|
Guide to Bach Tour
Life History of J.S. Bach |
|
Contents |
|
Prior J.S. Bach’s Birth (1600-1685) | Eisenach & Ohrdruf (1685-1700) | Lüneburg & Weimar (1700-1703) | Arnstadt (1703-1707) | Mühlhausen (1707-1708) | Weimar (1708-1717) | Köthen (1713-1723) | Leipzig (1723-1730) | Leipzig (1731-1740) | Leipzig (1741-1750) | Posthumous Years (1750-1800) | Performance Dates of J.S. Bach’s Vocal Works |
| |
|
Prior J.S. Bach’s Birth (1600-1685) |
|
Date/Year |
Place |
Event |
|
c1600 |
Wechmar |
Velt Bach (J.S. Bach’s great great grandfather) and his son Johann(es) [Hans] Bach (born c 1550) run a bakery and a mill in Wechmar |
|
Apr 19, 1613 |
Wechmar |
Birth of Christoph Bach (J.S. Bach’s grandfather) in Wechmar |
|
1626 |
Wechmar |
Death of Johann(es) [Hans] Bach (J.S. Bach’s great grandfather) in Wechmar |
|
Before 1642 |
Weimar |
Service of Christoph Bach as court musician in Weimar |
|
1642-1654 |
Erfurt |
Service of Christoph Bach as court musician in Erfurt |
|
Feb 22, 1645 |
Erfurt |
Birth of twins Johann Ambrosius Bach (J.S. Bach’s father) & Johann Christoph, sons of Christoph Bach and Maria Magdalena, née Grabler |
|
1654 |
Arnstadt |
Appointment of Johann Christoph Bach as court & town musician in Arnstadt |
|
Sep 12, 1661 |
Arnstadt |
Death of Christoph Bach (J.S. Bach’s grandfather) in Arnstadt |
|
Apr 16, 1667 |
Erfurt |
Appointment of Johann Ambrosius Bach as violinist in Erfurt town music |
|
Apr 8, 1668 |
Erfurt |
Marriage of Johann Ambrosius Bach with Maria Elisabeth Lämmerhirt in Pediger Church, Erfurt |
|
Oct 12, 1671 |
Eisenach |
Successful audition and appointment of Ambrosius as court trumpeter & director of town music in Eisenach |
|
Eisenach & Ohrdruf (1685-1700) |
|
Date/Year |
Place |
Event |
|
Mar 21, 1685 |
Eisenach |
Birth of Johann Sebastian Bach, seventh and youngest child of Johann Ambrosius Bach and Maria Elisabeth |
|
Mar 23, 1685 |
Eisenach |
Baptism at Georgenkirche, Eisenach’s main church |
|
May 3, 1686 |
Eisenach |
Burial of sister Johanna Juditha |
|
1690-1693 |
Eisenach |
Attends a German school in Eisenach |
|
1692 |
Eisenach |
Enrolment in the Latin School, Eisenach |
|
May 1, 1694 |
Eisenach |
Death of mother (age 50) |
|
Oct 23, 1694 |
Ohrdruf |
Wedding of brother Johann Christoph in Ohrdruf; Johann Ambrosius Bach, Johann Pachelbel & others perform |
|
Nov 27, 1694 |
Eisenach |
Marriage of father Johann Ambrosius Bach with Barbara Margaretha Bartholomäi, née Keul |
|
Feb 20, 1695 |
Eisenach |
Death of father Johann Ambrosius Bach (age 50); buried Feb 24 |
|
1695 |
Ohrdruf |
J.S. Bach, orphaned at age 10, and his brother Johann Jacob (13) join the household of their oldest brother, Johann Christoph Bach, in Ohrdruf |
|
1695 |
Ohrdruf |
Enrolment in Lyceum, Ohrdruf (studied there until 1700) |
|
Lüneburg & Weimar (1700-1703) |
|
Date/Year |
Place |
Event |
|
Mar 15, 1700 |
Lüneburg |
Leaves Ohrdruf for Lüneburg, St. Midrad’s School |
|
1700 |
Lüneburg |
Enrolment in the Michaelisschule in Lüneburg, where he receives a comprehensive musical education |
|
1700-1702 |
Lüneburg |
