|
Guide to Bach Tour: Main
Page | Life History of J.S. Bach | Performance
Dates of J.S. Bach’s Vocal Works | Maps | Route
Suggestions | Discussions of Bach Tour |
|
Guide to Bach Tour: Main
Page | Life History of J.S. Bach | Performance
Dates of J.S. Bach’s Vocal Works | Maps | Route
Suggestions | Discussions of Bach Tour |
Life History of J.S. Bach
Contents
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Date/Year |
Place |
Event |
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c1600 |
Velt Bach (J.S. Bach’s great great grandfather) and his son Johann(es) [Hans] Bach (born c 1550) run a bakery and a mill in Wechmar |
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Apr 19, 1613 |
Birth of Christoph Bach (J.S. Bach’s grandfather) in Wechmar |
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1626 |
Death of Johann(es) [Hans] Bach (J.S. Bach’s great grandfather) in Wechmar |
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Before 1642 |
Service of Christoph Bach as court musician in Weimar |
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1642-1654 |
Service of Christoph Bach as court musician in Erfurt |
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Feb 22, 1645 |
Birth of twins Johann Ambrosius Bach (J.S. Bach’s father) & Johann Christoph, sons of Christoph Bach and Maria Magdalena, née Grabler |
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1654 |
Appointment of Johann Christoph Bach as court & town musician in Arnstadt |
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Sep 12, 1661 |
Death of Christoph Bach (J.S. Bach’s grandfather) in Arnstadt |
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Apr 16, 1667 |
Appointment of Ambrosius as violinist in Erfurt town music |
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Apr 8, 1668 |
Marriage of Johann Ambrosius Bach with Maria Elisabeth Lämmerhirt in Pediger Church, Erfurt |
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Oct 12, 1671 |
Successful audition and appointment of Ambrosius as court trumpeter & director of town music in Eisenach |
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Mar 21, 1685 |
Birth of Johann Sebastian Bach, seventh and youngest child of Johann Ambrosius Bach and Maria Elisabeth |
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Mar 23, 1685 |
Baptism at Georgenkirche, Eisenach’s main church |
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May 3, 1686 |
Burial of sister Johanna Juditha |
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1690-1693 |
Attends a German school in Eisenach |
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1692 |
Enrolment in the Latin School, Eisenach |
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May 1, 1694 |
Death of mother (age 50) |
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Oct 23, 1694 |
Wedding of brother Johann Christoph in Ohrdruf; Ambrosius Bach, Johann Pachelbel & others perform |
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Nov 27, 1694 |
Marriage of father Johann Ambrosius with Barbara Margaretha Bartholomäi, née Keul |
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Feb 20, 1695 |
Death of father (age 50); buried Feb 24 |
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1695 |
J.S. Bach, orphaned at age 10, and his brother Johann Jacob (13) join the household of their oldest brother, Johann Christoph Bach, in Ohrdruf |
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1695 |
Enrolment in Lyceum, Ohrdruf (studied there until 1700) |
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Mar 15, 1700 |
Leaves Ohrdruf for Lüneburg, St. Midrad’s School |
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1700 |
Enrolment in the Michaelisschule in Lüneburg, where he receives a comprehensive musical education |
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1700-1702 |
Contact with Georg Böhm in Lüneburg |
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1700-1702 |
Frequent visits to Johann Adam Reinken in Hamburg |
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Apr (Easter) 1702 |
Graduation from Michaelisschule and return to Thuringia (probably Ohrdruf) |
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July 9 +, 1702 |
Successful application for a post as town organist in Sangerhausen; by ducal interference, the post is given to someone else |
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Jan-June (or Mar-Sep) 1703 |
Lacquey and musician at the court of Duke Johann Ernst of Saxe-Weimar |
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- July 13, 1703 |
Examination of the new organ at the New (also St. Boniface’s) Church in Arnstadt |
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Aug 9, 1703 |
Appointment as organist at the New Church in Arnstadt |
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Aug 14, 1703 |
Acceptance of appointment as organist at the New Church in Arnstadt |
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Aug 4, 1705 |
Altercation with Johann Heinrich Geyerbach |
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Nov +, 1705 |
Prolonged visit to Lübeck to stay four months with Dietrich Buxtehude |
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Dec 2-3, 1705 |
Buxtehude oratorios Castrum doloris and Templum bonoris performed in Lübeck |
