Jun. 14–22
Negotiations with the Mühlhausen Town Council; accepts appointment
Jun. 29
Returns organ keys to Arnstadt authorities
MüHLHAUSEN (1707–1708)
1707
Jul. 1
Begins as organist at St. Blasius’s in Mühlhausen
Sep. 18
Receives 50 florins from the estate of uncle Tobias Lämmerhirt of Erfurt
Oct. 17
Marriage with Maria Barbara, daughter of Johann Michael Bach (1648–1694) of Gehren, in Dornheim, near Arnstadt
1708
Feb. 4
Mühlhausen Town Council election: performance of BWV 71
Feb.
Submits plans for organ renovation at St. Blasius’s
c. Feb. 25
Cantata BWV 71 published
Jun.
Performs on renovated organ at the ducal palace church in Weimar. Appointed organist and chamber musician at the court of the co-reigning Dukes Wilhelm Ernst and Ernst August of Saxe-Weimar (Jun. 20: ducal salary decree); requests and receives dismissal from Mühlhausen
WEIMAR (1708–1717)
1708
Jul. 14
Moves to Weimar
Dec. 29
Daughter Catharina Dorothea baptized (d. 1774)
1709
Feb. 4
Mühlhausen Town Council election: guest performance of a (lost) cantata (work published)
Mar.
Visit of the violinist Johann Georg Pisendel
1710
Feb. 4
Mühlhausen Town Council election: guest performance of a (lost) cantata (work published)
Oct. 26
Organ examination and dedication in Traubach, near Weimar
Nov. 22
Son Wilhelm Friedemann born
1711
Jun. 3
The Weimar duke orders a salary increase for Bach
1713
Feb. 21–22
In Weissenfels: performance of the Hunt Cantata, BWV 208, in conjunction with the birthday of Duke Christian of Saxe-Weissenfels
Feb. 23
Twins, Maria Sophia and Johann Christoph, born; Johann Christoph dies shortly after birth. Mar. 15: burial of Maria Sophia
Jul. 8
Prince Johann Ernst returns from study trip, bringing with him new musical repertoires
Sep. 7
In Ohrdruf: baptism of Johann Sebastian, son of brother Johann Christoph Bach
Oct.
Composes birthday aria for Duke Wilhelm Ernst
Nov. 6
Participates in festive dedication of the newly built St. Jacobi Church in Weimar
Nov. 28–Dec. 15
In Halle: invited to audition for organist post at Our Lady’s (Market) Church (successor to F. W. Zachow); Bach elected on Dec. 13
1714
Jan. 14
Receives appointment for post in Halle
Feb. 19
Withdraws candidacy
Mar. 2
Appointed concertmaster at the Weimar court; receives salary increase
Mar. 8
Son Carl Philipp Emanuel born
Mar. 25
Palm Sunday/Annunciation: performance of BWV 182, first cantata after concertmaster appointment
1715
May 11
Son Johann Gottfried Bernhard born
Aug. 1–Nov. 3
Official mourning period after the death of Prince Wilhelm Ernst
1716
Apr. 29–May 2
Organ examination and dedication in Halle, Market Church
Jul. 31
Organ examination in Erfurt, St. Augustine’s Church
Dec. 1
Death of Weimar capellmeister Johann Samuel Drese
1717
Mar. 26
Good Friday: guest performance of a (lost) Passion at the palace church of Gotha
Aug. 5
Signs contractual agreement to accept capellmeistership in Cöthen
Fall (Oct.–Nov.)
In Dresden: keyboard contest with Louis Marchand at the royal-electoral court
Nov. 6–Dec. 2
Detention in conjunction with his dismissal from Weimar court service
Dec. 16–18
Organ examination in Leipzig, St. Paul’s (University) Church
CöTHEN (1717–1723)
Dec. 29
Arrival in Cöthen
1718
c. May 9–Jul. 15
With Prince Leopold in Carlsbad
Nov. 15
Son Leopold Augustus born; baptized Nov. 17
Dec. 10
Birthday of Prince Leopold: performance of BWV 66a, Anh. 5
1719
Mar. 1
Trip to Berlin; purchase of a harpsichord for the princely court
~Jun.