Contact with Georg Böhm in Lüneburg |
|
1700-1702 |
Hamburg |
Frequent visits to Johann Adam Reincken in Hamburg |
|
Apr (Easter) 1702 |
Lüneburg |
Graduation from Michaelisschule and return to Thuringia (probably Ohrdruf) |
|
July 9 +, 1702 |
Sangerhausen |
Successful application for a post as town organist in Sangerhausen; by ducal interference, the post is given to someone else |
|
Jan-June (or Mar-Sep) 1703 |
Weimar |
Lacquey and musician at the court of Duke Johann Ernst of Saxe-Weimar |
|
Jul 3, 1703 |
Dörna ? |
Encounter with the organ builder Johann Friedrich Wender from Dörna |
|
- Jul 13, 1703 |
Arnstadt |
Examination of the new organ at the New (also St. Boniface’s) Church in Arnstadt |
|
Arnstadt (1703-1707) |
|
Date/Year |
Place |
Event |
|
Aug 9, 1703 |
Arnstadt |
Appointment as organist at the New Church in Arnstadt |
|
Aug 14, 1703 |
Arnstadt |
Acceptance of appointment as organist at the New Church in Arnstadt |
|
Aug 4, 1705 |
Arnstadt |
Altercation with Johann Heinrich Geyerbach |
|
Nov +, 1705 |
Lübeck |
Prolonged visit to Lübeck to stay four months with Dietrich Buxtehude |
|
Dec 2-3, 1705 |
Lübeck |
Buxtehude oratorios Castrum doloris and Templum bonoris performed in Lübeck |
|
Feb 1706 |
Arnstadt |
Return to Arnstadt |
|
Feb 21 +, 1706 |
Arnstadt |
Reprimand by church Consistory for long absence |
|
Nov 28, 1706 |
Langewiesen |
Organ examination at Langewiesen, near Gehren |
|
Apr 24, 1707 |
Mühlhausen |
Easter Sunday: audition for the organist position at Blasiuskirche, Mühlhausen; performance of a cantata (BWV 4?) |
|
June 14-22, 1707 |
Mühlhausen |
Negotiations with the Mühlhausen Town Council; accepts appointment |
|
June 29, 1707 |
Arnstadt |
Returns organ keys to Arnstadt authorities |
|
Mühlhausen (1707-1708) |
|
Date/Year |
Place |
Event |
|
July 1, 1707 |
Mühlhausen |
Begins as organist at Blasiuskirche, Mühlhausen |
|
Oct 17, 1707 |
Dornheim |
Marriage with cousin Maria Barbara Bach, daughter of Johann Michael Bach (1648-1694) of Gehren, in Dornheim, near Arnstadt |
|
Weimar (1708-1717) |
|
Date/Year |
Place |
Event |
|
June 1708 |
Weimar |
Appointment as organist and chamber musician to the Court of Weimar |
|
Dec 29, 1708 |
Weimar |
Baptism of daughter Catharina Dorothea |
|
1708-1712 |
Ammern |
Organ examination in Ammern, near Mühlhausen |
|
Oct 26, 1710 |
Taubach |
Organ examination in Taubach, near Weimar |
|
Nov 22, 1710 |
Weimar |
Son Wilhelm Friedemann Bach born |
|
Jan 17, 1711 |
Weimar |
Godfather to Magdalena Dorothea Backer |
|
Sep 27, 1712 |
Weimar |
Godfather to son of J.G. Walther |
|
1712-1714 |
Weimar |
Organ Examination at Palace Church, Weimar |
|
Feb 1713 |
Weißenfels |
Visit to Weißenfels |
|
Feb 23, 1713 |
Weimar |
Birth of twins Johann Christoph (died Feb 23) and Maria Sophia (buried Mar 13) |
|
Nov 27, 1713 |
Weimar |
Godfather to J.G. Trebs |
|
Dec 1713 |
Halle |
Competition for organist post aHalle |
|
1713 |
Weimar |
Orgelbüchlein partly composed |
|
Feb/Mar 1714 |
Halle |
Offer of Halle post declined |
|
Mar 2, 1714 |
Weimar |
Appointment as Konzertmeister at Weimar |