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Feb 1706 |
Return to Arnstadt |
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Feb 21 +, 1706 |
Reprimand by church Consistory for long absence |
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Nov 28, 1706 |
Organ examination at Langeweisen, near Gehren |
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Apr 24, 1707 |
Easter Sunday: audition for the organist position at Blasiuskirche, Mühlhausen; performance of a cantata (BWV 4?) |
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June 14-22, 1707 |
Negotiations with the Mühlhausen Town Council; accepts appointment |
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June 29, 1707 |
Returns organ keys to Arnstadt authorities |
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July 1, 1707 |
Begins as organist at Blasiuskirche, Mühlhausen |
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Oct 17, 1707 |
Marriage with cousin Maria Barbara, daughter of Johann Michael Bach (1648-1694) of Gehren, in Dornheim, near Arnstadt |
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June 1708 |
Appointment as organist and chamber musician to the Court of Weimar |
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Dec 29, 1708 |
Baptism of daughter Catharina Dorothea |
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1708-1712 |
Organ examination in Ammern, near Mühlhausen |
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Oct 26, 1710 |
Organ examination in Taubach, near Weimar |
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Nov 22, 1710 |
Son Wilhelm Friedman born |
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Jan 17, 1711 |
Godfather to Magdalena Dorothea Backer |
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Sep 27, 1712 |
Godfather to son of J.G. Walther |
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1712-1714 |
Organ Examination at Palace Church, Weimar |
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Feb 1713 |
Visit to Weißenfels |
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Feb 23, 1713 |
Birth of twins Johann Christoph (died Feb 23) and Maria Sophia (buried Mar 13) |
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Nov 27, 1713 |
Godfather to J.G. Trebs |
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Dec 1713 |
Competition for organist post at Halle |
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1713 |
Orgelbüchlein partly composed |
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Feb/Mar 1714 |
Offer of Halle post declined |
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Mar 2, 1714 |
Appointment as Konzertmeister at Weimar |
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Mar 8, 1714 |
Birth of son Carl Philipp Emanuel |
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1714 |
Orgelbüchlein partly composed |
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May 11, 1715 |
Birth of son Johann Gottfried Bernhard |
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1715 |
Orgelbüchlein partly composed |
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Apr 29-May 2, 1716 |
Organ examination in Liebfrauenkirche, Halle |
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July 31, 1716 |
Organ examination in Augustinerkirche, Erfurt |
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Mar 26, 1717 |
Good Friday: guest performance of a (lost) passion at the Palace Church of Gotha |
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Aug 5, 1717 |
Appointment as Kapellmeister at Köthen |
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Autumn 1717 |
Organ competition in Dresden with Louis Marchand |
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Nov 6-Dec 2, 1717 |
Four weeks arrest for “insubordination” in Weimar |
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1717 |
Transfer to Köthen to serve as Kapellmeister |
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Dec 16, 1717 |
Organ examination in Paulinerkirche, Leipzig |
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May-June 1718 |
Visit to Karlsbad with Prince Leopold |
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Nov 17, 1718 |
Baptism of son Leopold Augustus |
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Feb (?) 1719 |
Visit to Berlin for purchase of harpsichord |
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May-July 1719 |
Attempted meeting with Händel |
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Sep 16, 1719 |
Death of son Leopold Augustus |
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Jan 10, 1720 |
Godfather to S.C. Abel |
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May-July 1720 |
Visit to Karlsbad with Prince Leopold |
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July 1720 |
Death of J.S. Bach’s wife Maria Barbara (buried July 7) |
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Nov 1720 |
Visit to Hamburg; offer of organist post at Jakobikirche declined |
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1720 |
6 Sonatas & Partitas for Violin BWV 1001-1006 |
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Feb 22, 1721 |
Death of brother Johann Christoph |
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Mar 24, 1721 |
