Guide to Bach Tour: Buckeburg

Contents

Description | Events in Life History of J.S. Bach | Performance Dates of J.S. Bach’s Vocal Works | Features of Interest | Information & Links | Photos | City Map

Description

The town of Bückeburg (20,500 inhabitants) owes its origins to a moated castle built around 1300 (now the Palace of Bückeburg). The town took on the name of the "Old Bückeburg" which was near Obernkirchen (8 KM to the east of Bückeburg) when it fell into decay in the twelfth century. As early as 1365, the privileges of a trading town were bestowed on the town by the Lords of Schaumburg. This elevated Bückeburg to the ranks of an independent community. After this promising start, followed a stagnation period of more than two hundred years during which Bückeburg did not succeed in developing beyond its rural limitations.

This situation only changed when Prince Ernst of Holstein-Schaumburg (1601-1622), one of the most significant rulers of his time, not only chose the Palace of Bückeburg as his seat of residence, but also declared the town as the seat of government, bestowing the rights of a town on Bückeburg. At the same time, he also saw to it that his seat of residence took on the character of a capital city. It is thanks to the many famous artists and craftsmen who came at his behest, that culture in Schaumburg first began to flourish. From all the buildings which were erected at that time, the Town Church must first and foremost be mentioned, since it is one of the most superb examples of Weser Renaissance and even today still dominates the townscape.

After the division of Schaumburg, Bückeburg became the capital of - Schaumburg-Lippe. The most famous ruler was Earl Wilhelm 1748-1777, who not only made a name for himself as a military commander and theorist, but also by summoning Thomas Abbt, Johann Gottfried Herder and Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach, achieved for Bückeburg a permanent place in German intellectual history.

The Residence city remained virtually unscathed by the industrial developments of the 19^th century; the population continued to increase from approximately 2,500 around 1800 to approximately 6,500 around 1900. Of a more serious nature were the changes which Bückeburg underwent during the course of this century.

Namely, although Bückeburg remained the capital of the independent state Schaumburg-Lippe in 1918, this state was dissolved in 1946. Bückeburg became annexed to the State of Westphalia and finally to the newly-formed State of Lower Saxony.

As a result of which, Bückeburg forfeited the seat of state capital. At the same time, it became the seat of the newly-formed Bückeburg District Council, which, less than two years later was amalgamated with the Stadthagen District Council to form the new Schaumburg-Lippe District Council.

As compensation for the loss of state capital and District Council status, some authorities remained in Bückeburg, such as the entire Administration of Justice, the Authority for Structural Engineering, the Government Archives and the Land Registry.

The town increased in size and influence after the war due to the influx of many refugees and due to the incorporation of surrounding villages. To the modern-day visitor, Bückeburg offers the image of a town which can look back on a proud tradition, but has not allowed this to stand in the way of progress.

J.S. Bach himself has never been in Bückeburg. However, his son Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach, served there as court musician for 45 years, most of his life as an adult.

Events in Life History of J.S. Bach

Date/Year	Event
Leipzig (1741-1750)
Jan 1750	Appointment of son Johann Christoph Friedrich as court musician at Bückeburg
Posthumous Years (1750-1800)
Jan 26, 1795	Death of son Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach (age 63) in Bückeburg

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

Features of Interest	Information & Links
Bückeburg Palace. Town Church. Palace Park. Market Place. Mausoleum. Ida Tower.	Bückeburg (Official Website) [German/English] Schloss Bückeburg [German] Bückeburg (Wikipedia) [German/English] Cityreview: Niedersachsen > Bückeburg [German] Bückeburg (Meinestadt) [German]

Prepared by Aryeh Oron (March 2004)

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update: ýMarch 19, 2004 ý18:32:26