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Line 1: − + − + − ==Biography==+ − + − Bach came from an extremely musical family, which had been supported by local governments and churches throughout Germany for many years. After graduating from the St. Michael's School in Luneburg, he became a court musician in Weimar, where his fame as a keyboardist began to spread. Later in the year, Bach became the organist at St. Boniface's Church in Arnstadt with help from some family connections, where he often clashed with authorities over the quality of the choir and a long, unauthorized leave of absence where he visited the great composer [[Buxtehude]], who became an important musical influence. After leaving the church and serving as the Kapellmeister and court organist in various cities, Bach ended up in Leipzig in 1723, where he spent the rest of his life.+ − + − Although Bach was always famous as an organist and his works have constantly been viewed as pedagogically important, his reputation among the general public was fairly low until several of his works were revived by the composer [[Felix Mendelssohn]], most importantly an 1829 performance of the [[St. Matthew Passion]].+ − + − Bach had several children who became famous composers in their own right, such as [[Wilhelm Friedemann Bach]], [[Carl Phillipp Emmanuel Bach]], and [[Johann Christian Bach]].+ − + − + − + − Bach was a devout Lutheran, and much of his music was religious in nature. Bach attributed the beauty of his music to [[God]], by writing the letters "S.D.G." or "Soli Deo Gloria" in many of his scores. He is well-known for his complete mastery of [[counterpoint]], as well as his use of styles from many different regions of Europe. He also used the cruciform [[B-A-C-H]] motif in his work as a sign of devotion to Christ, although future composers used it to pay homage to their great predecessor.+ − + − Important works include: the Mass in B Minor, the St. Matthew Passion, the Brandenburg Concerti, the Musical Offering, the Art of Fugue, the Well-Tempered Clavier, the English and French Orchestral Suites, the Goldberg Variations, and numerous church cantatas and organ works, notably the Passacaglia and Fugue in C Minor and the Toccata and Fugue in D Minor. Some of his most famous pieces are drawn from the cantatas, including ''Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring'' and ''Sheep may Safely Graze.''+ − + − Bach also had a great influence on composers who followed him. Composers such as Mozart, Beethoven, Schumann, and Mendelssohn began using more contrapuntal elements in their works as a result of his influence. In addition, Chopin's [[Preludes Op. 28]] and Shostakovich's [[Preludes and Fugues Op. 87]] are based explicitly on the [[Well-Tempered Clavier]]. Other works that play explicit homage to Bach include Beethoven's [[Diabelli Variations]] and Liszt's [[Prelude and Fugue on B-A-C-H]].+ − + − Important interpreters of Bach's works include [[Glenn Gould]], [[Wanda Landowska]], [[Rosalyn Tureck]], [[Angela Hewitt]], [[Pablo Casals]], and [[Mark Steinbach]]. There have also been many "modernizations" of Bach's music by artists as varied as [[Wendy Carlos]] and [[Jethro Tull]].+ − + − <!--Uh-oh, both the old and newer articles I was hoping to merge here seem to have a lot of questionable content, no time to sort it out now.-- dpbsmith --->+ − <!--A start. Everything that is NOT commented out is something I've made at least a cursory check on. --dpbsmith --->+ − <!--+ − A master of polyphony, much of his music was religious in content, adhering, more specifically, to the [[Protestant]] [[Christian]] faith. Some of his works include the [[Mass]] in B-minor, the [[St. Matthew]] Passion, the Brandenburg concertos, the Well-Tempered Clavier A humble family man and God-fearing citizen of Weimer, --->+ − <!--Prolific both in terms of his musical output and his offspring, Bach wrote more than three thousand opus numbers (half of which survive), and had an estimated two dozen children.--->+ − <!-- Uh-oh, deferring merge, too much seems questionable here, no time to sort it out now. + − + − According to St. Matthew," "Jesus, Meine Freude" (Jesus, My+ − Joy!), the Brandenburg concertos, the Well-Tempered Clavier, the St. Mark Passion, a Mass in C Minor, and the Diabelli Variations. He often used the cruciform B-A-C-H motif in his works.+ − --->+ − <!--Not the Diabelli Variations, that's for sure...---> − Bach is considered to have been the "master of masters." He summed up his view of music as follows:<ref>http://www.americanminute.com/ (Entry for March 21, 2007)</ref> − − :The aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul. If heed is not paid to this, it is not true music but a diabolical bawling and twanging. − − == References == − − <references/> − − [[Category:Composers|Bach, Johann Sebastian]]
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'''Johann Sebastian Bach''' (March 21, 1685 - July 28, 1750) was a German composer and organist active in the late [[Baroque]] era who has been recognized as one of greatest composers of the Western classical music tradition.