|
Mar 8, 1714 |
Weimar |
Birth of son Carl Philipp Emanuel |
|
1714 |
Weimar |
Orgelbüchlein partly composed |
|
May 11, 1715 |
Weimar |
Birth of son Johann Gottfried Bernhard Bach |
|
1715 |
Weimar |
Orgelbüchlein partly composed |
|
Apr 29-May 2, 1716 |
Halle |
Organ examination in Liebfrauenkirche, Halle |
|
Jul 31, 1716 |
Erfurt |
Organ examination in Augustinerkirche, Erfurt |
|
Mar 26, 1717 |
Gotha |
Good Friday: guest performance of a (lost) passion at the Palace Church of Gotha |
|
Aug 5, 1717 |
Köthen |
Appointment as Kapellmeister at Köthen |
|
Autumn 1717 |
Dresden |
Organ competition in Dresden with Louis Marchand |
|
Nov 6-Dec 2, 1717 |
Weimar |
Four weeks arrest for “insubordination” in Weimar |
|
Köthen (1717-1723) |
|
Date/Year |
Place |
Event |
|
1717 |
Köthen |
Transfer to Köthen to serve as Kapellmeister |
|
Dec 16, 1717 |
Leipzig |
Organ examination in Paulinerkirche, Leipzig |
|
May-June 1718 |
Karlsbad |
Visit to Karlsbad with Prince Leopold |
|
Nov 17, 1718 |
Köthen |
Baptism of son Leopold Augustus |
|
Feb (?) 1719 |
Berlin |
Visit to Berlin for purchase of harpsichord |
|
May-July 1719 |
|
Attempted meeting with Händel |
|
Sep 16, 1719 |
Köthen |
Death of son Leopold Augustus |
|
Jan 10, 1720 |
Köthen |
Godfather to S.C. Abel |
|
May-July 1720 |
Karlsbad |
Visit to Karlsbad with Prince Leopold |
|
July 1720 |
Köthen |
Death of J.S. Bach’s wife Maria Barbara Bach (buried July 7) |
|
Nov 1720 |
Hamburg |
Visit to Hamburg; offer of organist post at Jakobikirche declined |
|
1720 |
|
6 Sonatas & Partitas for Violin BWV 1001-1006 |
|
Feb 22, 1721 |
|
Death of brother Johann Christoph |
|
Mar 24, 1721 |
Köthen |
Performance of the 6 Brandenburg Concertos |
|
June 26, 1721 |
Köthen |
Godfather to J.C.H. Bähr |
|
< Aug 7, 1721 |
Schleiz |
Guest performance in Schleiz at the court of Count Reuss |
|
Sep 25, 1721 |
Köthen |
Godfather to J.C. Hahn |
|
Dec 3, 1721 |
Köthen |
Marriage to Anna Magdalena Wülcken at Köthen |
|
Apr 16, 1722 |
Stockholm |
Death of brother Johann Jacob, royal court musician in Stockholm |
|
Aug 9, 1722 |
Zerbst |
Guest performance in Zerbst: birthday of Prince Johan August of Anhalt-Zerbst |
|
Oct 26, 1722 |
Köthen |
Godfather to S.D. Schulze |
|
Dec 21, 1722 |
Leipzig |
Candidate entered for post of Thomaskantor, Leipzig |
|
1722 |
|
The Well-Tempered Clavier Part I completed |
|
Mar 4, 1723 |
Köthen |
Birth of daughter Christiana Sofia Henrietta; godfather to J.F. Bähr |
| |
|
Fair copy of Inventions |
|
Leipzig (1723-1730) |
|
Date/Year |
Place |
Event |
|
May 5, 1723 |
Leipzig |
Appointment as Thomaskantor, Leipzig |
|
May 22, 1723 |
Leipzig |
Transfer to Leipzig |
|
Nov 2, 1723 |
Störmthal |
Organ examination & performance of Festival Cantata BWV 194 ‘Höchsterwünschtes Freudenfest’ in Störmthal |
|
Feb 26, 1724 |
Leipzig |
Birth of son Gottfried Heinrich |
|
June 25, 1724 |
Gera |
Organ examination in Johanniskirche and Salvatorkirche, Gera |
|
July 1724 |
Köthen |
Visit to Köthen with wife |
|
Oct 15, 1724 |
Leipzig |
Godfather to J.C. Kunadt |
|
Feb 1725 |
