Johann Sebastian Bach

  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