Performance of the 6 Brandenburg Concertos |
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June 26, 1721 |
Godfather to J.C.H. Bähr |
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< Aug 7, 1721 |
Guest performance in Schleiz at the court of Count Reuss |
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Sep 25, 1721 |
Godfather to J.C. Hahn |
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Dec 3, 1721 |
Marriage to Anna Magdalena Wülcken at Köthen |
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Apr 16, 1722 |
Stockholm |
Death of brother Johann Jacob, royal court musician in Stockholm |
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Aug 9, 1722 |
Guest performance in Zerbst: birthday of Prince Johan August of Anhalt-Zerbst |
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Oct 26, 1722 |
Godfather to S.D. Schulze |
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Dec 21, 1722 |
Candidate entered for post of Thomaskantor, Leipzig |
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1722 |
The Well-Tempered Clavier Part I completed |
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Mar 4, 1723 |
Birth of daughter Christiana Sofia Henrietta; godfather to J.F. Bähr |
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Fair copy of Inventions |
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May 5, 1723 |
Appointment as Thomaskantor, Leipzig |
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May 22, 1723 |
Transfer to Leipzig |
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Nov 2, 1723 |
Organ examination & performance of Festival Cantata BWV 194 ‘Höchsterwünschtes Freudenfest’ in Störmthal |
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Feb 26, 1724 |
Birth of son Gottfried Heinrich |
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June 25, 1724 |
Organ examination in Johanniskirche and Salvatorkirche, Gera |
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July 1724 |
Visit to Köthen with wife |
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Oct 15, 1724 |
Godfather to J.C. Kunadt |
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Feb 1725 |
Visit to Weißenfels |
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Apr 14, 1725 |
Baptism of son Christian Gottlieb |
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Apr 19-20, 1725 |
Organ recitals at Sophienkirche, Dresden |
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Dec 1725 |
Visit to Köthen with wife |
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Apr 5, 1726 |
Baptism of daughter Elisabeth Juliana Friederike |
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June 29, 1726 |
Death of daughter Christiana Sophia Henrietta |
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1726 |
Keyboard Partita No. 1 published |
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Oct 30, 1727 |
Baptism of son Ernestus Andreas (died Nov 1) |
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1727 |
Keyboard Partitas Nos. 2 & 3 published |
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Aug 11, 1728 |
Godfather to L. Spieß |
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Sep 21, 1728 |
Death of son Christian Gottlieb |
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Oct 10, 1728 |
Baptism of daughter Regina Johanna |
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Dec 27, 1728 |
Burial of sister Maria Salome |
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1728 |
Keyboard Partita No. 4 published |
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Feb 1729 |
Visit to Weißenfels |
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Mar 23-24, 1729 |
Visit to Köthen |
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Mar 1729 |
Directorship of Collegium Musicum |
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June 1729 |
2nd attempt to meet Händel |
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July 28, 1729 |
Death of sister-in-law Friedelana Margaretha Bach |
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Jan 1, 1730 |
Baptism of daughter Christiana Benedicta Louisa (died Jan 4) |
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Mar 13, 1730 |
Godfather to M.R. Schramm |
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Aug 23, 1730 |
Entwurff addressed to Town Council |
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Oct 28, 1730 |
Letter to G. Erdmann inquiring about opportunities at Danzig |
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Oct 30, 1730 |
Godfather to J.M. Wilde |
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1730 |
Keyboard Partitas No. 5 & 6 published |
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Mar 18, 1731 |
Baptism of daughter Christiana Dorothea |
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Sep 14-21, 1731 |
Organ recitals at Sophienkirche, Dresden |
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Nov 12, 1731 |
Organ examination in Stöntzsch Kirche, near Pegau |
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1731 |
Clavier-Übung I published |
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Dec 4, 1732 |
Re-examination of organ examination at Stöntzsch Kirche |
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June 21, 1732 |
Birth of son Johann Christoph Friedrich |
