There is no kinship with the family of Johann Sebastian Bach.
His father Gottfried who was an organist at the Dreifaltigkeitskirche (Trinity Church) in Berlin was his first music teacher.
He returned to Berlin in 1814 to take up the post of organist at the ''Gertraudenkirche'' (St. Gertraud's Church) after his original hope of succeeding his father who had died in the meantime had not been fulfilled at the Trinity Church. He continued his musical education with Carl Friedrich Zelter (counterpoint) and Ludwig Berger (piano) and joined the ''Sing-Akademie zu Berlin'' in 1815. In 1816 he became organist at the ''Marienkirche'' (St. Mary's Church) in Berlin.
In 1820 he became a teacher for organ playing and theory at Zelten's newly founded Royal Music Institute and, after Zelten's death, its director. He kept this office until his death.
In addition to compositions for solos, choir and orchestra, including the 100th Psalm "Jauchzet dem Herrn alle Welt" (Rejoice to the Lord, All World), he wrote numerous organ works (preludes, fantasies, fugues, etc.).
