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Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Johann Sebastian Bach is here in full — 118 sentences across 24 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Johann Sebastian Bach
Context Illustration Reading 1/23 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
CHILD'S OWN BOOK _of Great Musicians_ THEODORE PRESSER CO.
1712 CHESTNUT STREET .PHILADELPHIA.
The Story of the Boy Who Sang in the Streets This Book was made by Philadelphia Theodore Presser Co. 1712 Chestnut Str.
The Story of the Boy Who Sang in the Streets This is the house in which JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH was born.
This house stands in the town of Eisenach in Germany.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Johann Sebastian Bach

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Johann Sebastian Bach is here in full — 118 sentences across 24 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/23 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
CHILD'S OWN BOOK _of Great Musicians_ THEODORE PRESSER CO.
Line 2
1712 CHESTNUT STREET .PHILADELPHIA.
Line 3
The Story of the Boy Who Sang in the Streets This Book was made by Philadelphia Theodore Presser Co. 1712 Chestnut Str.
Line 4
The Story of the Boy Who Sang in the Streets This is the house in which JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH was born.
Line 5
This house stands in the town of Eisenach in Germany.

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.

bach noun US /bɑːk/

German baroque organist and contrapuntist; composed mostly keyboard music; one of the greatest creators of western music (1685-1750)

From this reading “The Story of the Boy Who Sang in the Streets This is the house in which JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH was born.”

chestnut adjective US /ˈtʃesnʌt/

(of hair or feathers) of a golden brown to reddish brown color

From this reading “1712 CHESTNUT STREET .PHILADELPHIA.”

child's noun US /tʃaɪldz/

possessive form of “child” — a young person of either sex

From this reading “CHILD'S OWN BOOK _of Great Musicians_ THEODORE PRESSER CO.”

Germany noun US /ˈdʒɜːrməni/

a republic in central Europe; split into East Germany and West Germany after World War II and reunited in 1990

From this reading “This house stands in the town of Eisenach in Germany.”

Musicians noun US /mjuːˈzɪʃənz/

plural of “musician” — someone who plays a musical instrument (as a profession)

philadelphia noun US /ˌfɪləˈdelfiə/

the largest city in Pennsylvania; located in the southeastern part of the state on the Delaware river; site of Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed; site of the University of Pennsylvania

From this reading “1712 CHESTNUT STREET .PHILADELPHIA.”

Sang noun US /sæŋ/

North American woodland herb similar to and used as substitute for the Chinese ginseng

From this reading “The Story of the Boy Who Sang in the Streets This Book was made by Philadelphia Theodore Presser Co. 1712 Chestnut Str.”

stands noun US /stændz/

plural of “stand” — a support or foundation

From this reading “This house stands in the town of Eisenach in Germany.”

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

Great Musicians adjective + noun counted as “great musician”

In this reading “CHILD'S OWN BOOK _of Great Musicians_ THEODORE PRESSER CO.”

in the Streets preposition + article + noun counted as “in … street”

In this reading “The Story of the Boy Who Sang in the Streets This Book was made by Philadelphia Theodore Presser Co. 1712 Chestnut Str.”

All words in this reading · 36

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

1712

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading 1712 CHESTNUT STREET .PHILADELPHIA.

BACHnounUS /bɑːk/

German baroque organist and contrapuntist; composed mostly keyboard music; one of the greatest creators of western music (1685-1750)

From this reading The Story of the Boy Who Sang in the Streets This is the house in which JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH was born.

BOOKnounUS /bʊk/

a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)

From this reading CHILD'S OWN BOOK _of Great Musicians_ THEODORE PRESSER CO.

bornadjectiveUS /bɔːrn/

brought into existence

From this reading The Story of the Boy Who Sang in the Streets This is the house in which JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH was born.

BoynounUS /bɔɪ/

a youthful male person

From this reading The Story of the Boy Who Sang in the Streets This Book was made by Philadelphia Theodore Presser Co. 1712 Chestnut Str.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The Story of the Boy Who Sang in the Streets This Book was made by Philadelphia Theodore Presser Co. 1712 Chestnut Str.

CHESTNUTadjectiveUS /ˈtʃesnʌt/

(of hair or feathers) of a golden brown to reddish brown color

From this reading 1712 CHESTNUT STREET .PHILADELPHIA.

CHILD'SnounUS /tʃaɪldz/

possessive form of “child” — a young person of either sex

From this reading CHILD'S OWN BOOK _of Great Musicians_ THEODORE PRESSER CO.

COnounUS /koʊ/

an odorless very poisonous gas that is a product of incomplete combustion of carbon

From this reading CHILD'S OWN BOOK _of Great Musicians_ THEODORE PRESSER CO.

Eisenach

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading This house stands in the town of Eisenach in Germany.