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Aug 31, 1732 |
Death of daughter Christiana Dorothea |
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Sep 1732 |
Opening of rebuilt Thomasschule |
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Sep 22-28, 1732 |
Organ examination in Martinskirche, Kassel |
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Apr 25, 1733 |
Death of daughter Regina Johanna |
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June 23, 1733 |
Appointment of son Wilhelm Friedemann as organist at Sophienkirche, Dresden |
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July 1733 |
Visit to Dresden |
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Nov 5, 1733 |
Baptism of son Johann August Abraham (died Nov 6) |
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June 1735 |
Organ examination in Marienkirche, Mühlhausen |
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June 16, 1735 |
Appointment of son Gottfried Bernhard as organist at Marienkirche |
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Sep 7, 1735 |
Baptism of son Johann Christian |
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1735 |
Clavier-Übung II published |
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July +, 1736 |
Conflict with Rector J.A. Ernesti over choice of school perfects |
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Nov 19, 1736 |
Appointment as Hofcompositeur to Dresden Court |
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Dec 1, 1736 |
Organ recital at Frauenkirche, Dresden |
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1736 |
Schemelli Songbook published |
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Jan 14, 1737 |
Appointment of son Johann Gottfried as organist of Jakobikirche, Sangerhausen |
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Spring 1737 |
Temporary break in directorship of Collegium Musicum |
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May 1737 |
Adverse criticism of music by J.A. Scheide |
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Oct 1737 |
Arrival of Johann Elias Bach as tutor and secretary |
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Oct 30, 1737 |
Baptism of daughter Johanna Carolina |
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Dec 16, 1737 |
Organ examination in Weißensee, near Naumburg |
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May 1738 |
Appointment of son Carl Philipp Emanuel as harpsichordist to Crown Prince Frederick of Prussia |
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May 1738 |
Visit to Dresden |
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Jan 28, 1739 |
Son Johann Gottfried Bernhard registers at the University of Jena |
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May 27, 1739 |
Death of son Johann Gottfried Bernhard |
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1739 |
Organ examination and recital in Schloßkirche, Altenburg |
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1739 |
Clavier-Übung III published |
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Oct 2, 1739 |
Resumption of directorship of Collegium Musicum |
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Nov 7-14, 1739 |
Visit to Weißenfels with wife |
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Apr 1740 |
Visit to Halle |
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Aug 1741 |
Visit to son Carl Philipp Emanuel in Berlin |
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1741 |
Illness of wife Anna Magdalena |
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Nov 1741 |
Visit to Dresden |
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Feb 22, 1742 |
Baptism of daughter Regina Susanna |
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Aug 30, 1742 |
Performance of the Peasants’ Cantata BWV 212 in Kleinzschocher |
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Oct 31, 1742 |
Departure of Johann Elias Bach |
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1742 |
Organ examination in Bad Berka |
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1742 |
Goldberg Variations published |
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Apr 18, 1743 |
Godfather to J.S. Weyrauch |
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Dec 1743 |
Organ examination in Johanniskirche, Leipzig |
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1744 |
Marriage of son Carl Philipp Emanuel to Johanna Maria Dannemann in Berlin |
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1745 |
Birth of grandson Johann August |
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Apr 16, 1746 |
Appointment of son Wilhelm Friedman as organist of the Liebfrauenkirche, Halle |
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Aug 7, 1746 |
Organ examination in Zschortau, near Delitzsch |
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Sep 27, 1746 |
Organ examination in Wenzelskirche (St. Wenceslas), Naumburg |
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May 7-8, 1747 |
Visit to Friedrich the Great in Potsdam |
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1747 |
Musical Offering published |
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June 1747 |
Enrolment in Lorenz Mizler’s Society of Musical Science |