Failed attempt at meeting George Frideric Handel in Halle
Sep. 28
Son Leopold Augustus dies
1720
Jan. 22
Title page of Clavier-Büchlein for Wilhelm Friedemann
Late May–Jul. 7
With Prince Leopold in Carlsbad
Jul. 7
Burial of Bach’s wife, Maria Barbara
mid-Nov.–Nov. 23
In Hamburg: recital at St. Catharine’s Church in the presence of Reinken; performance of cantata(s), incl. BWV 21; candidate for organist post at St. Jacobi Church
Dec. 19
Withdraws candidacy for St. Jacobi
1721
Feb. 22
Death of brother Johann Christoph (age 49), organist in Ohrdruf
Mar. 24
Dedication of Concertos “avec plusieurs instruments” to Margrave Christian of Brandenburg
Aug. 7
Guest performance in Schleiz at the court of Count Reuss
Dec. 3
Marriage to Anna Magdalena Wilcke, princely court singer at Cöthen
Dec. 11
Marriage of Prince Leopold to Princess Henrietta of Anhalt-Bernburg
1722
Apr. 16
Death of brother Johann Jacob (age 40), royal court musician in Stockholm
Aug. 9
Guest performance in Zerbst: birthday of Prince Johann August of Anhalt-Zerbst
Dec. 15
Inheritance from the Lämmerhirt estate, Erfurt
Dec. 21
Application for the cantorate at St. Thomas’s in Leipzig
1723
Feb. 7
Audition for the cantorate at St. Thomas’s
Spring
Daughter Christiana Sophia Henrietta born
Apr. 13
Requests dismissal from Cöthen, which he receives; continues as nonresident princely Anhalt-Cöthen capellmeister
LEIPZIG (1723–1730)
1723
Apr. 19
Signs provisional contract with the Leipzig Town Council
May 5
Signs final contract with the Leipzig Town Council
May 8
Theological examination by professors Schmid and Deyling
May 13
Signs visitation article
May 15
First Leipzig salary payment
May 16
Whitsunday: first performance at St. Paul’s (University) Church (BWV 59)
May 22
Bach’s family relocates to Leipzig and moves into a spacious apartment in the St. Thomas School
May 30
First Sunday after Trinity: performance of BWV 75 and beginning of first annual cantata cycle (Jahrgang I)
Jun. 1
Formal installation at the St. Thomas School
Jun. 14
Sons Wilhelm Friedemann and Carl Philipp Emanuel enroll in the St. Thomas School
Aug.
Performs Latin Ode BWV Anh. 20 at the University
Nov. 2
Organ examination and dedication in Störmthal, nea
r Leipzig: performance of BWV 194
Dec. 25
Performance of Magnificat, BWV 243a
1724
Feb. 26
Son Gottfried Heinrich born; baptized Feb. 27
Apr. 7
Good Friday: performance of the St. John Passion, BWV 245 (1st version)
Jun. 11
First Sunday after Trinity: beginning of second (chorale) cantata cycle (Jahrgang II), with BWV 20
Jul. 18
Guest performance in Cöthen, with Anna Magdalena
1725
Feb. 23
Guest performance in Weissenfels (birthday of Duke Christian): BWV 249a
Mar. 30
Good Friday: performance of the St. John Passion, BWV 245 (2nd version)
Apr. 14
Son Christian Gottlieb baptized
May 30–Jun. 6
Visit to Gera with Anna Magdalena and Wilhelm Friedemann; organ dedication at St. John’s
Sep. 14
Petition to the elector of Saxony, King Friedrich August I (re: university service)
Sep. 19–20
Organ recitals at St. Sophia’s Church in Dresden
Nov. 3
Petition to the elector of Saxony, King Friedrich August I
Nov. 30–Dec. 15
Guest performances in Cöthen, with Anna Magdalena (birthdays of Princess Charlotte Friederike Wilhelmine and Prince Leopold)
Dec. 31
Second petition to King Friedrich August I
1726
Apr. 5
Daughter Elisabeth Juliana Friederica baptized
Apr. 19
Good Friday: performance of F. N. Brauns’s (?) St. Mark Passion, with additions by Bach
Jun. 29
Daughter Christiana Sophia Henrietta (age 3) dies; buried July 1
Nov. 1
Announcement of the Clavier-Übung series (BWV 825)
Fall
Michaelmas Fair: single edition of BWV 825 published (BWV 826–830 published separately, 1727–30)
1727
Mar.–Apr.
