" returning to his lodgings last night he (Bach) saw six music students sitting on stone benches and, as he passed City Hall, an instrumentalist called Geyersbach followed him and punched him, asking why Bach had insulted him. At the age of 20 Bach appeared in front of the authorities in Arnstadt following a fight with his student, a bassoonist called Geyersbach. This episode, recorded by Michèle Lhopiteau-Dorfeuille, illustrates the everyday violence encountered by the composer. This undoubtedly had an impact on the composer's schooling, and he was absent for around 258 days during his first three years at school.
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There were gang rivalries, violent students, and sadistic acts. In his biography of Bach, John Eliot Gardiner highlights the violence of the environment in which the composer grew up. His widow bore the brunt of the city's ingratitude, upon requesting payment of the cantor's final salary she found that a sum had been deducted from the total for an overpayment that had happened almost 25 years previously when he first arrived in Leipzig! He was a truant Upon his death a local newspaper quietly announced that "a 67 year old man, Johann S Bach, Kapellmeister and Cantor of Saint Thomas School" had passed away, "without a hearse". In 1723 a councillor declared "the Cantor does nothing" while in 1730 Bach was reportedly "called to order and admonished". They were also quick to remind him of his short comings. Though he is known as the Cantor of Leipzig it cannot be said that the city displayed much gratitude towards him. A report in 1706 said that these charming youngsters "no longer fear their teachers, they even fight in their presence (and) carry swords not only in the street but in the classroom". He was even occasionally called upon to supervise students as they studied. As Head of the church choir, Bach conducted, prepared and taught music, as well as Latin and catechism from time to time. Bach 1 - Marchand 0 His job was not an easy one But on the day before the grand duel Louis Marchand slipped into the chapel where Bach was practicing and was so impressed that he withdrew from the competition, feigning illness. He terrified his competitorsĭuring a trip to Dresden in 1717, an organ competition was arranged to judge the improvisation skills of Bach and Louis Marchand, a famous French organist. Unsurprisingly, the cantata BMV3bc (" Jump for Joy") was composed before Bach's operation.
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removed the lens of the eye by thrusting into the cornea or the white of the eye with a small pointed iron about half a foot long". A real gangster! He was (unfortunately) operated on by the same doctor as Handel gravue taylorĪnd not just any doctor: Sir John Taylor (1703-1772) carried out two cataract operations on J S Bach's eyes in 1750 and then in 1753 he operated on Handel with similarly poor results.Ī contemporary account of the operation provides us with a better understanding as to the fate of both composers " Taylor. One month later when Bach repeated his request he was arrested, according to reports from the court secretary "because of his stubbornness in forcing his resignation". But when Bach asked Duke William II for leave his request was denied. The composer therefore needed to leave to seek his fortune elsewhere.
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After several disagreements Duke William II refused to appoint Bach Kapellmeister of Weimar.