(Life in Weimar as told by Maria Barbara, JS Bach's first wife)
This week Johann is off to Halle to, as he says, "test the lungs" of the huge new organ at the Church of Our Lady. He tells me this organ is very large and has 65 stops! Oh, how he loves to play those new instruments just to make sure every stop is exquisite in sound and that everything works perfectly. He improvises wonderful pieces for these events. Sometime those improvisations go on and on for over an hour! It is amazing!
SEBASTIAN
Immediately after JS returned from Halle to play the huge organ there, Duke Wilhelm got a bit nervous about keeping his stellar organist and musician at his court. Therefore my wonderfully talented husband was given an increase in salary and a new position as Choirmaster at the Court of Saxe-Weimar.
With his new position comes some additional duties, though. He is now obliged to compose a cantata every four weeks, which means he will have to burn more candles at night to get all those compositions completed.
Our second son, a baby we named Carl Phillip Emmanuel was born on March 8, 1714. Our dear friend, Georg Philipp Telemann, agreed to be this son's godfather. That was such a special day! Our family and our wonderful circle of friends is growing here in Weimar and life is so good!
My husband's reputation is becoming legendary and his skills as an organist are known all over Germany. It is truly amazing. In fact, my dear husband just returned from Cassel where he was invited to test and play another organ for the Crown Prince.
It sounds like it was a marvelous occasion in Cassel. Why the organ examiners, including my Johann Sebastian, were entertained just like royalty with a bountiful feast. It really is a wonder that JS could play at all after eating everything from Boeuf a la mode, to roast veal, to fritters and radishes to my favorite, preserved cherries. Can you imagine?
Well, Johann did play after all that food and he tells me his feet flew over the pedal-board as if winged, and powerful notes roared like thunder through the church. He said Frederick, the Crown Prince, was filled with such amazement and admiration that the Prince took a ring set with precious stones from his finger and gave it to him immediately after the music died away. It is the most glorious ring, so bright and sparkling. I can hardly imagine what it must have been like to sit in that church and listen to my dear husband play his glorious music.
(The story above is one of a dozen vignettes from the multi-media and organ program, Bach and Sons, presented by Dr. Jeannine Jordan, concert organist.)
How Did Johann Sebastian Bach Become a Famous Organist? SEBASTIAN
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