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Sep 4, 1747 |
Birth of granddaughter Anna Carolina Philippina |
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Sep 24, 1748 |
Birth of grandson Johann Sebastian |
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1748 or 1749 |
Canonic variations published |
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Jan 20, 1749 |
Marriage of daughter Elisabeth Juliana Friederica to J.C. Altnickol in Leipzig |
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June 8, 1749 |
Probe of J.C. Harrer with a view to his succeeding Bach as Thomaskantor |
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Oct 4, 1749 |
Birth of grandson Johann Sebastian Altnickol (buried Dec 21) |
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1749 |
Mass in B minor BWV 232 completed |
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Jan 1750 |
Appointment of son Johann Christoph Friedrich as court musician at Bückeburg |
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Mar-Apr 1750 |
Operation by oculist John Taylor |
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1750 |
Work on The Art of Fugue (since c1742); published 1751 |
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July 22, 1750 |
Final communion |
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July 28, 1750 |
Death of J.S. Bach dies in Leipzig |
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July 31, 1750 |
Burial at Johanniskirche, Leipzig. Last place of rest since 1949 in the Thomaskirche |
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Fall 1750 |
Johann Christian (age 15) joins the household of his stepbrother C.P.E. Bach in Berlin |
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Fall 1750 |
Gottfried Heinrich joins the household of his brother-in-law Johann Christoph Altnickol in Naumburg |
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Aug 7, 1750 |
Election of Gottlob Harrer as Thomaskantor (other applicants for his position: C.P.E. Bach, A.F. Graun, J.L. Krebs, J.G. Görner. And J. Trier) |
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Aug 29 +, 1750 |
The Leipzig Town Council acquires performing parts of chorale cantata cycle from Anna Magdalena Bach for the use of the Thomaskantor |
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Oct 2, 1750 |
Installation of Gottlob Harrer as Thomaskantor |
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Nov 11, 1750 |
Settlement of Bach’s estate at the probate court of Leipzig University |
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Winter 1750-51 |
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach and Johann Friedrich Agricola write Obituary (published 1754) |
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May 1751 |
Jubilate (Spring) Fair: publication of The Art of Fugue BWV 1080 |
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June 1, 1751 |
Subscription announcement for The Art of Fugue |
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May 1752 |
2nd edition of The Art of Fugue |
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July 9, 1755 |
Death of Thomaskantor Gottlob Harrer |
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Sep 29, 1755 |
Special services to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Augsburg Religious Peace at both the St. Thomas and St. Nicolai’s; performance of Cantata BNWV 126, conducted by the perfect (probably C.F. Penzl) |
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Oct 8, 1755 |
Appointment of Johann Friedrich Doles, cantor at the cathedral in Freiburg (a pupil of J.S. Bach’s 1739-1743) as Thomaskantor |
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Feb 27, 1760 |
Death of Anna Magdalena Bach (age 59); buried Feb 29 |
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Feb 12, 1763 |
Death of Gottfried Heinrich (age 39) in Naumburg |
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Jan 14, 1774 |
Death of daughter Catharina Dorothea Bach (age 65) in Leipzig |
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Aug 18, 1781 |
Death of daughter Johanna Carolina Bach (age 43) in Leipzig |
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Aug 24, 1781 |
Death of daughter Elisabeth Juliane Friederica Altnickol (age 55) in Leipzig |
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Jan 1, 1782 |
London |
Death of son Johann Christian Bach (age 46) in London |
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July 1, 1784 |
Death of son Wilhelm Friedman Bach (age 73) in Berlin |
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Dec 14, 1788 |
Death of son Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (age 74) in Hamburg |
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Jan 26, 1795 |
Death of son Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach (age 63) in Bückeburg |
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Dec 14, 1809 |
Death of daughter Regina Susanna Bach (age 67) in Leipzig |
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Prepared by Aryeh Oron (October 2003 – March 2004)
|
Guide to Bach Tour: Main
Page | Life History of J.S. Bach | Performance
Dates of J.S. Bach’s Vocal Works | Maps | Route
Suggestions | Discussions of Bach Tour |
Last update: ýAugust 6, 2004 ý14:58:38