Weißenfels |
Visit to Weißenfels |
|
Apr 14, 1725 |
Leipzig |
Baptism of son Christian Gottlieb |
|
Apr 19-20, 1725 |
Dresden |
Organ recitals at Sophienkirche, Dresden |
|
Dec 1725 |
Köthen |
Visit to Köthen with wife |
|
Apr 5, 1726 |
Leipzig |
Baptism of daughter Elisabeth Juliana Friederike |
|
June 29, 1726 |
Leipzig |
Death of daughter Christiana Sophia Henrietta |
|
1726 |
|
Keyboard Partita No. 1 published |
|
Oct 30, 1727 |
Leipzig |
Baptism of son Ernestus Andreas (died Nov 1) |
|
1727 |
|
Keyboard Partitas Nos. 2 & 3 published |
|
Aug 11, 1728 |
Leipzig |
Godfather to L. Spieß |
|
Sep 21, 1728 |
Leipzig |
Death of son Christian Gottlieb |
|
Oct 10, 1728 |
Leipzig |
Baptism of daughter Regina Johanna |
|
Dec 27, 1728 |
|
Burial of sister Maria Salome |
|
1728 |
|
Keyboard Partita No. 4 published |
|
Feb 1729 |
Weißenfels |
Visit to Weißenfels |
|
Mar 23-24, 1729 |
Köthen |
Visit to Köthen |
|
Mar 1729 |
Leipzig |
Directorship of Collegium Musicum |
|
June 1729 |
|
2nd attempt to meet Händel |
|
July 28, 1729 |
|
Death of sister-in-law Friedelana Margaretha Bach |
|
Jan 1, 1730 |
Leipzig |
Baptism of daughter Christiana Benedicta Louisa (died Jan 4) |
|
Mar 13, 1730 |
Leipzig |
Godfather to M.R. Schramm |
|
Aug 23, 1730 |
Leipzig |
Entwurff addressed to Town Council |
|
Oct 28, 1730 |
|
Letter to G. Erdmann inquiring about opportunities at Danzig |
|
Oct 30, 1730 |
Leipzig |
Godfather to J.M. Wilde |
|
1730 |
|
Keyboard Partitas No. 5 & 6 published |
|
Leipzig (1731-1740) |
|
Date/Year |
Place |
Event |
|
Mar 18, 1731 |
Leipzig |
Baptism of daughter Christiana Dorothea |
|
Sep 14-21, 1731 |
Dresden |
Organ recitals at Sophienkirche, Dresden |
|
Nov 12, 1731 |
Stöntzsch |
Organ examination in Stöntzsch Kirche, near Pegau |
|
1731 |
|
Clavier-Übung I published |
|
Dec 4, 1732 |
Stöntzsch |
Re-examination of organ examination at Stöntzsch Kirche |
|
June 21, 1732 |
Leipzig |
Birth of son Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach |
|
Aug 31, 1732 |
Leipzig |
Death of daughter Christiana Dorothea |
|
Sep 1732 |
Leipzig |
Opening of rebuilt Thomasschule |
|
Sep 22-28, 1732 |
Kassel |
Organ examination in Martinskirche, Kassel |
|
Apr 25, 1733 |
Leipzig |
Death of daughter Regina Johanna |
|
June 23, 1733 |
Dresden |
Appointment of son Wilhelm Friedemann Bach as organist at Sophienkirche, Dresden |
|
Jul 1733 |
Dresden |
Visit to Dresden |
|
Nov 5, 1733 |
Leipzig |
Baptism of son Johann August Abraham (died Nov 6) |
|
Feb 8, 1735 |
Merseburg |
Visit to Merseburg |
|
Jun 1735 |
Mühlhausen |
Organ examination in Marienkirche, Mühlhausen |
|
Jun 16, 1735 |
Mühlhausen |
Appointment of son Gottfried Bernhard as organist at Marienkirche |
|
Sep 7, 1735 |
Leipzig |
Baptism of son Johann Christian Bach |
|
Nov 1735 |
Collmen |
Visit to Collmen |
|
1735 |
|
Clavier-Übung II published |
|
July +, 1736 |
Leipzig |
Conflict with Rector J.A. Ernesti over choice of school perfects |
|
Nov 19, 1736 |
Dresden |
Appointment as Hofcompositeur to Dresden Court |
|
Dec 1, 1736 |
Dresden |
Organ recital at Frauenkirche, Dresden |
