Timeline |
| Year |
Age |
Events in Bach's Life |
Contemporary Musicians |
|
Source:
"Bach" by Malcolm Boyd
(Schirmer 1983, 1997)
|
| 1685
|
|
Johann Sebastian Bach born, 21 March, at Eisenach. Youngest
child of Johann Ambrosius Bach, town and court musician, and his
wife Maria Elisabetha, née Lämmerhirt. Baptised, 23 March.
|
Handel born, 23 Feb
D. Scarlatti born, 26 Oct.
Albinoni aged 14
Biber 41
Blow 36
Böhm 24
G. Bononcini 15
Buxtehude 48
Caldara c. 15
Charpentier c40
Corelli 32
Couperin 17
Fux 25
Graupner 2
Heinichen 2
Keiser 11
Kerll 58
J.P. Krieger 36
Kuhnau 25
Lalande 28
Legrenzi 59
Lully 53
A. Marcello 1
Marchand 16
Mattheson 4
Pachelbel 32
Pasquini 48
Purcell 26
Rameau 2
Reincken 62
A. Scarlatti 25
Steffani 31
Telemann 4
Vivaldi 7
J.G. Walther 1
Zelenka 6.
|
| 1686 |
1 |
|
B. Marcello born,
24 July or 1 Aug
Porpora born, 17 Aug.
Sylvius Leopold Weiss
born, 21 Oct.
|
| 1687 |
2 |
|
Geminiani bapt. 5 Dec
Lully (54) dies, 22 March
Pisendel born, 26 Dec.
|
| 1688 |
3 |
|
Fasch born, 15 April.
|
|
1689
|
4
|
|
Boismortier born, 23 Dec.
|
| 1690 |
5 |
|
Legrenzi (63) dies, 17 May
|
| 1691 |
6 |
|
|
| 1692 |
7 |
Enters Lateinschule, Eisenach.
|
Tartini born, 8 April.
|
| 1693 |
8 |
|
Kerll (65) dies, 13 Feb.
|
| 1694 |
9 |
Mother (50) dies, 1 May.
|
|
| 1695 |
10 |
Father (49) dies, 20 Feb. Bach
leaves Eisenach to live with brother,
Johann Christoph (24), in Ohrdruf.
Enters lyceum there.
|
Locatelii born, 3 Sept.
Purcell (36) dies, 21 Nov.
|
|
1696
|
11
|
|
|
|
1697
|
12
|
|
Leclair born, 10 May
Quantz born, 30 Jan.
|
|
1698
|
13
|
|
|
|
1699
|
14
|
|
Hasse bapt. 25 March
|
|
1700
|
15
|
Leaves Ohrdruf for Lüneburg.
Enrols in Michaelisschule there.
|
B.G. Sammartini born (or 1701)
|
|
1701
|
16
|
|
|
|
1702
|
17
|
Applies unsuccessfully for organist's
post at Jakobirche, Sangerhausen
|
|
|
1703
|
18
|
Court musician at Weimar, March-Sept.
Appointed organist at Neuekirche, Arnstadt, 9 Aug.
|
C.H. Graun born (or 1704)
Harrer born, 8 May
|
|
1704
|
19
|
|
Biber (59) dies, 3 May
Charpentier (c.59) dies, 24 Feb.
|
|
1705
|
20
|
Granted 4 weeks leave of absence
to visit Lübeck in ?Oct, but stays
away longer.
|
|
|
1706
|
21
|
Returns to Arnstadt, Jan/Feb.
Appears before the consistory to
answer for length of absence.
|
Martini born, 24 April
Pachelbel (52) buried, 9 March
|
|
1707
|
22
|
Appointed organist at Blasiuskirche,
Mühlhausen, 15 June. Marries
Marie Barbara Bach (23) at
Dornheim, 17 Oct.
|
Buxtehude (c.70) dies, 1 Oct.
|
|
1708
|
23
|
Appointed organist and chamber musician
to Duke Wilhelm Ernst at Weimar, June.
First child, Catharina Dorotheo, bapt. 29 Dec.
|
Blow (59) dies, 1 Oct.
|
|
1709
|
24
|
|
F. Benda bapt., 22 Nov. |
|
1710
|
25
|
Second child, Wilhelm Friedemann,
born, 22 Nov.
|
Arne bapt., 28 May
Pasquini (72) dies, 21 Nov.