GermanynounUS /ˈdʒɜːrməni/

a republic in central Europe; split into East Germany and West Germany after World War II and reunited in 1990

From this reading This house stands in the town of Eisenach in Germany.

GreatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading CHILD'S OWN BOOK _of Great Musicians_ THEODORE PRESSER CO.

housenounUS /haʊs/

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading The Story of the Boy Who Sang in the Streets This is the house in which JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH was born.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading The Story of the Boy Who Sang in the Streets This Book was made by Philadelphia Theodore Presser Co. 1712 Chestnut Str.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading The Story of the Boy Who Sang in the Streets This is the house in which JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH was born.

JOHANN

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The Story of the Boy Who Sang in the Streets This is the house in which JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH was born.

madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading The Story of the Boy Who Sang in the Streets This Book was made by Philadelphia Theodore Presser Co. 1712 Chestnut Str.

MusiciansnounUS /mjuːˈzɪʃənz/

plural of “musician” — someone who plays a musical instrument (as a profession)

From this reading CHILD'S OWN BOOK _of Great Musicians_ THEODORE PRESSER CO.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading CHILD'S OWN BOOK _of Great Musicians_ THEODORE PRESSER CO.

OWNverbUS /oʊn/

have ownership or possession of

From this reading CHILD'S OWN BOOK _of Great Musicians_ THEODORE PRESSER CO.

PHILADELPHIAnounUS /ˌfɪləˈdelfiə/

the largest city in Pennsylvania; located in the southeastern part of the state on the Delaware river; site of Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed; site of the University of Pennsylvania

From this reading 1712 CHESTNUT STREET .PHILADELPHIA.

PRESSER

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading CHILD'S OWN BOOK _of Great Musicians_ THEODORE PRESSER CO.

SangnounUS /sæŋ/

North American woodland herb similar to and used as substitute for the Chinese ginseng

From this reading The Story of the Boy Who Sang in the Streets This Book was made by Philadelphia Theodore Presser Co. 1712 Chestnut Str.

SEBASTIAN

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The Story of the Boy Who Sang in the Streets This is the house in which JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH was born.

standsnounUS /stændz/

plural of “stand” — a support or foundation

From this reading This house stands in the town of Eisenach in Germany.

StorynounUS /ˈstɔːri/

a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading The Story of the Boy Who Sang in the Streets This Book was made by Philadelphia Theodore Presser Co. 1712 Chestnut Str.

Str

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The Story of the Boy Who Sang in the Streets This Book was made by Philadelphia Theodore Presser Co. 1712 Chestnut Str.

STREETnounUS /striːt/

a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading 1712 CHESTNUT STREET .PHILADELPHIA.

StreetsnounUS /striːts/

plural of “street” — a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading The Story of the Boy Who Sang in the Streets This Book was made by Philadelphia Theodore Presser Co. 1712 Chestnut Str.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading The Story of the Boy Who Sang in the Streets This Book was made by Philadelphia Theodore Presser Co. 1712 Chestnut Str.

THEODORE

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading CHILD'S OWN BOOK _of Great Musicians_ THEODORE PRESSER CO.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading The Story of the Boy Who Sang in the Streets This Book was made by Philadelphia Theodore Presser Co. 1712 Chestnut Str.

townnounUS /taʊn/

an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city

From this reading This house stands in the town of Eisenach in Germany.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading The Story of the Boy Who Sang in the Streets This Book was made by Philadelphia Theodore Presser Co. 1712 Chestnut Str.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading The Story of the Boy Who Sang in the Streets This is the house in which JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH was born.

WhopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading The Story of the Boy Who Sang in the Streets This Book was made by Philadelphia Theodore Presser Co. 1712 Chestnut Str.

Chapter 1 of Johann Sebastian Bach by Thomas Tapper holds 118 sentences, grouped into 24 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 1 of Johann Sebastian Bach contain?

Chapter 1 holds 118 sentences of Johann Sebastian Bach, unabridged, divided into 24 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Johann Sebastian Bach by Thomas Tapper exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 118 sentences, grouped into 24 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 1 of Johann Sebastian Bach?

Work through the 24 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 24 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 1 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading Johann Sebastian Bach

Common questions about reading Johann Sebastian Bach by Thomas Tapper on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Johann Sebastian Bach?

Yes. All 118 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #34568 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Johann Sebastian Bach is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #34568, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Johann Sebastian Bach take to read?

About 9 minutes of reading across 24 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Johann Sebastian Bach section by section

How to work through Johann Sebastian Bach section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 1 chapters of Johann Sebastian Bach to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in Johann Sebastian Bach

Words and structures a reader meets early in Johann Sebastian Bach, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Child's
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Johann Sebastian Bach; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Great
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Johann Sebastian Bach; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Musicians
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Johann Sebastian Bach; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Theodore
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Johann Sebastian Bach; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.