afternoon; and how he taught them all to sing and play different musical instruments. The music reproduced here represents all of the different kinds of music that Bach ever wrote. A child can never really know music unless he knows Bach, for his contribution is the foundation and structural basis of all music. But it is more the human side of this book that will make it live, for in it the great master breathes. All who read it will know him...not only as a musical genius, but also as an eager child, an affectionate father, and a lovable human being.

Genres: Music, Biography, Childrens, Historical, Nonfiction, Chapter Books, Biography Memoir

126 pages, Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 1937

Reviews

[Veronica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read aloud. Such an accessible series to start learning the composers!

[Isabella Leake · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a delight! This book gives children a lively, eminently readable account of Bach's life with lots of those beautiful black-and-white illustrations that children's book illustrators used to be so good at (before it became possible and more desirable to print everything in color). Best of all, every chapter contains one or more selections of Bach's music, interspersed with the narrative; I was able to find these on YouTube and play each as we reached it. And the children would dance enthusiastically!

I love how the whole book conjures such a vivid picture of Bach's life, from childhood with a large musical family in the countryside to his studies at a monastery school and eventual employment by churches, dukes, and princes. My children enjoyed the refrain of invitations to play or compose at palaces or churches. "Everyone thinks he's the best and asks him to come play for them!" my first grader observed with amusement.

There's no chapter that drags or isn't pleasant to read, but I especially enjoyed the one (chapter 2) discussing his studies at Lüneburg and the final chapter (5) that describes his home life with Anna Magdalena, tag-teaming their professional and domestic responsibilities. (Come to think of it, these favorites are totally predictable. Education and domestic life...sounds about right!)

The biography reads like a storybook with lots of dialogue and embellishments that probably amount to fictionalized biography. (I had a hard time answering my third grader's usual question, "Did this really happen?" as he tries to sort out the distinction between fiction and non-fiction.) It is less of a strict biography than Diane Stanley's are. But the story elements are artfully constructed and mean that this book is just about as gripping as any juvenile novel. In fact, my first grader told me as we were about to read the final chapter, "I like this book even better than The Saturdays!" (our previous and much beloved readaloud). Reading it together was a bright spot in an otherwise disappointing winter break during which I was laid low with a cold.

I asked this same first grader, "Do you like Bach's music?" And he responded, "Kind of...but I don't understand it." Oh, sweet boy, you have a lifetime of being awed and perplexed by Bach's music ahead of you!

[Lauren Fee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprised by how engaged this book kept my kids during our morning time. We enjoyed learning about Bach and I want to remember to pull this book back out for the piano sheet music included as well.

[Helena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful slice of life. Very inspiring to both myself and my four year old.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved reading this to the kids with the accompanying CD. This whole series is so sweet.

[Alyssa Bohon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A favorite biography of a favorite composer. Fun to read aloud with stops at the piano to attempt the short musical pieces included. Much of the story's substance is of the journeys that Bach took from boyhood to old age.

[Tori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good child-level biography of Bach that we did for morning time. I wish the music sprinkled through the book was properly attributed in the back so you could look up the specific pieces without buying the separate CD.

[Gabby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was fantastic. My kids were really interested in the stories and we enjoyed the selections of music. Very accessible for doing composer study with young children, but also just a well written, entertaining account of some of the major events of Bach's life.

[Anna Murdock · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this with the twins, it was fun and interesting.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great living book. Opal Wheeler's stories make her subjects memorable and enjoyable. A great way to learn about a great musician.

[Marleah · Rating 4 out of 5]

These bios of famous composers by Wheeler are awesome!

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great addition to our curriculum to introduce Bach to my kids, loved that it incorporated musical pieces into the story.

[Gabrielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful book to read with my children. Written in the 1930s, it has a classic feel to it and tells the story of Bach’s life in a fascinating way that makes it relatable for children. We really enjoyed the musical pieces included, and his story provided the backdrop to help us all really enjoy Bach’s music. I’ve already recommended this biography to others—we can’t say enough good things about it. My kids were excited to read it every day.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great way for kids to relate to the composer! These books don't disappoint.

[Jenny Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely short read aloud about Bach

[Heather Tully · Rating 4 out of 5]

3rd family read aloud of 2025. It's been a delight to revisit my favorite composer with the children- it is the second time we've done so.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great introduction to one of the greatest composers of any generation. Written for young readers, it includes many examples of Bach's music that can be played by young pianists. The illustrations are lovely, and while I'm sure the essential facts of the story are true, somehow I do t think JS Bach was as jolly and kind as he's presented to be. I seem to recall that he was quite a taskmaster with his students. Still, a great book for any youngster interested in Bach. (in fact there is a series of these books about other compares as well, that are probably as worthwhile to read.)

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

We learned a great deal from this young-person's bio. I recommend it.

[Kristie Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great introduction to the life of Bach.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Composer study for term 3 AO Y7 Y8...krb 3/3/21