Springs of Hope: The Story of Johann Sebastian Bach

by Joyce McPherson

Musicians of every age have hailed Johann Sebastian Bach as one of the greatest composers of all time. Beethoven called Bach “the progenitor of harmony.” He made a pun on the word Bach, which is German for brook, writing that “His name ought not to be Bach, but Ocean.” Johannes Brahms wrote: “Study Bach: there you will find everything.” Claude Debussy wrote: “And if we look at the works of J. S. Bach... on each page we discover things which we thought were born only yesterday, from delightful arabesques to an overflowing of religious feeling greater than anything we have since discovered.”

Felix Mendelssohn called his work “the greatest music in the world,” and wrote about one of Bach’s choruses: “If life had taken hope and faith from me, this single chorus would restore all.” The hope and faith that filled the life of Johann Sebastian Bach still lives in the music he wrote to glorify God. His life is a testimony to the hope that is a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul.

This book is written on a 5th-8th grade reading level, but younger children will enjoy having it read aloud to them.

Genres: Biography

206 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 29, 2015

About the author

Joyce McPherson is the author of the Camp Hawthorne series as well as biographies and abridged Shakespeare plays for young people. She is also the mother of nine children who give her good advice for her stories. In her spare time she enjoys reading history, working with young people, and directing Shakespeare plays.