Recordings/Discussions
Background Information
Performer Bios

Poet/Composer Bios

Additional Information

Biographies of Poets & Composers: Main Page | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
Bach & Other Composers


Johann Nathanael Bammler (Kantor, Copyist, Bach's Pupil)

Born: January 1722 (baptised: January 11, 1722) - Kirchberg, near Zwickau, Saxony, Germany
Died: May 8, 1784 - Elsterberg, Vogtland, Saxony, Germany

Johann Nathanael Bammler was a singer, instrumentalist, and teacher. He was born was born the son of Johann Michael Bammler (master of cloth-shear in Kirchberg). He enrolled at the Thomasschule in Leipzig on June 16, 1737; studied there from 1737 to 1748, becoming prefect of the second choir (1744-1745) and, in his last year, of the first choir (Thomanerchor Leipzig). In this capacity he deputized for J.S. Bach during the latter's absences from Leipzig, and he also acted as one of his copyists (1745-1749); Peter Wollny identified him as the copyist previously known as 'Hauptkopist H'. He is also indentified in the manuscripts as Anon. 4; Anon. N 4. On May 10, 1748 he enrolled at the University of Leipzig as a theology student.

In 1749 J.S. Bach wrote one testimonial and dictated and signed another for him in connection with his application for the post of deputy Rector at the school in Eilenburg. In this he was unsuccessful, and in 1750 he returned to his native town. In 1758, he succeeded finally in securing a post as Kantor in Elsterberg (Vogtland), where he remained for the rest of his life.

Two of J.S. Bach's certificates for Johann Nathanael Bammler from 1749 speak of his stay at the Thomasschule and his employment as the first prefect, including the representation of the Thomaskantor in the direction of church music. In addition, J.N. Bammler could be designated as the writer of J.S. Bach's original performance material (main copyist H). However, private lessons are not explicitly mentioned in Leipzig documents or in the Elsterberg employment documents.

References: Richter: 194; Koska: B-33; GND: 1160910014; Bach Digital: 00001245

 

Works of Bach he copied [Manuscript No. in Bach Digital / Work / Performance date]

D-B Mus.ms. 7918: Johann Gottlieb Goldberg: Cantata Durch die herzliche Barmherzigkeit; BNB I/G/2 [c1745/1746]
D-B Mus.ms. 9002/10: G.F. Handel: Brockes Passion, HWV 48; BNB I/H/1 [1746/1747]
D-B Mus.ms. 30240 [Konvolut]: BWV 239
D-B Mus.ms. 30240, Faszikel 7: BWV 239; BNB I/An/5
D-B N.Mus.ms. 365, Faszikel 1 : BWV 806 [c1748]
D-B N.Mus.ms. 365, Faszikel 2: BWV 807 [c1748]
D-B N.Mus.ms. 365, Faszikel 3: BWV 808 [c1748]
D-B N.Mus.ms. 365, Faszikel 4: BWV 810 [c1748]
D-B N.Mus.ms. 365, Faszikel 5: BWV 811 [c1748]
D-B Mus.ms. Bach P 28: BWV 245 [1739/1749]
D-B Mus.ms. Bach P 65: BWV 195 (latest version) [c1748/1749]
D-B Mus.ms. Bach P 649: BWV 1031 [c1748/1750]
D-Bsa SA 5143: ABA deest; BNB I/B/14
D-Bsa SA 5144, Faszikel 1: ABA deest; BNB I/B/14
D-B Mus.ms. Bach St 12, Faszikel 3: BWV 195 (latest version) [c1748/1749]
D-B Mus.ms. Bach St 44: BWV 16 [1.1. 1749?]
D-B Mus.ms. Bach St 111, Faszikel 4: BWV 245 (version 4) [4.4. 1749]
D-B Mus.ms. Bach St 191 I-III, 191a [Konvolut]: BR-CPEB E 4.1, E 4.2; H 772; Wq 215 [1749/1750]
D-B Mus.ms. Bach St 191 I-II, 191a, Faszikel 2: BR-CPEB E 4; H 772; Wq 215 [1749/1750]
D-B Mus.ms. Bach St 305: Johann Ludwig Bach: Cantata Die mit Tränen säen, JLB-8; BNB I/B/26 [c1743-1746]

 

Sources:
1. Malcolm Boyd (Editor): Oxford Composer Companion - J.S. Bach (Oxford University Press, 1999)
2. Bernd Koska: Dissertation "Bachs Thomaner als Kantoren in Mitteldeutschland" (Beeskow 2018), Anhang VII.1 Die Alumnen der Thomasschule 1710-1760, English translation by Aryeh Oron (April 2020)
3. Bach Digital Website (July 2019)
4. Bernd Koska: Bachs Privatschüler in Bach-Jahrbuch 2019, English translation by Aryeh Oron (May 2020)
Contributed by
Aryeh Oron (February 2010, April 2020); Thomas Braatz (January 2011)

Links to other Sites

Bammler, Johann Nathanael (Bach Digital)

Bibliography

Peter Wollny: 'Neue Bach-Funde', BJb 83 (1997), 7-50, especially 36-50
Literature
3: Richter 1907, Nr. 194; Beierlein 1929, S. 270f.; Vollhardt 1978, S. 93 und 416; Wollny 1997, S. 37–50; Dok V, Nr. A 82a und b, C 656a und C 691e; NBA IX/3, Nr. 234; Glöckner 2008, S. 193 und 201; Glöckner 2009, S. 8 und 12
Source
4: Dok V, Nr.A 82a, A 82b, C 656a, C 691e; P. R. Beierlein, Geschichte der Stadt und Burg Elsterberg i. V., Bd. 2: Geschichte der Kirche und der Schule, Dresden [1929], S. 270f.; Löffler 1936, S. 119; Löffler 1953, Nr. 76; BJ 1997, S. 43f. (P. Wollny); BJ 2008, S. 159–201 (A. Glöckner); Glöckner (wie Fußnote 33); NBA IX/3, Nr. 234

Bach's Pupils: List of Bach's Pupils | Actual and Potential Non-Thomaner Singers and Players who participated in Bach’s Figural Music in Leipzig | Alumni of the Thomasschule in Leipzig during Bach's Tenure | List of Bach's Private Pupils | List of Bach's Copyists
Thomanerchor Leipzig: Short History | Members: 1729 | 1730 | 1731 | 1740-1741 | 1744-1745 | Modern Times
Bach’s Pupils Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2
Articles: Organizional Structure of the Thomasschule in Leipzig | The Rules Established for the Thomasschule by a Noble and Very Wise Leipzig City Council - Printed by Bernhard Christoph Breitkopf Leipzig, 1733 | Homage Works for Thomas School Rectors


Biographies of Poets & Composers: Main Page | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
Bach & Other Composers




 

Back to the Top


Last update: Monday, January 02, 2023 15:30