Guide to Bach Tour: Arnstadt

Contents

Description & History | Events in Life History of J.S. Bach | Performance Dates of J.S. Bach’s Vocal Works | Features of Interest | Information & Links | Photos Part 1 | Photos Part 2 | Maps

Description & History

One of the most unusual J.S. Bach Memorials was designed by the sculptor Bernd G6bel from Halle in 1985 for the Market Square in Arnstadt. A young man lounging around in his shirt sleeves in solH"ary splendour on his pedestal. For many people, this was a provocation. But the artist had obviously touched the nerve of the time in Arnstadt, when J.S. Bach had his first position as organist at the New Church - today the Bach Church - from 1703 to 1707. The twenty year old was already seen as quite self-willed and did not let anyone make his mind up for him. He experimented in organ playing and annoyed the community, because he "made many odd variations in the choral and mixed in many strange sounds". He was often in conflict with his superior church administration too. Once, because he extended his holiday in Lübeck from four weeks to four months withhout permission, in order to listen to the "famous organist Dietrich Buxtehude at the Church of St. Mary". And not far from his present location he is supposed to have pulled his dagger at one of his choir pupils.

Presumably, J.S. Bach lived at that time with his cousin, Johann Ernst, who occasionally stood in for him when he was on his travels, and his uncle Johann Christoph Bach in the house which is still standing in the Kohlgasse 7. They were not the only "Bache" in Arnstadt. 17 members of this large family of musicians were born here between 1620 and 1792, 24 are buried in the Old Cemetery. Unfortunately their graves morial and Literary have not been preserved. They lived and worked as court and town musicians, as cantors and organists In Arnstadt and met annually for their tradtional family get-together in the Restaurant "Goldene Sonne" (Golden Sun).

The Bach Church on the Market Square is where J.S. Bach tested the organ of Johann Friedrich Wender from Mühlhausen when he.was 18 years of age. It will be possible to listen to the organ, which is being reconstructed true to the original, during the anniversary year 2000 in the rennovated place of worship. Not far from here in the Museum for Town History "Haus zum Palmbaum" (House of the palm tree), which is the official Bach Memorial and houses documents on the life and work of Bach. The keyboard from the Wender organ of that time is still there, as is a music cupboard from the New Church and pieces of furniture from the consistory. Every year the town of Arnstadt honours its famous ancestors with concerts from the Arnstadt Bach Days within the framework of the Thuringian Bach Weeks and a few months later with. the traditional Organ Summer. However, not only were the family of musicians attracted to the delightful country town.

Other well-known artists and authors worked here such as the fairy tale poet Ludwig Bechstein, the author Willibald Alexis and Eugenie John who became a famous author of the "Gartenlaube" under the pseudonym of "Marlitt". The Dolls' Town "Mon plaisir" is housed in the palace museum opposite the Neideck Tower, in which Caspar Bach spent several years as caretaker. This is the most extensive historic collection of dolls in the world. The palace park which lies behind the museum and the 150 year old theatre in the palace garden complete the historic valuable ensemble. Arnstadt is the oldest town in Thuringia and is also called the "Gate to the Thuringian Forest".

The charming countryside in the castle triangle of the "Drei Gleichen" is an invitation for romantic excursions in the surrounding area. A few kilometres east of the town is one also the village of Dornheim, where Bach married his cousin Maria Barbara in 1707. The lovingly restored village church has become a true gelm and extremely worth a trip.

Events in Life History of J.S. Bach

Date/Year	Event
Arnstadt (1703-1707)
Aug 9, 1703	Appointment as organist at the New Church in Arnstadt
Aug 14, 1703	Acceptance of appointment as organist at the New Church in Arnstadt
Aug 4, 1705	Altercation with Johann Heinrich Geyerbach
Nov +, 1705	Prolonged visit to Lübeck to stay four months with Dietrich Buxtehude
Dec 2-3, 1705	Buxtehude oratorios Castrum doloris and Templum bonoris performed in Lübeck
Feb 1706	Return to Arnstadt
Feb 21 +, 1706	Reprimand by church Consistory for long absence
Nov 28, 1706	Organ examination at Langewisen, near Gehren
Apr 24, 1707	Easter Sunday: audition for the organist position at Blasiuskirche, Mühlhausen; performance of a cantata (BWV 4?)
June 14-22, 1707	Negotiations with the Mühlhausen Town Council; accepts appointment
June 29, 1707	Returns organ keys to Arnstadt authorities

Performance Dates of Bach’s Vocal Works

Date	Event	BWV	Title	Remarks
1704-1707 ?	Penitential Service	150	Nach dir, Herr, verlanget mich

Features of Interest

Information & Links

New Church (Bach Church): where J.S. Bach was an organist from 1703 to 1707. The organ screen and seven registers have survived to the present day. Two commomerative plaques remind us of the great musician.
Bach Memorial: in the ‘Haus zum Palmbaum” contains the original restoed keyboard of the Wender organ, a music cabinet and many other Exhibits. Reading and concerts are also held here.
The House “Zur goldenen Kron”: where J.S. Bach first met his cousin Maria Babara.
Memorial Plaque: in the Baroque Church of the Ascension commemorates the members of the Bach family.
The Bach Statue: was created in 1985 by Professor Bernd Göbel to mark the 300^th anniversary of J.S. Bach’s birth. It sepicts the composer as an 18 year-old youth.
The Renaissance Town Hall: (1585) with ornamental gable.
Palace Museum: includes the “dolls’town (known as “Mon Plaisir) and many other items.

Kultur-und Fremdenverkehrsamt
Markt 1
D-99310 Anstadt
Tel: +49-3628/602848 / Fax: +49-3628/640720
Website: http://www.thueringen.de Arnstadt
E-mail: Arnstadt@thueringen.de

Arnstadt-Information
Markt 3
Hotline for the travel industry
Tel: +49-3628/602049 / Fax: +49-3628/745748

Stadt Arnstadt (Official Website) [German]
Arnstadt-Online [German]
Cityreview: Thüringen > Arnstadt [German]
Arnstadt (Meinestadt) [German]

Musikhaus J.S. Bach, Arnstadt
Arnstadt 1703-1707 (Koster)
The J.S. Bach Tourist 7: Arnstadt (Koster)
On the Traces of J.S. Bach: Arnstadt (Germany Tourism)
J.S. Bach Biographie: Arnstadt-Weimar 1703-1708 (Schlu) [German]
J.S. Bach Education & Career: Arnstadt 1703-1707 (T.A. Smith)
J.S. Bach Biography: Arnstadt (Carolina Classical)
MUSIC: Johann Sebastian Bach and Arnstadt: A Collage

Prepared by Aryeh Oron (October 2003 – April 2004)

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Last update: ýApril 6, 2004 ý08:21:25