Wilhelm Friedemann Bach

Biography

Wilhelm Friedemann (hereafter Friedemann) was born in Weimar, where his father was employed as organist and chamber musician to the Duke of Saxe-Weimar. In July 1720, when Friedemann was nine, his mother Maria Barbara Bach died suddenly; Johann Sebastian Bach remarried in December of 1721. J. S. Bach supervised Friedemann's musical education and career with great attention. The graded course of keyboard studies and composition that J. S. Bach provided is documented in the Clavier-Buchlein vor Wilhelm Friedemann Bach (modern spelling: Klavierbuchlein fur Wilhelm Friedemann Bach), with entries by both father and son. This education also included (parts of) the French Suites, (Two-Part) Inventions, (Three-Part) Sinfonias (popularly known as "Inventions"), the first volume of The Well-Tempered Clavier, and the six Trio Sonatas for organ. At the age of 16 he went to Merseburg to learn the violin with his teacher Johann Gottlieb Graun.

In addition to his musical training, Friedemann received formal schooling beginning in Weimar. When J.S. Bach took the post of Cantor of the St. Thomas Church in Leipzig (in 1723), he enrolled Friedemann in the associated Thomasschule. (J.S. Bach—who had himself been orphaned at the age of 10—said that he took the position in Leipzig partly because of the educational opportunities it afforded his children). On graduating in 1729, Friedemann enrolled as a law student in Leipzig University, a renowned institution at the time, but later moved on to study law and mathematics at the University of Halle. He maintained a lifelong interest in mathematics, and continued to study it privately during his first job in Dresden.

Friedemann was appointed in 1733 to the position of organist of the St. Sophia's Church at Dresden. In competing for the post he played a new version of his father’s Prelude and Fugue in G Major, BWV 541. The judge described Friedemann as clearly superior to the other two candidates. He remained a renowned organist throughout his life. Among his many pupils in Dresden was Johann Gottlieb Goldberg, the keyboardist whose name is erroneously enshrined in the popular nickname given to J. S. Bach's 1742 publication, “Aria with Diverse Variations”—that is, “The Goldberg Variations.” The scholar Peter Williams has discredited the story which links the work to Goldberg stating that J. S. Bach wrote the work for the Russian Ambassador Count Hermann Carl von Keyserlingk, who would ask his employee, Goldberg, to play variations for him to ward off insomnia. Williams instead has argued that J.S. Bach wrote the variations to provide a display piece for Friedemann.

In 1746 Friedemann became organist of the Liebfrauenkirche at Halle. In 1751, Friedemann married Dorothea Elisabeth Georgi (1721–1791), who was 11 years his junior and who outlived him by seven years. Dorothea was the daughter of a tax collector. The landed estates she inherited caused the family to be placed in a high tax bracket by Halle authorities, who were raising taxes to meet the revenue demands of the Seven Years' War. To raise cash for these payments, she sold part of her property in 1770. The couple produced two sons and a daughter, Friederica Sophia (born in 1757), who was the only one of their offspring to live past infancy. The descendents of Friederica Sophia eventually migrated to Oklahoma.

Friedemann was deeply unhappy in Halle almost from the beginning of his tenure. In 1749 he was involved in a conflict with the Cantor of the Liebfrauenkirche, Gottfried Mittag, who had misappropriated funds that were due to Friedemann. In 1750 the church authorities reprimanded Friedemann for overstaying a leave of absence (he was in Leipzig settling his father's estate). In 1753 he made his first documented attempt to find another post, and thereafter made several others. All these attempts failed. Bach had at least two pupils, Friedrich Wilhelm Rust and Johann Samuel Petri.

In 1762, he negotiated for the post of Kapellmeister to the court of Darmstadt; although he protracted the negotiations for reasons that are opaque to historians and did not actively take the post, he nevertheless was appointed Hofkapellmeister of Hessen-Darmstadt, a title he used in the dedication of his Harpsichord Concerto in E minor.