Renovations of Bach’s apartment in the St. Thomas School completed
Apr. 11
Good Friday: St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (1st version)
Sep. 7–Jan. 6, 1728
Official state mourning period after death of Electoress and Queen Christiane Eberhardine
Oct. 17
Academic memorial service for the electoress of Saxony and queen of Poland (BWV 198)
Oct. 30
Son Ernestus Andreas baptized; dies Nov. 1, buried Nov. 2
1728
Jan. 5
Guest performance in Cöthen (for New Year’s Day festivities)
Sep. 21
Son Christian Gottlieb dies (age 3); buried Sep. 22
Oct. 10
Daughter Regina Johanna baptized
Nov. 19
Death of Prince Leopold of Anhalt-Cöthen
1729
Jan. 12
Visit in Leipzig of Duke Christian of Weissenfels: performance of BWV 210a
c. Feb. 23
Several days: guest performances in Weissenfels (birthday of Duke Christian); appointment as titular capellmeister of the ducal Saxon-Weissenfels court
Mar. 5
Matriculation of son Wilhelm Friedemann at Leipzig University
Mar. 20
Bach absent from Leipzig for 3 weeks (no details known)
Mar. 20
Assumes directorship of Collegium Musicum
Mar. 23–24
Funeral services for Prince Leopold in Cöthen (BWV 244a)
Apr. 15
Good Friday: performance of the St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244
Jun. 29
Invites George Frideric Handel (visiting with his mother in Halle) to come to Leipzig, in vain; Bach himself ill, sends son Wilhelm Friedemann to Halle
Jul. 30
Friedelena Margaretha Bach, sister of Bach’s first wife Maria Barbara (age 53), buried (lived in Bach’s household since c. 1708)
Oct. 20
Funeral of Johann August Ernesti, rector of St. Thomas’s (BWV 229)
Dec. 24
Auditions organists for post at St. Nicholas’s (Bach’s student Johann Schneider appointed)
1730
Jan. 1
Daughter Christiana Benedicta baptized; dies Jan. 4, buried Jan. 5
Apr. 7
Good Friday: performance of anonymous St. Luke’s Passion, BWV 246, with additions by Bach
Jun. 25–27
Jubilee of Augsburg Confession: BWV 190a, 120b, and Anh. 4a
Aug. 23
Memorandum for a “Well-Appointed Church Music”
LEIPZIG (1731–1740)
1731
Mar. 18
Daughter Christiana Dorothea baptized
Mar. 23
Good Friday: performance of St. Mark Passion, BWV 247
Spring
Publication of Opus 1: part I of the Clavier-Übung
May
Major renovations of the St. Thomas School building; Bach family moves into temporary quartersc.
Sept. 14
In Dresden for several days: attends premiere of Johann Adolf Hasse’s opera Cleofide (Sep. 13); organ recital at St. Sophia’s (Sep. 14) and other performances at the court
Oct. 1
Son Carl Philipp Emanuel matriculates at Leipzig University
Nov. 12
Organ examination in Stöntzsch; reexamination Feb. 4, 1732
1732
Apr. 24
St. Thomas School building renovations nearly completed; Bach and his family return to their residence
Jun. 5
Dedication of the renovated St. Thomas School (BWV Anh. 18)
Jun. 21
Son Johann Christoph Friedrich born; baptized Jun. 23
Aug. 31
Daughter Christiana Dorothea dies (age 1); buried the same day
Sep. 21
Trip to Kassel with Anna Magdalena; organ examination at St. Martin’s Church and dedication recital (Sep. 28)
1733
Feb. 15–Jul. 2
Official state mourning period after death on Feb. 1 of Elector and King Friedrich August I
Apr. 21
St. Nicholas’s Church: fealty celebration for August II, elector of Saxony
Apr. 25
Daughter Regina Johanna (age 4) dies; buried Apr. 26
Jun. 7
Son Wilhelm Friedemann applies for organist post at St. Sophia’s in Dresden; appointed on Jun. 23
c. Jul. 27
In Dresden for several days: dedication of the Missa (Kyrie and Gloria), BWV 232, to the new elector, Friedrich August II (Jul. 27)
Nov. 5
Son Johann August Abraham baptized; dies Nov. 6, buried Nov. 7
1734
Jan. 17–19
Celebration in Leipzig of the coronation of Friedrich August II as king of Poland (BWV 214a)
Mar. 13
Visit of Franz Benda in Leipzig
Sep. 9
Matriculation of son Carl Philipp Emanuel at the University of Frankfurt-on-the-Oder, where he directs the Collegium Musicum
Johann Sebastian Bach Page 74