|
173 |
Leipzig |
Georg Christian Schemelli's Songbook published |
|
Jan 14, 1737 |
Sangerhausen |
Appointment of son Johann Gottfried as organist of Jakobikirche, Sangerhausen |
|
Spring 1737 |
Leipzig |
Temporary break in directorship of Collegium Musicum |
|
May 1737 |
|
Adverse criticism of music by J.A. Scheide |
|
Oct 1737 |
Leipzig |
Arrival of Johann Elias Bach as tutor and secretary |
|
Oct 30, 1737 |
Leipzig |
Baptism of daughter Johanna Carolina |
|
Dec 16, 1737 |
Weissensee |
Organ examination in Weißensee, near Naumburg |
|
May 1738 |
|
Appointment of son Carl Philipp Emanuel as harpsichordist to Crown Prince Frederick of Prussia |
|
May 1738 |
Dresden |
Visit to Dresden |
|
Jan 28, 1739 |
Jena |
Son Johann Gottfried Bernhard Bach registers at the University of Jena |
|
May 27, 1739 |
Leipzig |
Death of son Johann Gottfried Bernhard Bach |
|
1739 |
Altenburg |
Organ examination and recital in Schloßkirche, Altenburg |
|
1739 |
|
Clavier-Übung III published |
|
Oct 2, 1739 |
|
Resumption of directorship of Collegium Musicum |
|
Nov 7-14, 1739 |
Weißenfels |
Visit to Weißenfels with wife |
|
Apr 1740 |
Halle |
Visit to Halle |
|
Leipzig (1741-1750) |
|
Date/Year |
Place |
Event |
|
Aug 1741 |
Berlin |
Visit to son Carl Philipp Emanuel in Berlin |
|
1741 |
Leipzig |
Illness of wife Anna Magdalena |
|
Nov 1741 |
Dresden |
Visit to Dresden |
|
Feb 22, 1742 |
Leipzig |
Baptism of daughter Regina Susanna |
|
Aug 30, 1742 |
Kleinzschocher |
Performance of the Peasants’ Cantata BWV 212 in Kleinzschocher |
|
Oct 31, 1742 |
Leipzig |
Departure of Johann Elias Bach |
|
1742 |
Bad Berka |
Organ examination in Bad Berka |
|
1742 |
|
Goldberg Variations (BWV 988) published |
|
Apr 18, 1743 |
Leipzig |
Godfather to J.S. Weyrauch |
|
Dec 1743 |
Leipzig |
Organ examination in Johanniskirche, Leipzig |
|
1744 |
Berlin |
Marriage of son Carl Philipp Emanuel to Johanna Maria Dannemann in Berlin |
|
1745 |
|
Birth of grandson Johann August |
|
Apr 16, 1746 |
Halle |
Appointment of son Wilhelm Friedemann Bach as organist of the Liebfrauenkirche, Halle |
|
Aug 7, 1746 |
Zschortau |
Organ examination in Zschortau, near Delitzsch |
|
Sep 27, 1746 |
Naumburg |
Organ examination in Wenzelskirche (St. Wenceslas), Naumburg |
|
May 7-8, 1747 |
Potsdam |
Visit to Friedrich the Great in Potsdam |
|
May 1747 |
Heiligengrabe |
Visit to Heiligengrabe |
|
1747 |
|
Musical Offering published |
|
Jun 1747 |
|
Enrolment in Lorenz Christoph Mizler’s Society of Musical Science |
|
Sep 4, 1747 |
|
Birth of granddaughter Anna Carolina Philippina |
|
Sep 24, 1748 |
|
Birth of grandson Johann Sebastian |
|
1748 or 1749 |
|
Canonic variations published |
|
Jan 20, 1749 |
Leipzig |
Marriage of daughter Elisabeth Juliana Friederica to J.C. Altnickol in Leipzig |
|
June 8, 1749 |
Leipzig |
Probe of Johann Gottlob Harrer with a view to his succeeding Bach as Thomaskantor |
|
Oct 4, 1749 |
|
Birth of grandson Johann Sebastian Altnickol (buried Dec 21) |
|
1749 |
|
Mass in B minor BWV 232 completed |
|
Jan 1750 |
Bückeburg |