In June 1764, Friedemann left the job in Halle without any employment secured elsewhere. His financial situation deteriorated so much that in 1768 he re-applied for his old job in Halle, without success. He thereafter supported himself by teaching; not surprisingly, he died in penury. After leaving Halle in 1770, he lived for several years (1771–1774) in Braunschweig where he applied in vain for the post of an organist at the St. Catherine's church. Then he moved to Berlin, where he initially was welcomed by the princess Anna Amalia (the sister of Frederick the Great), but later fell into disgrace under still opaque circumstances. He died in Berlin.

Earlier biographers have concluded that his “wayward” and difficult personality reduced his ability to gain and hold secure employment, but the scholar David Schulenberg writes (in the Oxford Composer Companion: J.S. Bach, ed. Malcolm Boyd, 1999) that “he may also have been affected by changing social conditions that made it difficult for a self-possessed virtuoso to succeed in a church- or court-related position” (p. 39). Schulenberg adds, “he was evidently less willing than most younger contemporaries to compose fashionable, readily accessible music”.

Friedemann Bach was renowned for his improvisatory skills. It is speculated that when in Leipzig his father's accomplishments set so high a bar that he focused on improvisation rather than composition. Evidence adduced for this speculation includes the fact that his compositional output increased in Dresden and Halle.

Friedemann’s compositions include many church cantatas and instrumental works, of which the most notable are the fugues, polonaises and fantasias for clavier, and the duets for two flutes. He incorporated more elements of the contrapuntal style learned from his father than any of his three composer brothers, but his use of the style has an individualistic and improvisatory edge which endeared his work to musicians of the late 19th century, when there was something of a revival of his reputation.

Friedemann's students included Johann Nikolaus Forkel, who in 1802 published the first biography of Johann Sebastian Bach; Friedemann, as well as his younger brother Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, were major informants for Forkel. Friedemann has in earlier biographies been called a poor custodian of his father's musical manuscripts, many of which he inherited; however, more recent scholars are uncertain how many were lost. It is known that Friedemann sold some of his father's collection to raise cash to pay debts (including a large sale in 1759 to Johann Georg Nacke). Also, his daughter took some of the Sebastian Bach manuscripts with her when she moved to America, and these were passed on to her descendants, who inadvertently destroyed many of them. Others were passed on through his only known Berlin pupil, Sarah Itzig Levy, the daughter of a prominent Jewish family in Berlin and great-aunt of Felix Mendelssohn. Some of his scores were collected by Carl Friedrich Christian Fasch and his pupil Carl Friedrich Zelter, the teacher of Felix Mendelssohn and through them these materials were placed in the library of the Sing-Akademie zu Berlin, which Fasch founded in 1791 and of which Zelter took charge in 1800.

Friedemann is known occasionally to have claimed credit for music written by his father, but this was in keeping with common musical practices in the era.

Wilhelm Friedemann Bach is not to be confused with Wilhelm Friedrich Ernst Bach, his nephew, also a composer. Friedemann himself may have been one of the models for Diderot's philosophical dialogue Rameau's Nephew (Le Neveu de Rameau).

Film

Friedemann Bach is a 1941 German historical drama film directed by Traugott Muller and starring Gustav Grundgens, Leny Marenbach and Johannes Riemann. The film depicts the life of Johann Sebastian Bach's son Wilhelm Friedemann Bach. It is based on Albert Emil Brachvogel's novel Friedemann Bach. Wilhelm Friedemann Bach is shown as a gifted son trying to escape his father's shadow.

Works list

"BR" denotes "Bach-Repertorium"; "F." denotes "Falck catalogue number".

