KAOS Radio Austin

Wilhelm Friedrich Ernst Bach was the eldest son of Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach and the only grandson of Johann Sebastian Bach to gain fame as a composer. Wilhelm received training in music from his father and from his uncle, Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, and from another uncle in England, Johann Christian Bach. He was in London when Johann Christian Bach died there on New Year's Day, 1782. He remained in England until 1784 before returning via Holland to Germany. Married twice, Wilhelm had two daughters by his first wife, who died young, and a son by his second wife. When his only son died in infancy the Bach legacy was extinguished. Wilhelm famously said, "Heredity can tend to run out of ideas."