Ben Wilson

Telemann, another contemporary, he traveled throughout Europe, including to Paris. Like, even by that era's standards, it was the 1600s. People traveled less. Yes, that's true. But even by those standards, Bach was unusually provincial. It's kind of one of the paradoxes that the least traveled man of that era created the most interesting and dynamic music.

Telemann, another contemporary, he traveled throughout Europe, including to Paris. Like, even by that era's standards, it was the 1600s. People traveled less. Yes, that's true. But even by those standards, Bach was unusually provincial. It's kind of one of the paradoxes that the least traveled man of that era created the most interesting and dynamic music.

It's kind of the most universal of that era. Anyway, he graduates from Lundberg and rather than trying to study at a university, decides to pursue work. He applies for one job and is turned down. He briefly becomes a court musician in Weimar for six months. Anyway, he ends up back in Arnstadt, back in Thuringia.

It's kind of the most universal of that era. Anyway, he graduates from Lundberg and rather than trying to study at a university, decides to pursue work. He applies for one job and is turned down. He briefly becomes a court musician in Weimar for six months. Anyway, he ends up back in Arnstadt, back in Thuringia.

He's 18 years old and he is called upon to inspect and certify the construction of the new town organ in Arnstadt. Now remember, Thuringia, this region, is just littered with Bachs. Every stone you turn over, there's a new Bach, who's an excellent musician, by the way, and knows everything about everything.

He's 18 years old and he is called upon to inspect and certify the construction of the new town organ in Arnstadt. Now remember, Thuringia, this region, is just littered with Bachs. Every stone you turn over, there's a new Bach, who's an excellent musician, by the way, and knows everything about everything.

And so the fact that all of these box, you know, there's all these successful musicians in their twenties, thirties, forties, fifties, the fact that all these guys are passed up within the family and 18 year old Johan Sebastian Bach, he's chosen to inspect the organ. He's a recognition that his knowledge of organs surpassed anyone else in the family.

And so the fact that all of these box, you know, there's all these successful musicians in their twenties, thirties, forties, fifties, the fact that all these guys are passed up within the family and 18 year old Johan Sebastian Bach, he's chosen to inspect the organ. He's a recognition that his knowledge of organs surpassed anyone else in the family.

Like he truly is, even in this remarkable family, remarkably intelligent and knowledgeable about the craft of of music and keyboard music specifically. And so he comes, he inspects this organ, kind of does his little repairs, tunes it up, and then he is chosen to play at the dedication recital for this new organ. And again, this is a signal that a new star has risen in the Bach family.

Like he truly is, even in this remarkable family, remarkably intelligent and knowledgeable about the craft of of music and keyboard music specifically. And so he comes, he inspects this organ, kind of does his little repairs, tunes it up, and then he is chosen to play at the dedication recital for this new organ. And again, this is a signal that a new star has risen in the Bach family.

Like he doesn't just have great technical knowledge, He is, in this family, the greatest musical family in Germany, at 18 years old, he is the star organist. So he plays at the dedication recital. He is then hired as the organist for the church in the town. He plays every week at church services.

Like he doesn't just have great technical knowledge, He is, in this family, the greatest musical family in Germany, at 18 years old, he is the star organist. So he plays at the dedication recital. He is then hired as the organist for the church in the town. He plays every week at church services.

It's likely that he, you know, for the most part at this age, he's probably playing other compositions, existing compositions, existing music, but he's already probably doing some composing. Basically, none of the compositions have survived from this time period, so we can't really judge its quality.

It's likely that he, you know, for the most part at this age, he's probably playing other compositions, existing compositions, existing music, but he's already probably doing some composing. Basically, none of the compositions have survived from this time period, so we can't really judge its quality.

But likely at this point, the music he's writing is competent, perhaps even interesting, but far from kind of his final form. Okay, so he's playing, he's composing. Let's talk about one of my favorite incidents from his early career that happens here at Arnstadt. So Bach is given extra responsibilities. You know, initially he's just hired as the organist.

But likely at this point, the music he's writing is competent, perhaps even interesting, but far from kind of his final form. Okay, so he's playing, he's composing. Let's talk about one of my favorite incidents from his early career that happens here at Arnstadt. So Bach is given extra responsibilities. You know, initially he's just hired as the organist.

But he is eventually kind of promoted or not even promoted because they don't give him extra money. And it's actually kind of against his will. But they ask him to also teach the students, the student musicians from the school associated with the church where he plays.

But he is eventually kind of promoted or not even promoted because they don't give him extra money. And it's actually kind of against his will. But they ask him to also teach the students, the student musicians from the school associated with the church where he plays.

So they, you know, they want not just to play the organ, but kind of coach the students in the choir and the other musicians and kind of help them get up to speed. Right. There are problems here. Number one, as we discussed, the students are famously unruly. That was in Eisenach, I think, but it's also true here in Arnstadt. Many of them are not well-educated in musical technique and theory.

So they, you know, they want not just to play the organ, but kind of coach the students in the choir and the other musicians and kind of help them get up to speed. Right. There are problems here. Number one, as we discussed, the students are famously unruly. That was in Eisenach, I think, but it's also true here in Arnstadt. Many of them are not well-educated in musical technique and theory.