BR A1 Keyboard Sonata in C major (F 200)
BR A2 Keyboard Sonata in C major (F 1)
BR A3 Keyboard Sonata in C major (F 2)
BR A4 Keyboard Sonata in D major (F 3)
BR A5 Keyboard Sonata in D major (F 4)
BR A6 Sonata for 2 harpsichord in D major (F 11) (lost)
BR A7 Keyboard Sonata in E flat major (F 5)
BR A8 Keyboard Sonata in E flat major (F 201)
BR A9 Keyboard Sonata in E minor (F 204) (lost)
BR A10 Keyboard Sonata in F major (F 202)
BR A11 Keyboard Sonata in F major (F 6)
BR A12 Sonata for 2 harpsichords in F major (F 10)
BR A13 Concerto for harpsichord solo in G major (F 40)
BR A14 Keyboard Sonata in G major (F 7)
BR A15 Keyboard Sonata in A major (F 8)
BR A16 Keyboard Sonata in B flat major (F 9)
BR A17 Fantasia for harpsichord in C major (F 14)
BR A18 Fantasia for harpsichord in C minor (F 15)
BR A19 Fantasia for harpsichord in C minor (F 16)
BR A20 Fantasia for harpsichord in D major (F 17)
BR A21 Fantasia for harpsichord in D minor (F 18)
BR A22 Fantasia for harpsichord in D minor (F 19)
BR A23 Fantasia for harpsichord in E minor (F 20)
BR A24 Fantasia for harpsichord in E minor (F 21)
BR A25 Fantasia for harpsichord in G major (F 22)
BR A26 Fantasia for harpsichord in A minor (F 23)
BR A 27-38 Twelve Polonaises (F 12)
BR A39 Harpsichord Suite in G minor (F 24)
BR A 40-41 2 German Dances for harpsichord in G minor (F 205)
BR A 42-43 2 Menuets for harpsichord
BR A 44-47 4 Preludes for harpsichord (F 206)
BR A 48-49 2 pieces for harpsichord (F 25)
BR A50 Menuetto for harpsichord in F major (F 208)
BR A51 L'imitation de la chasse for harpsichord in C major (F 26)
BR A52 La Reveille for harpsichord in C major (F 27)
BR A53 Gigue for harpsichord in G major (F 28)
BR A54 Prelude for harpsichord in C minor (F 29)
BR A55 Scherzo for harpsichord in D minor
BR A56 March for harpsichord in E flat major (F 30)
BR A57 March for harpsichord in F major
BR A58 Polonaise for keyboard in C major (F 13)
BR A59 Ouverture for harpsichord in E major
BR A60 Andante for harpsichord in E minor (F 209)
BR A61 Allegro non troppo for harpsichord in G major (F 203) (lost)
BR A62 Un poco allegro for harpsichord in C major
BR A 63-80 18 pieces for clock-organ (F 207)
BR A 81-88 Eight fugues for harpsichord (F 31)
BR A89 Fugue for organ in C minor (F 32)
BR A90 Fugue for organ in F major (F 33)
BR A91 Fugue (triple) for organ in F major (F 36)
BR A92 Fugue for organ in G minor (F 37)
BR A 93-99 7 Chorale preludes for organ (F 38)
BR A100 Trio on "Allein Gott in der Hoh dei Ehr" for organ (F 38) (lost)
BR A101-104 4 Chorale preludes for organ (lost)
BWV 534 Prelude and Fugue in F minor (once attr. to J.S.Bach)

BR B 1 Flute Duetto in E minor (F 54)
BR B 2 Flute Duetto in E flat major (F 55)
BR B 3 Flute Duetto in E flat major (F 56)
BR B 4 Flute Duetto in F major (F 57)
BR B 5 Flute Duetto in F minor (F 58)
BR B 6 Flute Duetto in G major (F 59)
BR B 7 Viola Duetto in C major (F 60)
BR B 8 Viola Duetto in G major (F 61)
BR B 9 Viola Duetto in G minor (F 62)
BR B10 Flute Sonata in F major (F 51) (lost)
BR B11 Flute Sonata in A minor (F 52) (lost)
BR B12 Flute Sonata in D major (F 53) (lost)
BR B13 Trio Sonata in D major (F 47)
BR B14 Trio Sonata in D major (F 48)
BR B15 Trio Sonata in A minor (F 49)
BR B16 Trio Sonata in B flat major (F 50)
BR B17 Sonata for flute, violin and continuo in F major

