Johann Elias Bach [39] (Kantor, School Inspector, Copyist, Bach's Pupil)

Born: February 12^{1 2} or 17³, 1705 - Schweinfurt, Bavaria, Germany
Died: November 30, 1755 - Schweinfurt, Bavaria, Germany

Johann Elias Bach [39] was son of Johann Valentin Bach [21] (town musician, cousin of J.S. Bach). His and J.S. Bach's [24] great grandfather was Christoph Bach [5]. He studied theology at Universität Jena from 1728 (enrolled on April 15, 1728); and at Universität Leipzig from 1737² or 1738¹ to 1742 (enrollment for the summer semester 1739). He lived with J.S. Bach as his private secretary, pupil and tutor of his younger children until 1742. In 1742/1743 he worked as informant in Zöschau (near Oschatz). In 1743 he became Kantor at the Johanniskirche in Schweinfurt and inspector of the church boarding-school.

Johann Elias Bach's work as a private secretary and private tutor for the children J.S. Bach is documented in detail by his preserved concept letters. The fact that he received private tuition in return from J.S. Bach is a plausible presumption that was probably first expressed by Spitta in 1880 and can be supported by the parallel case Bernhard Dieterich Ludewig (A-28). However, J.E. Bach justified his refusal to accept a rectorate position in Wimpfen in 1740 with his family by saying "daß man die Orgel nothwendig mit spielen soll, worauf ich mich nicht geleget habe" (that the organ should necessarily be played with, which I did not lay down on); In 1741 he even wrote that "die Music mein Hauptwerk keines weges ist, wie vielleicht mancher denken könnte" (the music is not my main work, as some might think).

References: Koska: B-32; GND: 116216026; Bach Digital: 00001197

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

D-B Mus.ms. Bach P 42, Faszikel 3: BWV 208a 2^nd text-manuscript [1742]

Sources:
1. The New Grove Bach Family (Author: Christoph Wolff, MacMillan London, 1983)
2. Bernd Koska: Bachs Privatschüler in Bach-Jahrbuch 2019, English translation by Aryeh Oron (May 2020)
3. Bach Digital Website (August 2019)
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (June 2006, May 2020)

Links to other Sites

Bach, Johann Elias (Bach Digital)

Bibliography

K. Pottgiesser: 'Die Briefentwiirfe des Johann Elias Bach', Die Musik, xii (1912-13), 3
F. Beyschlag: 'Ein Schweinfurter Ableger der thüringischen Musikerfamilie Bach', Schweinfurter Heimatblätter, xi (1925)
Sources 2: Spitta II, S. 720; Löffler 1929/31, Nr. 40; Löffler 1936, S. 116; BJ 1949/50, S. 118–123 (H. Löffler); Löffler 1953, Nr. 56; MGGo; LBB 3 (E. Odrich/P. Wollny), S. 136 und 162; BJ 2005, S. 101f. (M. Maul)zzz
References 3: NBA I/12, 28.1, 35, 36, 40; II/4; IV/4; V/6.2, 9.2, 10; VIII/1; Suppl.; Dok I, II, III, IV, V, VI, IX

Bach Family: Sorted by Name | Sorted by Number | Family Tree | Family History
Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

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