Guide to Bach Tour

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

Berlin - Germany's number one travel destination – is never boring! "There's always something doing in Berlin" was how Herwarth Walden described this throbbing cultural metropolis as long ago as the 205. And today the city is once more the scene of a fascinating transformation. For Berlin will never again be what it is like now; it is undergoing a fundamental change. Visitors will be conscious of the pulsating vivacity in the boulevards, the art and flea markets and the 1,800 varied taverns of the pub scene. Here - in premises open day and night - will be found the classic curried sausage and Eisbein (pickled knuckle of pork) as well as refined Chateaubriand and a multicultural cuisine.

In no other German city are there three opera houses, two concert halls and 35 theatres actually in operation. Evening after evening hundreds of independent theatrical companies, variety shows and music theatres - in particular the Friedrich-stadtpalast, Europe's largest revue theatre with the dazzling troupe of long-legged chorus girls - attract countless visitors to their performances. Nofretete, the Pergamum Altar as well as examples of classic Modernism up to Baselitz and Beuys are but a few of the unique and unusual exhibits art-lovers can view in 130 museums. Charlottenburg, Kreuzberg, Mitte and the Prenzlauer Berg with their countless galleries and taverns are attractive districts where visitors can go walking and enjoy the Berlin art "scene".

Once upon a time the Brandenburg Gate marked the boundary between city and countryside; for decades in our century it was the boundary between two different social systems. But in 1989 it was the focal point of the reunification of the two German states. Since then the Wall has practically vanished from Berlin except for a few remnants - at the so-called East Side Gallery or Checkpoint Charlie, for example, where the history of the Wall and the partition is documented.

Anyone who would like to exchange the city's hustle and bustle for the peace and quiet of the countryside is recommended to go on an excursion to the palaces and gardens of Potsdam, in particular to Sanssouci Palace and its park, built in the 18^th century as the summer residence of Frederick the Great and subsequently his last resting-place.

J.S. Bach visited Berlin couple of time, either for business, such as buying a harpsichord, or for family matters. His elder son, Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, was in the service of Frederick the Great for nearly 30 years, from 1740 to 1768, when he got his new position in Hamburg. J.S. Bach attended, of course, his son’s wedding in Berlin in 1744.

Events in Life History of J.S. Bach

Date/Year	Event
Köthen (1713-1723)
Feb (?) 1719	Visit to Berlin for purchase of harpsichord
Leipzig (1741-1750)
Aug 1741	Visit to son Carl Philipp Emanuel in Berlin
1744	Marriage of son Carl Philipp Emanuel to Johanna Maria Dannemann in Berlin
Posthumous Years (1750-1800)
Fall 1750	Johann Christian (age 15) joins the household of his stepbrother C.P.E. Bach in Berlin
July 1, 1784	Death of son Wilhelm Friedman Bach (age 73) in Berlin

Performance Dates of J.S. Bach’s Vocal Works: None.

Features of Interest

Information & Links

Brandenburg Gate: symbol of the partition and reunification of Germany.
Berliner Dom (Berlin Cathedral).
Deutsches Dom.
Gendarmenmarkt.
Hackescher Markt.
Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church and Ku’damm.
Maxim Gorky Theatre: former home of the Berlin Singakademie and place where Mendelssohn gave his 1829 performances of the Matthew Passion BWV 244.
StaatsBibliothek: which houses 80% of the extant J.S. Bach manuscripts

Berlin Tourismus
Marketing GmbH}
Am Karlsbad 11
D-10785 Berlin
Tel: +49-30/264748-0
Fax: +49-30/26474899
Website: Berlin Tourismus Marketing GmbH - Berlin Tourist Information [various languages]

Berlin (Official Website) [German]
Berlin Online [German]
Berlin (Wikipedia) [German/English]
Cityreview: Berlin [German]
Berlin (Meinestadt) [German]

Prepared by Aryeh Oron (March 2004 – April 2004)
Thanks to contributors: John Pike (April 2004)

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Last update: ýApril 6, 2004 ý07:29:40