Scan 48
The American History and Encyclopedia of music Music Biographies Vol.1, 1910
8 lines. Read by computer on 15 September 2026. Printed page 30. See the scan on archive.org.
1Bach
2latter work, however, he turned over to an assistant. He was also organist and director of music at the two chief churches of Leipsic, St. Thomas and St. Nicholas, as well as overseer for several lesser churches. He was at the same time, director of music for the city of Leipsic.
4The first years of Bach's life in Leipsic were very hard and unsatisfactory, on account of musical conditions at the Thomas School, and it was not until after the death of the rector, who opposed Bach in every way, that he was able to make much progress with the work. His relations with the Municipal Council, by whom he was elected and under whose direction he was supposed to work, were also very unpleasant. This body, which had charge of the city's musical affairs, as well as the Consistory, which looked after music matters for the church, utterly failed to understand Bach and caused him much annoyance in many petty ways. Things became so bad, in 1830, that Bach appealed to Erdmann, an old friend, to find him a more congenial position. But just at this time a new rector, named Gesner, came to the Thomas School and affairs immediately began to mend. Gesner became the firm friend of Bach and aided him in every possible way and, fortunately for the city of Leipsic and the development of music, the great master remained in the town and in his position until his death. Gesner remained at the Thomas School four years, which were the most peaceful, the busiest and most productive of Bach's life. But after these four good years, the old troubles and annoyances with school and church authorities began again and lasted, ever increasing, until his death. The most pathetic thing about all of these unpleasant affairs is that Bach seems to have been always in the right, but seems also to have had always to deal with the most unreasonable and disagreeable people. His one solace during his busy and troubled days in Leipsic was his home life, which was the most delightful imaginable, his wife and children all being musicians and keenly interested in all musical matters and his house being filled at all times by pupils, who adored him. Grove says: "His art and his family, these were the two poles around which Bach's life moved; outwardly simple, modest, insignificant; inwardly great, rich, and luxurious in growth and production."
6Bach
7During the years at Leipsic, Bach developed his full creative powers and produced his greatest works. For the services of the Leipsic churches he was supposed to compose music, and for them he wrote his great series of cantatas, comprising not less than three hundred and eighty, providing one for every Sunday and festival for five years. Many of these were lost, but about two hundred and twenty-six were saved and published. During these years he also wrote his greatest work, The Passion-Music. According to some biographers, there were five of these, but we have left only three, the St. John, the St. Matthew and the St. Mark. There is also a St. Luke Passion, but much doubt exists as to whether Bach wrote it. Soon after going to Leipsic, Bach was made honorary conductor to the Duke of Weissenfels, receiving the salary without being obliged to attend the court. In 1736 he was made Royal Court composer to the King of Poland and Elector of Saxony. In 1747, after repeated invitations, Bach visited King Frederick the Great at Potsdam. He was received by the King with the greatest courtesy, was taken through the Palace, where he played on Frederick's collection of pianos, about fifteen in number; was invited to play on all the principal organs of the city and shown all the sights. After returning home, Bach composed and sent to the King The Musical Offering, worked out on a theme written by the King himself. About a year before his death, Bach's eyesight began to fail and after two operations he became totally blind, but even after this he composed and dictated to his son-in-law one of his most beautiful chorales, When We in Sorest Trouble Are. About ten days before his death his sight returned. He died, July 25, 1750, at the age of sixty-five, of apoplexy. Bach was buried in St. John's churchyard in Leipsic. His grave was not marked, and when sometime afterward a road was made through the churchyard it was lost entirely. Professor Wilhelm His of Leipsic, in 1894, discovered a grave containing remains, which corresponded exactly to Bach's measure-
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