Bach in Weimar 

Notes by T. Herbert Dimmock
 

Bach was employed to work in the court for the Duke of Weimar for a brief period in 1703. Bach described his position there as that of Hoff Musicus (Court Musician). However, this was almost certainly hyperbole. The official ducal register lists him as "Lackey Baach" -- or as we might say today a minor court musician/servant. With few exceptions, the musical members of the court were required to perform nonmusical chores in addition to their music making. It is thus no surprise the Bach stayed in this position for a mere six months.

Despite these less than ideal circumstances, Bach found himself in the midst of a group of fine musicians. The leader of the capelle was Johann Drese, a well-regarded composer. The organist was in fact a friend of the Bach family, Johann Effler. Later, Bach succeeded him in the same post.

Weimar itself was a rather small town located in the electorate of Saxony. It was a picturesque place with a Stadtkirche located a short walk away from the palaces, a quaint market-place and a picturesque hotel by the name of the "Elephant Hotel".

Bach returned to Weimar in 1708 after the death of Effler and remained there for nine years. This period saw the composition of some of Bach's famous mature organ works. The charming collection of shorter chorale preludes, the Orgel-Büchlein was also composed while Bach was in Weimar. Most likely it was at the request of the young Prince, Johann Ernst, that Bach made the arrangements for harpsichord of several concertos by Vivaldi (as well as other, lesser well known composers).

In 1714 Bach was promoted to Konzertmeister. One of Bach's duties as Konzertmeister was to provide a monthly cantata for the court chapel. Scholars are not certain as to how many cantatas Bach wrote during this period. Today, we have about 20 remaining to us -- some of which have only been found in a later version from revisions he made when he moved to Leipzig.

When J. S. Drese died on December 1, 1716, Bach surely must have wanted to follow him in that position as head of the capelle. He was passed over for that post. Shortly thereafter, in the year 1717, he left to be the Kapellmeister to Prince Leopold in Cöthen.

Interestingly enough, when Bach found this new position in Cöthen, Duke Wilhelm refused to release him from his service. When, in the eyes of the Duke, Bach pleaded too strenuously to be released, he had him placed under arrest for "too stubbornly insisting on his discharge." Can it be surprising then that after Bach finally left Weimar, he was never to return?