Appointment of son Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach as court musician at Bückeburg |
|
Mar-Apr 1750 |
|
Operation by oculist John Taylor |
|
1750 |
|
Work on The Art of Fugue (since c1742); published 1751 |
|
July 22, 1750 |
|
Final communion |
|
July 28, 1750 |
Leipzig |
Death of J.S. Bach dies in Leipzig |
|
July 31, 1750 |
Leipzig |
Burial at Johanniskirche, Leipzig. Last place of rest since 1949 in the Thomaskirche |
|
Posthumous Years (1750-1800) |
|
Date/Year |
Place |
Event |
|
Fall 1750 |
Berlin |
Johann Christian Bach (age 15) joins the household of his stepbrother C.P.E. Bach in Berlin |
|
Fall 1750 |
Naumburg |
Gottfried Heinrich joins the household of his brother-in-law Johann Christoph Altnickol in Naumburg |
|
Aug 7, 1750 |
Leipzig |
Election of Johann Gottlob Harrer as Thomaskantor (other applicants for his position: C.P.E. Bach, A.F. Graun, J.L. Krebs, J.G. Görner. And J. Trier) |
|
Aug 29 +, 1750 |
Leipzig |
The Leipzig Town Council acquires performing parts of chorale cantata cycle from Anna Magdalena Bach for the use of the Thomaskantor |
|
Oct 2, 1750 |
Leipzig |
Installation of Johann Gottlob Harrer as Thomaskantor |
|
Nov 11, 1750 |
Leipzig |
Settlement of Bach’s estate at the probate court of Leipzig University |
|
Winter 1750-51 |
|
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach and Johann Friedrich Agricola write Obituary (published 1754) |
|
May 1751 |
|
Jubilate (Spring) Fair: publication of The Art of Fugue BWV 1080 |
|
June 1, 1751 |
|
Subscription announcement for The Art of Fugue |
|
May 1752 |
|
2nd edition of The Art of Fugue |
|
July 9, 1755 |
Leipzig |
Death of Thomaskantor Johann Gottlob Harrer |
|
Sep 29, 1755 |
Leipzig |
Special services to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Augsburg Religious Peace at both the St. Thomas and St. Nicolai’s; performance of Cantata BWV 126, conducted by the perfect (probably C.F. Penzl) |
|
Oct 8, 1755 |
Leipzig |
Appointment of Johann Friedrich Doles, cantor at the cathedral in Freiburg (a pupil of J.S. Bach’s 1739-1743) as Thomaskantor |
|
Feb 27, 1760 |
Leipzig |
Death of Anna Magdalena Bach (age 59); buried Feb 29 |
|
Feb 12, 1763 |
Naumburg |
Death of Gottfried Heinrich (age 39) in Naumburg |
|
Jan 14, 1774 |
Leipzig |
Death of daughter Catharina Dorothea Bach (age 65) in Leipzig |
|
Aug 18, 1781 |
Leipzig |
Death of daughter Johanna Carolina Bach (age 43) in Leipzig |
|
Aug 24, 1781 |
Leipzig |
Death of daughter Elisabeth Juliane Friederica Altnickol (age 55) in Leipzig |
|
Jan 1, 1782 |
London |
Death of son Johann Christian Bach (age 46) in London |
|
July 1, 1784 |
Berlin |
Death of son Wilhelm Friedemann Bach (age 73) in Berlin |
|
Dec 14, 1788 |
Hamburg |
Death of son Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (age 74) in Hamburg |
|
Jan 26, 1795 |
Bückeburg |
Death of son Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach (age 63) in Bückeburg |
|
Dec 14, 1809 |
Leipzig |
Death of daughter Regina Susanna Bach (age 67) in Leipzig |
|
-- |
|
|
|
Prepared by Aryeh Oron (October 2003- December 2009) |
