Johann Tobias Krebs, Jr. (Composer, Rector, Bach's Pupil)

Born: November 16, 1716 - Buttelstedt, near Weimar, Thuringia, Germany
Died: April 6, 1782 - Grimma, Saxony, Germany

Johann Tobias Krebs, Jr. was a German Rector and composer, son of the composer and organist Johann Tobias Krebs (1690-1762) (A-4). He attended the school in Buttelstedt. In May 1729, following his audition at the Thomasschule, J.S. Bach judged the 13-year-old as having 'a good strong voice and fine proficiency'. He enrolled at the Thomasschule in Leipzig on July 4, 1729; and studied there from 1729 to 1740. In a report from August 23, 1730, J.S. Bach wrote about him: “usable for 1^st Choir (figural music)”. From 1739 to 1742 (or 1746) he studied at the University of Leipzig (enrolled on April 5, 1739. delivering his Dissertation in 1740, and obtaining his Baccalaureus degree in 1742; and his Magister degree in 1743. In 1746 he was appointed Konrektor (assistant headmaster) at the Lyzeum (Lyceum) in Chemnitz. He then moved to Grimma, where in 1751 he was appointed assistant Konrektor (assistant headmaster), and in 1763 Rektor (headmaster) at the Landesschule. He was a member of the Schola Regia Grimensis. He remained in Grimma until his death.

In a report on the performance of one of his compositions in 1747, Johann Tobias Krebs, Jr. is referred to as "Schüler von dem berühmten Bach zu Leipzig" (a pupil of the famous Bach in Leipzig). It seems questionable that this means private instruction beyond the regular lessons at the Thomasschule.

References: Richter: 116; Koska: B-18; GND: 100202349; Bach Digital: 00003242

Sources: :
1. Oxford Composer Companions J.S. Bach (Editor: Malcolm Boyd, OUP, 1999)
2. fine-print footnotes in the Bach-Dokumente
3. 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)
4. Bach Digital Website (May 2019)
5. Bernd Koska: Bachs Privatschüler in Bach-Jahrbuch 2019, English translation by Aryeh Oron (May 2020)
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (June 2014, April-May 2020); Thomas Braatz (January 2011)

Links to other Sites

Krebs, Johann Tobias (Bach Digital)

Bibliography

Sources 3: Curiosa Saxonica 1743, S. 60 und 147; Nützliche Nachrichten 1746, S. 216; Dietmann II, S. 1091f.; Richter 1907, Nr. 116; Dok I, Nr. 22 (S. 63 und 66) und 63; Dok II, Nr. 555; Dok III, Nr. 916
Sources 5: Dok II, Nr. 555:

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