Johann Sebastian Bach (99 page)

 

Dec. 29

Arrival in Cöthen

1718

c. May 9–Jul. 15

With Prince Leopold in Carlsbad

 

Nov. 15

Son Leopold Augustus born; baptized Nov. 17

 

Dec. 10

Birthday of Prince Leopold: performance of BWV 66a, Anh. 5

1719

Mar. 1

Trip to Berlin; purchase of a harpsichord for the princely court

 

~Jun.

Failed attempt at meeting George Frideric Handel in Halle

 

Sep. 28

Son Leopold Augustus dies

1720

Jan. 22

Title page of
Clavier-Büchlein
for Wilhelm Friedemann

 

Late May–Jul. 7

With Prince Leopold in Carlsbad

 

Jul. 7

Burial of Bach's wife, Maria Barbara

 

mid-Nov.–Nov. 23

In Hamburg: recital at St. Catharine's Church in the presence of Reinken; performance of cantata(s), incl. BWV 21; candidate for organist post at St. Jacobi Church

 

Dec. 19

Withdraws candidacy for St. Jacobi

1721

Feb. 22

Death of brother Johann Christoph (age 49), organist in Ohrdruf

 

Mar. 24

Dedication of Concertos “avec plusieurs instruments” to Margrave Christian of Brandenburg

 

Aug. 7

Guest performance in Schleiz at the court of Count Reuss

 

Dec. 3

Marriage to Anna Magdalena Wilcke, princely court singer at Cöthen

 

Dec. 11

Marriage of Prince Leopold to Princess Henrietta of Anhalt-Bernburg

1722

Apr. 16

Death of brother Johann Jacob (age 40), royal court musician in Stockholm

 

Aug. 9

Guest performance in Zerbst: birthday of Prince Johann August of Anhalt-Zerbst

 

Dec. 15

Inheritance from the Lämmerhirt estate, Erfurt

 

Dec. 21

Application for the cantorate at St. Thomas's in Leipzig

1723

Feb. 7

Audition for the cantorate at St. Thomas's

 

Spring

Daughter Christiana Sophia Henrietta born

 

Apr. 13

Requests dismissal from Cöthen, which he receives; continues as nonresident princely Anhalt-Cöthen capellmeister

1723

Apr. 19

Signs provisional contract with the Leipzig Town Council

 

May 5

Signs final contract with the Leipzig Town Council

 

May 8

Theological examination by professors Schmid and Deyling

 

May 13

Signs visitation article

 

May 15

First Leipzig salary payment

 

May 16

Whitsunday: first performance at St. Paul's (University) Church (BWV 59)

 

May 22

Bach's family relocates to Leipzig and moves into a spacious apartment in the St. Thomas School

 

May 30

First Sunday after Trinity: performance of BWV 75 and beginning of first annual cantata cycle (
Jahrgang
I)

 

Jun. 1

Formal installation at the St. Thomas School

 

Jun. 14

Sons Wilhelm Friedemann and Carl Philipp Emanuel enroll in the St. Thomas School

 

Aug.

Performs Latin Ode BWV Anh. 20 at the University

 

Nov. 2

Organ examination and dedication in Störmthal, near Leipzig: performance of BWV 194

 

Dec. 25

Performance of Magnificat, BWV 243a

1724

Feb. 26

Son Gottfried Heinrich born; baptized Feb. 27

 

Apr. 7

Good Friday: performance of the
St. John Passion,
BWV 245 (1st version)

 

Jun. 11

First Sunday after Trinity: beginning of second (chorale) cantata cycle (
Jahrgang
II), with BWV 20

 

Jul. 18

Guest performance in Cöthen, with Anna Magdalena

1725

Feb. 23

Guest performance in Weissenfels (birthday of Duke Christian): BWV 249a

 

Mar. 30

Good Friday: performance of the
St. John Passion,
BWV 245 (2nd version)

 

Apr. 14

Son Christian Gottlieb baptized

 

May 30–Jun. 6

Visit to Gera with Anna Magdalena and Wilhelm Friedemann; organ dedication at St. John's

 

Sep. 14

Petition to the elector of Saxony, King Friedrich August I (re: university service)

 

Sep. 19–20

Organ recitals at St. Sophia's Church in Dresden

 

Nov. 3

Petition to the elector of Saxony, King Friedrich August I

 

Nov. 30–Dec. 15

Guest performances in Cöthen, with Anna Magdalena (birthdays of Princess Charlotte Friederike Wilhelmine and Prince Leopold)

 

Dec. 31

Second petition to King Friedrich August I

1726

Apr. 5

Daughter Elisabeth Juliana Friederica baptized

 

Apr. 19

Good Friday: performance of F. N. Brauns's (?)
St. Mark Passion
, with additions by Bach

 

Jun. 29

Daughter Christiana Sophia Henrietta (age 3) dies; buried July 1

 

Nov. 1

Announcement of the
Clavier-Übung
series (BWV 825)

 

Fall

Michaelmas Fair: single edition of BWV 825 published (BWV 826–830 published separately, 1727–30)

1727

Mar.–Apr.

Renovations of Bach's apartment in the St. Thomas School completed

 

Apr. 11

Good Friday:
St. Matthew Passion
, BWV 244 (1st version)

 

Sep. 7–Jan. 6, 1728

Official state mourning period after death of Electoress and Queen Christiane Eberhardine

 

Oct. 17

Academic memorial service for the electoress of Saxony and queen of Poland (BWV 198)

 

Oct. 30

Son Ernestus Andreas baptized; dies Nov. 1, buried Nov. 2

1728

Jan. 5

Guest performance in Cöthen (for New Year's Day festivities)

 

Sep. 21

Son Christian Gottlieb dies (age 3); buried Sep. 22

 

Oct. 10

Daughter Regina Johanna baptized

 

Nov. 19

Death of Prince Leopold of Anhalt-Cöthen

1729

Jan. 12

Visit in Leipzig of Duke Christian of Weissenfels: performance of BWV 210a

 

c. Feb. 23

Several days: guest performances in Weissenfels (birthday of Duke Christian); appointment as titular capellmeister of the ducal Saxon-Weissenfels court

 

Mar. 5

Matriculation of son Wilhelm Friedemann at Leipzig University

 

Mar. 20

Bach absent from Leipzig for 3 weeks (no details known)

 

Mar. 20

Assumes directorship of Collegium Musicum

 

Mar. 23–24

Funeral services for Prince Leopold in Cöthen (BWV 244a)

 

Apr. 15

Good Friday: performance of the
St. Matthew Passion,
BWV 244

 

Jun. 29

Invites George Frideric Handel (visiting with his mother in Halle) to come to Leipzig, in vain; Bach himself ill, sends son Wilhelm Friedemann to Halle

 

Jul. 30

Friedelena Margaretha Bach, sister of Bach's first wife Maria Barbara (age 53), buried (lived in Bach's household since c. 1708)

 

Oct. 20

Funeral of Johann August Ernesti, rector of St. Thomas's (BWV 229)

 

Dec. 24

Auditions organists for post at St. Nicholas's (Bach's student Johann Schneider appointed)

1730

Jan. 1

Daughter Christiana Benedicta baptized; dies Jan. 4, buried Jan. 5

 

Apr. 7

Good Friday: performance of anonymous
St. Luke's Passion
, BWV 246, with additions by Bach

 

Jun. 25–27

Jubilee of Augsburg Confession: BWV 190a, 120b, and Anh. 4a

 

Aug. 23

Memorandum for a “Well-Appointed Church Music”