THE BACH ACADEMY
Santa Cruz, California
July 28 – August 2, 2008 (stay tuned for 2009 dates!)
A Bach Timeline
A student-written overview of Bach's life
The City of Eisenach - born into a musical tradition
Here, in 1685 Johann Sebastian Bach was born to Johann Ambrosius and Maria Barbara Bach. He was baptized at St. George's Church where members of the Bach family were employed as organists from 1665 to 1797. Bach attended the Latin School, where previously, Martin Luther had been a pupil. Bach’s father, who conducts the city orchestra gives him an introduction to music.
Eisenach is a Wartburg town in Thuringia, a region steeped in close associations with J.S. Bach. Of special interest are the Bach Memorial and school, Wartburg, Luther House, Preachers Church, Rueter Villa with Wagner Collection, St. George's Church with the baptismal font where J.S. Bach was christened, Church of St. Nicholas.
Bach House in Eisenach was purchased by the New Bach Society in 1906, thus preserving it for posterity. The house is a superb example of a home in the early 1700s. Furnished with original furnishings from Thuringia, it provides an outstanding example of the middle-class lifestyle in the time of J.S. Bach. Also includes a display of historic instruments from 17th and 18th centuries, exhibits and extensive collection of documents and memorabilia relating to J.S. Bach.
Ohrdruf - the loss of loved ones
After the of his mother in 1694, and his father in 1695, the orphaned Bach, was sent to live with his brother Christoph, who is 13 years his elder. Like his father, Christoph is a musician. He was employed as the organist at St. Michael’s Church. Christoph enrolled his younger brother Bach in to Ohrdruf’s Lyceum School and instructed him in organ playing.
The town of Ohrdruf dates from 724 A.D. Of interest are: Ehrenstein Palace, a Renaissance building which houses the Ohrdruf Municipal Museum, Archives and Library. Traditional concerts are held regularly in the Rococo Chamber and the palace courtyard. Also, Church of the Holy Trinity c.1714, Sichhof Chapel with the altar from the former palace chapel from the late 15th century and the Tobias Hammer - the last of 40 hammer works located along the River Ohra.
Luneburg - furthering his education
In 1700, at 15 years of age, Bach was enrolled in the famous choir of St. Michael’s Monastery School. Here he completes his Abitur (advanced level of education) and in two years time passes his final examinations. A Bach Week is staged in his honor here each year in the summer.
Of interest in Luneburg are: St. Michael’s Monastery which dates from the 14th century, Luneburg Town Hall with 13th to 18th century elements, collection of art treasures in the 12th century Lune Monastery.
Arnstadt - a brilliant career begins
Bach found employment in Arnstadt as organist at the New Church (now the BachChurch) from 1703 to 1707. In 1707, he married his second cousin Maria Barbara Bach with whom he would have seven children. Of interest in Arnstadt are: Museum of Municipal History with Bach Memorial, Renaissance Town Hall with ornamental gable, “town” of wax dolls in Palace Museum known as " Mon Plaisir," and the Museum of Steam Locomotives.
Lubeck - an inspirational meeting
In 1705, Bach made a three-month journey to Lubeck to meet organ master Dietrich Buxtehude in St. Mary’s Church. This visit inspires Bach to introduce the musical innovations which so characterized his later work. Lubeck is a Hanseatic city on the Baltic Coast. Of other interest in Lubeck are: the 12th century St. Mary’s Church, Old Town with over 1000 Gothic brick houses, museum harbour, Heinrich and Thomas Mann Museum in Buddenbrook House – the world’s oldest pub.
Muhlhausen - origins of a family
J.S. Bach was organist here at the parish Church of St. Blasius in 1707-1708. Bach meets and marries his cousin Maria Barbara Bach. Of Interest in Muhlhausen are: Parish Church of St. Blasius (13th/14th centuries), Bach Church, Town Wall 12th- 14th centuries, Town Hall 13th – 18th centuries, Church of St. Mary’s 12th – 15th centuries.
Weimar - a royal appointment
From 1707 to 1717, Bach was court organist and “Cammermusicus” of the court orchestra. In 1717, he was made concert master, a position which provided him with considerable artistic freedom. It was in this period that he developed his unmistakable cantata composing nearly 30 sacred cantata as well as the “Hunt Cantata”. Bach asked for the position of musical director which the Duke refused at first, and subsequently placed Bach in custody before ultimately granting his request for the post. Of interest in Weimar: Red Palace and Bach Memorial, Goethe and Schiller Statue, Goethe House, Schiller House, Liszt House, municipal Church of St. Peter and Paul.
Dresden - a visiting artist
Bach never realized his greatest wish – to become the Royal Court composer to the Prince Elector in Dresden. However, Bach did perform concerts in Dresden on the Silbermann organs in the Church of Our Lady and the Church of St. Sophia. Today, the Bach heritage in Dresden is kept alive by the Kreuzchor Choir, the Virtuosi Saxoniae, the Dresden Chamber Choir, the Dresden Bach Choir, and the Bach Camera Musicale. Of interest in Dresden are: the Semper Opera House, Royal Palace, Zwinger Palace, Loschwitz Elbe Palaces, Pillnitz Palace, Cathedral, The Church of Our Lady, the Church of the Holy Cross, Three Kings Church, Old and New Masters Art Galleries, “Green” Vault Treasure Chamber, Porcelain Collection, and the Konigstrasse.
Köthen - a court appointment
The district town of Kothen officially dates back to 1313 when it received its charter, but was first documented in 1115. In 1717, Prince Leopold appointed J.S. Bach court musical director. Thus began what may be considered the most peaceful period in Bach’s life. Even when he resigned his post in 1723, his release was a friendly occasion . He continued to serve the Prince as music director from his new home in Leipzig. While in Kothen, Bach composed overtures, secular cantata, chamber music works, violin concertos, and the six Brandenburg Concertos.
After the of Bach’s first wife Maria Barbara in 1720, he married Anna Magdalena Wulcken the following year.
Of interest in Kothen are: Kothen Palace, Palace Chapel with Zuberbier organ, Hall of Mirrors Naumann Museum, neo-Renaissance Town Hall, municipal and cathedral church of St. James, St. Agnes Church in Dutch Baroque style with valuable paintings from the Cranach workshop, and St. Mary’s Church.
Leipzig - taking up a prestigious musical post
Bach spent 27 remarkably productive years in Leipzig. He arrived here in 1723 to undertake the positions of Cantor at St. Thomas’s Church and Director of Music for the city of Leipzig. It is considered by many, that in his “Leipzig years” Bach created his most important compositions. These include St. John and St. Matthew Passions, The Art of the Fugue” and the Mass in B Minor.
Leipzig is uniquely suited to perpetuate interest in Bach. Indeed, its extraordinary resources include the Bach Archives, the Bach Museum, St. Thomas’s Church Choir, Offices of the J.S. Bach Competitions, Leipzig Bach Festivals, and Headquarters of the New Bach Society.
In cooperation with the
Our 72nd Season • July 18-August 8, 2009
For complete Festival information, please visit us online
www.bachfestival.org