Johann Ambrosius Bach

Who was Johann Ambrosius Bach?

Johann Ambrosius Bach was a German musician, father to Johann Sebastian Bach.

The son of Christoph Bach, Ambrosius was born in Erfurt, Germany, as the twin brother of Johann Christoph Bach. Ambrosius was employed as a violinist in Erfurt.

In 1671, he moved his family to Eisenach, in present-day Thuringia, where he was employed as a court trumpeter and director of the town musicians. He married his first wife Maria Elisabeth Lämmerhirt on 1 April 1668, and had eight children by her, four of whom became musicians, including Johann Sebastian. She was buried on 3 May 1694. On 27 November 1694 he married Barbara Margaretha, née Keul. He died in Eisenach less than three months later.