BR C1 Symphony in C major (F 63)
BR C2 Symphony in F major (F 67)
BR C3 Symphony in G major (F 68) (lost)
BR C4 Symphony in G major (F 69) (lost)
BR C5 Symphony in B flat major (F 71) (lost)
BR C6 Symphony in A major (F 70) (fragment)
BR C7 Symphony in D minor (F 65)
BR C8 Symphony in D major (F 64)
BR C9 Harpsichord Concerto in D major (F 41)
BR C10 Harpsichord Concerto in E flat major (F 42)
BR C11 Concerto for 2 harpsichords in E flat major (F 46)
BR C12 Harpsichord Concerto in E minor (F 43)
BR C13 Harpsichord Concerto in F major (F 44)
BR C14 Harpsichord Concerto in A minor (F 45)
BR C15 Concerto for flute in D major
Concerto for harpsichord and winds in F minor

BR E1 Mass in G minor (F 100)
BR E2 Missa in D minor (F 98)
BR E3 Heilig ist Gott in D major (F 78a)
BR E4 Agnus Dei in D minor
BR E5 Amen (F 99)
BR E6 Halleluja (F 99)
BR E7 Lobet Gott, unsern Herrn in D major (F 78b)

BR F 1 Lasset uns ablegen die Werke der Finsternis (F 80)
BR F 2 O Wunder ! wer kann dieses fassen? (F 92)
BR F 3 Ach, das du den Himmel zerrissest (F 93)
BR F 4 Ehre sei Gott in der Hohe (F 250)
BR F 5 Der Herr zu deiner Rechten (F 73)
BR F 6 Wir sind Gottes Werk (F 74)
BR F 7 Wie schon leuchtet der Morgenstern (F 82)
BR F 8 Cantata for Palm Sunday (lost)
BR F 9 Erzittert und fallet (F 83)
BR F 10 Auf, Christen, posaunt
BR F 11 Gott fahret auf mit Jauchzen (F 75)
BR F 12 Wo geht die Lebensreise hin? (F 91)
BR F 13 Wer mich liebet, der wird mein Wort halten (F 72)
BR F 14 Dies ist der Tag (F 85)
BR F 15 Ertont, ihr seligen Volker (F 88)
BR F 16 Ach, das du den Himmel zerrissest
BR F 17 Es ist eine Stimme eines Predigers in der Wuste (F 89)
BR F 18 Der Herr wird mit Gerechtigkeit (F 81)
BR F 19 Ach Gott vom Himmel, sieh darein (F 96)
BR F 20 Introduzzione delle predicazione del Catechismo (F 76)
BR F 21 Wie ruhig ist doch meine Seele (F 77) (lost)
BR F 22 Der Hochste erhoret das Flehen der Armen (F 86)
BR F 23 Verhangnis, dein Wuten entkraftet die Armen (F 87)
BR F 24 Auf, Christen, posaunt (F 95)
BR F 25 Dienet dem Herrn mit Freuden (F 84)

BR F 26 Der Trost gehoret nur fur Kinder

BR F 27 Zerbrecht, zerreist, ihr schnoden Banden (F 94)
BR F 28 Las dein Wehen in mir spielen
BR F 29 Gnade finden (F 79) (fragment)

BR G1 O Himmel, schone (F 90)
BR G2 Lausus und Lydie (F 106) (lost)

BR H1 Cantilena nuptiarum consolatoria (F 97)

BR I1 Canons and Studies for organ (F 39)
BR I2–5 4 Triple Canons for organ (F 212)
BR I6 Fugal exposition for organ in C major (F 35)
BR I7 Fugue exposition on B-A-C-H for organ (F 210)
BR I8 Abhandlung vom harmonischen Dreiklang (lost)

F 34 Fugue for organ in B flat major
F 211 3 Fugues for organ
Fnv8 Keyboard Sonata in A minor

Use by later composers