Ben Wilson

So they have a core loaded with great professional musicians with no other obligations who are ready to collaborate with Bach. And furthermore, they are interested in Bach For Bach. In Arnstadt, he is sort of treated as a blue collar guy. You got a job to do. You have to get the music ready for Sunday services. So, you know, pick up your lunch pail, get things done.

So they have a core loaded with great professional musicians with no other obligations who are ready to collaborate with Bach. And furthermore, they are interested in Bach For Bach. In Arnstadt, he is sort of treated as a blue collar guy. You got a job to do. You have to get the music ready for Sunday services. So, you know, pick up your lunch pail, get things done.

Anytime he tries to go beyond these duties and create amazing music, they're vaguely annoyed. Like this isn't what we hired you for. But these dukes see him more as like an artiste. They're interested in him as a composer and as like a great artist. They want to create great things. And they want him to explore and be creative.

Anytime he tries to go beyond these duties and create amazing music, they're vaguely annoyed. Like this isn't what we hired you for. But these dukes see him more as like an artiste. They're interested in him as a composer and as like a great artist. They want to create great things. And they want him to explore and be creative.

So he composes cantatas for church services while he's in Weimar, yes. But he's also composing chamber music, music that is meant to be performed for its own sake. In fact, he starts writing the preludes and fugues that would later be assembled into the famous work, the well-tempered clavier. You have almost certainly heard the opening numbers. Very, very famous. It goes like this.

So he composes cantatas for church services while he's in Weimar, yes. But he's also composing chamber music, music that is meant to be performed for its own sake. In fact, he starts writing the preludes and fugues that would later be assembled into the famous work, the well-tempered clavier. You have almost certainly heard the opening numbers. Very, very famous. It goes like this.

So Weimar is quite an idyllic time for Bach. He's well compensated. He has significant resources at his disposal and time to compose. His wife, Maria Barbara, gives birth to three sons in Weimar. He's promoted. Life is good. However, the same things that made Weimar idyllic also made it dangerous. Weimar was a monarchy, technically a duarchy, but a monarchy.

So Weimar is quite an idyllic time for Bach. He's well compensated. He has significant resources at his disposal and time to compose. His wife, Maria Barbara, gives birth to three sons in Weimar. He's promoted. Life is good. However, the same things that made Weimar idyllic also made it dangerous. Weimar was a monarchy, technically a duarchy, but a monarchy.

Therefore, Bach was not subject to the same need to constantly justify himself as he was in Arnstadt and Molhausen. His genius could spring forth as an outgrowth of monarchical largesse. But the flip side of that is that he was subject to the whims of these dukes. And the biggest problem on that front is, you know, was not actually either one of them souring on him. He actually liked both of them.

Therefore, Bach was not subject to the same need to constantly justify himself as he was in Arnstadt and Molhausen. His genius could spring forth as an outgrowth of monarchical largesse. But the flip side of that is that he was subject to the whims of these dukes. And the biggest problem on that front is, you know, was not actually either one of them souring on him. He actually liked both of them.

Both of them liked him. But they soured on each other. This uncle and nephew had very different personalities. The one, the uncle, was more conservative and religious. The nephew was more modern and liberal. And the court orchestra became the object of their rivalry and competition because both were so musical.

Both of them liked him. But they soured on each other. This uncle and nephew had very different personalities. The one, the uncle, was more conservative and religious. The nephew was more modern and liberal. And the court orchestra became the object of their rivalry and competition because both were so musical.

One duke orders them not to perform for the other duke, and then the other threatens to fine or even jail them if they listen to the other one. It becomes this real mess. And everyone, all these musicians are hired by both of them, so they're like... They don't know what to do. They just don't want to get involved. And so Bach doesn't want to be involved either. He wants out.

One duke orders them not to perform for the other duke, and then the other threatens to fine or even jail them if they listen to the other one. It becomes this real mess. And everyone, all these musicians are hired by both of them, so they're like... They don't know what to do. They just don't want to get involved. And so Bach doesn't want to be involved either. He wants out.

He starts looking for other jobs. He applies and is accepted as the Kapelmeister at Coton, another city, another monarchy, this one a principality. But these dukes are not happy when they find out that Bach has sought employment elsewhere without their permission. And he's actually jailed for a month and nearly loses his job because the Prince of Coton...

He starts looking for other jobs. He applies and is accepted as the Kapelmeister at Coton, another city, another monarchy, this one a principality. But these dukes are not happy when they find out that Bach has sought employment elsewhere without their permission. And he's actually jailed for a month and nearly loses his job because the Prince of Coton...

has no idea what happened to the Kapelmeister who he just hired. So Bach is in Weimar for nine years before he is in jail for a month. And luckily, you know, even though this prince is like, hey, what just happened to my new music director? He doesn't fire him, keeps him on. And so then he's in Colton for six years. In Khotun, his wife, Maria Barbara, suddenly dies.

has no idea what happened to the Kapelmeister who he just hired. So Bach is in Weimar for nine years before he is in jail for a month. And luckily, you know, even though this prince is like, hey, what just happened to my new music director? He doesn't fire him, keeps him on. And so then he's in Colton for six years. In Khotun, his wife, Maria Barbara, suddenly dies.

She catches ill while he's away and dies very unexpectedly. At this point, he has seven young children. So he remarries quite quickly, this time to Anna Magdalena Wilkie, is her name, with whom he would end up having 13 children. And by the way...

She catches ill while he's away and dies very unexpectedly. At this point, he has seven young children. So he remarries quite quickly, this time to Anna Magdalena Wilkie, is her name, with whom he would end up having 13 children. And by the way...