How did a sister-in-law help in the musical development of Johann Sebastian Bach?

(Christoph Bach’s wife tells that she brought Johann Sebastian Bach to her house.)

I am happy to have these two foundlings, Johann Sebastian and Jacob Bach in our home. It gives my husband, Christoph, the opportunity to meet his little brothers and teach them to play the keyboard. The children have adjusted to life here with us here in Ohrdruf since the sudden death of their parents a few months ago. Fortunately, Johann Sebastian can help support our family with his beautiful voice. He sings for all kinds of occasions around Ohrdruf.

Sebastian is also very interested in Christoph’s collection of musical scores and always asks to see the music books that Herr Johannes Pachelbel gave to Christoph. In fact, the other night he caught Johann Sebastian copying in the moonlight some of that organ music that Christoph had expressly forbidden him to use. I know it’s going to ruin the view of him watching that music in near darkness.

After five years, having Johann still living with us started to become a problem. You see, our little house is getting too crowded with our first two babies now walking and our third on the way. I think Christoph and I are going to have to fire Johann Sebastian. We just don’t have room anymore and with a mouth less than 15 years old to feed, it will make life a little more manageable for us. We think it’s time for Johann Sebastian to learn to live on his own.

Herr Herder, the schoolteacher here in Ohrdruf, has suggested that Sebastian and his friend Georg Erdmann go together to Luneburg to sing and study at St. Michael’s school. In fact, he is sure that the children can get scholarships because they are excellent singers and musicians. The only problem is that Luneburg is a long way away, almost 200 miles, and they would have to walk. We will see what plans can be made.

We have just received news that JS is doing wonderfully in Lüneburg. He loves all the church music and, as always, does well in school. He tells us that there is an incredible music library with more than 1700 titles from 175 different composers in Lüneburg. My husband would love to go to Lüneburg to see this music, but he is very busy here.

Johann S. Bach is also doing well financially. He has the scholarship, of course, but he also makes a living as a singer at weddings and funerals, and we hear he even performs as a busker. We were told that Johann Sebastian also knew some famous organists who play in and around Luneburg, a Herr Bohm and a Herr Reinken. I think Johann took some of the music that he composed while he was living with us in Lüneburg and I wouldn’t be surprised if he played one of those pieces for those great masters. I hope you’ll play your arrangement of “Von Himmel Hoch.”

(This story above is one of a dozen vignettes from the organ and multimedia program, Bach and Sons, hosted by concert organist Dr. Jeannine Jordan.)

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