'''Final Fantasy VII''' is a best selling RPG for the Sony Playstation. Despite being a best seller the game is filled with highly offensive material. For one it features a hockey team named the AVALANCHE who are also a terrorist group. They blow up a coal power plant but justify it by saying they are helping the environment. The game is also filled with profanity especially from Cid and Barrett (who bears a strong resemblence to Mr. T). The game was also critcized harshly because of the sexual liasons of the main character Cloud Strife. He has relations with three girls in the course of the game including a 16 year old Japenese girl named Yuffie.
==Characters==
===Cloud===
The main protagonist of the game. Once a member of the US marines, now heads an eco-terrorist group called Avalanche
===Barrett (aka Mr. T)===
An African-American man who is second in command in Avalanche to Cloud. Has an adopted white daughter named Marlene. Shows love and affection to her, one of the few redeeming qualities of this highly offensive game.
===Tifa===
Cloud's gf from his childhood. Flashbacks show Tifa and Cloud engaging in sexual acts as early as age 12. This part of the game as been highly criticized
===Aeris===
Another one of Cloud's love interests. Cloud steals Aeris' virginity. To be fair though, Cloud does show genuine affection towards her and becomes extremely upset when she is brutally murdered by Sephiroth.
==Music==
===Cid Jefferson===
Owner of the Jefferson Airplane, an aircraft you can use to fly all over the world. Joins your group after he is offered a night with Yuffie and a 12 pack of Blue.
===Vince the Pince===
A mysterious man who has been locked in the Shinra mansion in Nibelheim for 30 years. He has been crygenically frozen so he still resembes a 27 year old man. Shoots people with his Colt 45.
===Cait Sith===
A puppett controlled by a 40 year old virgin who works in an office in Midgar. Turns out to be a mole for Shinra but later joins the cause of AVALANCHE
===Yuffie Kisagari===
An attractive Japenese teenager. She has a passionate affair with Cloud Strife and also has relations with Cid (she only slept with Cid so the crew would get access to the Jefferson Airplane). She was kidnapped and molested by Don Corleone in Tokyo but was rescued before Corleone could have intercourse with her.]
===Red CXIX===
Cloud's pet dog. A loyal companion with a gentle temperment, Red is probably the most moral individual in the game (sad to say because he is not even human). He shows affection to all he meets especially children.
===Sephiroth===
A highly dangerous psychopath with superhuman strength. He is also a leader of a dangerous cult known as Jenova's Witnesses. He is the main antagonist of the game and brutally murders Aeris in the Canadian Rockies.
==Criticisms==
Although from a commercial standpoint Final Fantasy VII was highly successful, it has been criticized by a variety of both liberal and conservative groups including Christian groups, women's groups, and minority groups.
===Christian Criticisms===
Although the game does not mock Christianity or make any references to God or Jesus, the game does violate Christian values. On one hand, Cloud does show genuine affection to his friends and lovers and Barrett is shown to have a good relationship to his daughter but the game is fraught with moral relativism. The protagonists of the game are eco-terrorists who although their cause may be noble, their methods are brutal and repugnant and their actions kill innocent civilians. Although their renounce terror later in the game, this does not excuse their actions. Also sex is trivalized in the game. Instead of being the ultimate act of intimacy between a man and his wife; Cloud has relations with three unmarried young women, one of whom is still a teenager. Although the acts were depicted as consensual, this does not send a good message to young impressionable children and teens.
'''Johann Sebastian Bach''' was a Baroque composer of Classical Music and pianist. He was well-known for his mastery of counterpoint, renowned as an organist and harpsichordist, and even gave his approval to an early model of the [[piano]]. Some of his most famous works are the "Passion
===Women's Rights Group Criticisms===
Ironically, many women's rights groups share some of the same complaints as Christian groups. Despite often being at odds with each other, feminists and Christians find some common ground in their opposition to this game. Women's groups find the way sex is trivalized to be highly offensive as well as the fact that the girls in the game are sometimes treated as sex objects by the other characters. The fact that a 16 year old is depicted in sexual acts with an older man (Cloud is 21 years old) has also been harshly criticized.
===Minority Rights Group Criticisms===
Both Japanese and African-American groups have been highly outraged by the stereotypical portrayal of Japenase and African American characters. Barrett is depicted as loud, hot-headed and prone to violence, reinforcing the stereotype of black gang members. Yuffie is portrayed as a nymphomaniac which perpetuates the stereotype that Japanese women are merely the playthings of Western men.