Johann Sebastian Bach (98 page)

1685

Mar. 21

Birth of Johann Sebastian, seventh and youngest child of Johann Ambrosius Bach and Maria Elisabeth Bach, née Lämmerhirt

 

Mar. 23

Baptized at St. George's, Eisenach's main church

1690–93

 

Attends a German school in Eisenach

1693–95

 

Attends the Latin school in Eisenach,
quinta
to
quarta

1694

May 3

Burial of mother, Elisabeth Bach (age 50)

 

Oct. 23

Wedding of brother Johann Christoph in Ohrdruf; Ambrosius Bach, Johann Pachelbel, and others perform

 

Nov. 27

Ambrosius Bach marries Barbara Margaretha Bartholomaei, née Keul

1695

Feb. 20

Death of father, Johann Ambrosius Bach (age 50); buried Feb. 24

 

Spring–summer

Johann Sebastian, orphaned at age 10, and his brother Johann Jacob (13) join the household of their oldest brother, Johann Christoph Bach, in Ohrdruf

1695–1700

 

Attends the Lyceum in Ohrdruf,
tertia
to
prima

1698–99

 

An autograph copy of a demanding organ piece by Buxtehude attests to the young Bach's remarkable proficiency

1700

Feb.–Mar.

Calendar reform
*

1700

Mar. 15

Leaves Ohrdruf for Lüneburg, St. Midrad's School

1700–1702

 

Choral scholar in the
prima
at St. Michael's; contact with Georg Böhm in Lüneburg and frequent visits to Johann Adam Reinken in Hamburg

1702

Apr. (Easter)

Graduation from St. Michael's School and return to Thuringia (probably Ohrdruf)

 

Jul. 9

Successful applicant for the town organist post at St. Jacobi, Sangerhausen; by ducal interference, the post is given to someone else

1703

Jan.–Jun.

Lackey and musician at the court of Duke Johann Ernst of Saxe-Weimar

 

Jul. 13

Examines the new organ at the New (also St. Boniface's) Church in Arnstadt

 

Aug. 14

Acceptance of appointment (dated Aug. 9) as organist at Arnstadt's New Church

1705

Aug.

Dispute with Johann Heinrich Geyersbach

 

Nov.

Visit with Dieterich Buxtehude in Lübeck, stays for 3–4 months

 

Dec. 2–3

Buxtehude's oratorios
Castrum doloris
and
Templum honoris
performed in Lübeck

1706

Feb. 21

Disciplinary problems discussed with Arnstadt Consistory

 

Nov. 28

Organ examination in Langewiesen, near Gehren

1707

Apr. 24

Easter Sunday: audition for the organist position at St. Blasius's Church in Mühlhausen; performance of a cantata (BWV 4?)

 

Jun. 14–22

Negotiations with the Mühlhausen Town Council; accepts appointment

 

Jun. 29

Returns organ keys to Arnstadt authorities

1707

Jul. 1

Begins as organist at St. Blasius's in Mühlhausen

 

Sep. 18

Receives 50 florins from the estate of uncle Tobias Lämmerhirt of Erfurt

 

Oct. 17

Marriage with Maria Barbara, daughter of Johann Michael Bach (1648–1694) of Gehren, in Dornheim, near Arnstadt

1708

Feb. 4

Mühlhausen Town Council election: performance of BWV 71

 

Feb.

Submits plans for organ renovation at St. Blasius's

 

c. Feb. 25

Cantata BWV 71 published

 

Jun.

Performs on renovated organ at the ducal palace church in Weimar. Appointed organist and chamber musician at the court of the co-reigning Dukes Wilhelm Ernst and Ernst August of Saxe-Weimar (Jun. 20: ducal salary decree); requests and receives dismissal from Mühlhausen

1708

Jul. 14

Moves to Weimar

 

Dec. 29

Daughter Catharina Dorothea baptized (d. 1774)

1709

Feb. 4

Mühlhausen Town Council election: guest performance of a (lost) cantata (work published)

 

Mar.

Visit of the violinist Johann Georg Pisendel

1710

Feb. 4

Mühlhausen Town Council election: guest performance of a (lost) cantata (work published)

 

Oct. 26

Organ examination and dedication in Traubach, near Weimar

 

Nov. 22

Son Wilhelm Friedemann born

1711

Jun. 3

The Weimar duke orders a salary increase for Bach

1713

Feb. 21–22

In Weissenfels: performance of the
Hunt Cantata,
BWV 208, in conjunction with the birthday of Duke Christian of Saxe-Weissenfels

 

Feb. 23

Twins, Maria Sophia and Johann Christoph, born; Johann Christoph dies shortly after birth. Mar. 15: burial of Maria Sophia

 

Jul. 8

Prince Johann Ernst returns from study trip, bringing with him new musical repertoires

 

Sep. 7

In Ohrdruf: baptism of Johann Sebastian, son of brother Johann Christoph Bach

 

Oct.

Composes birthday aria for Duke Wilhelm Ernst

 

Nov. 6

Participates in festive dedication of the newly built St. Jacobi Church in Weimar

 

Nov. 28–Dec. 15

In Halle: invited to audition for organist post at Our Lady's (Market) Church (successor to F. W. Zachow); Bach elected on Dec. 13

1714

Jan. 14

Receives appointment for post in Halle

 

Feb. 19

Withdraws candidacy

 

Mar. 2

Appointed concertmaster at the Weimar court; receives salary increase

 

Mar. 8

Son Carl Philipp Emanuel born

 

Mar. 25

Palm Sunday/Annunciation: performance of BWV 182, first cantata after concertmaster appointment

1715

May 11

Son Johann Gottfried Bernhard born

 

Aug. 1–Nov. 3

Official mourning period after the death of Prince Wilhelm Ernst

1716

Apr. 29–May 2

Organ examination and dedication in Halle, Market Church

 

Jul. 31

Organ examination in Erfurt, St. Augustine's Church

 

Dec. 1

Death of Weimar capellmeister Johann Samuel Drese

1717

Mar. 26

Good Friday: guest performance of a (lost) Passion at the palace church of Gotha

 

Aug. 5

Signs contractual agreement to accept capellmeistership in Cöthen

 

Fall (Oct.–Nov.)

In Dresden: keyboard contest with Louis Marchand at the royal-electoral court

 

Nov. 6–Dec. 2

Detention in conjunction with his dismissal from Weimar court service

 

Dec. 16–18

Organ examination in Leipzig, St. Paul's (University) Church