Pergolesi born, 4 Jan.
|
|
1711
|
26
|
|
Boyce born, Sept.
|
|
1712
|
27
|
|
|
|
1713
|
28
|
Visits Weissenfels, Feb. Third and fourth children (twins),
Johann Christoph and Maria Sophia, born 23 Feb, and die, 23 Feb and
c.13 March. Bach competes for organist's post at Halle, Dec.
|
Corelli (59) dies, 8 Jan
J.L. Krebs bapt., 12 Oct.
|
|
1714
|
29
|
Declines offer of Halle post, Feb, and
is promoted to Konzertmeister at Weimar,
2 March. Fifth child, Carl Philipp Emanuel, born, 8 March.
|
Gluck born, 2 July
Jommelli born, 10 Sept.
|
|
1715
|
30
|
Sixth child, Johann Gottfried
Berhard, born, 11 May.
|
Doles born, 23 April
Wagenseil born, 29 Jan.
|
|
1716
|
31
|
Examines new organs at Liebfrauenkirche, Halle,
29 April - 2 May, and Augustinerkirche, Erfurt, July.
|
|
|
1717
|
32
|
Appointed Kapellmeister to Prince Leopold at
Cöthen, 5 Aug., but is at first prevented by Duke
Wilhelm Ernst from taking up the post. Visits
Dresden and accepts invitation to take part in
contest with Marchand. Is imprisoned by Wilhelm Ernst,
6 Nov., but then allowed to leave Weimar, 2 Dec.
Examines organ in Paulinerkirche, Leipzig, 16 Dec.
|
J. Stamitz bapt., 19 June.
|
|
1718
|
33
|
Visits Karlsbad with Prince Leopold, May-June.
Seventh child, Leopold Augustus, born, 15 Nov.
|
|
|
1719
|
34
|
Death of son, Leopold Augustus (10 months);
buried, 29 Sept.
|
L. Mozart born, 14 Nov.
|
|
1720
|
35
|
Visits Karlsbad, May-July. Wife (35) dies;
buried 7 July. Bach visits Hamburg, Nov., and is
offered post as organist at the Jakobikirche, which
he declines.
|
J.F. Agricola born, 4 Jan.
Altnikol bapt., 1 Jan.
|
|
1721
|
36
|
Brandenburg Concertos dedicated to Margrave Christian Ludwig,
24 March. Marries Anna Magdalena Wilcke (20) at Cöthen, 3 Dec.
Prince Leopold (27) marries Frederica Henrietta von Anhalt-Bernburg (19)
at Bernburg, 11 Dec.
|
Kirnberger born, 24 April.
|
|
1722
|
37
|
Brother, Johann Jacob (40) dies, 16 April.
Bach enters candidature for cantorate at Leipzig, Dec.
|
G. Benda bapt., 30 June
Kuhnau (62) dies, 5 June
Reincken (99) dies, 24 Nov.
|
|
1723
|
38
|
Eighth child, Christina Sophia Henrietta, born.
Bach signs contract as Thomaskantor in Leipzig, 5 May.
Arrives in Leipzig with family, 22 May. Cantata 75
performed in Nikolaikirche, 30 May. Exaines organ at
Störmthal, Nov. Magnificat (BWV243a) performed in
Thomaskirche, 25 Dec.
|
Gassmann born, 3 May.
|
|
1724
|
39
|
Ninth child, Gottfried Heinrich, born, 26 Feb.
St. John Passion performed in Nikolaikirche, 7 April.
Examines organ in Johanniskirche, Gera, 25 June.
|
|
|
1725
|
40
|
Tenth child, Christian Gottlieb, bapt., 14 April.
Bach gives organ recitals in Sophienirche, Dresden,
19-20 Sept. Visits Cöthen, 15 Dec.
|
J.P. Krieger (75) dies, 6 Feb
A. Scarlatti (65) dies, 22 Oct.
|
|
1726
|
41
|
Eleventh child, Elisabeth Juliana Friederika, bapt., 5 April.
Daughter, Christiana Sophia Henrietta (3) dies, 29 June.
Partita I (BWV 825) published, Michaelmas.
|
Lalande (68) dies, 18 June.
|
|
1727
|
42
|
St. Mathew Passion performed in Thomaskirche,
11 April (?). Trauer Ode (BWV 198) performed,
17 Oct, at memorial ceremony for Electress
Christiane Eberhardine (died, 4 Sept.). Bach's
twelfth child, Ernestus Andreas, bapt., 30 Oct. dies,
1 Nov.
|
Traetta born, 30 March.
|
|
1728
|
43
|
Son, Christian Gottlieb (3), dies, 21 Sept.
Thirteenth child, Regina Johanna, bapt., 10 Oct.
Prince Leopold of Anhalt-Cöthen (33) dies, 19 Nov.
Bach's sister, Marie Salome Wiegand (née Bach) (51),
dies in Erfurt, buried 27 Dec.
|
Piccinni born, 16 Jan
Steffani (73) dies, 12 Feb.
|
|
1729
|
44
|
Bach visits Weissenfels, Feb. Visits Cöthen
to perform funeral music for Prince Leopld, 23-4 March.
St. Matthew Passion performed (for second? time) in Thomaskirche,
15 April. Disputes with council over admission of unmusical pupils
to Thomasschule. Bach assumes direction of collegium musicum. Illness
prevents his visiting Handel in Halle, June. Rektor of
Thomasschule, J.H. Ernesti (77) dies, 16 Oct.
|
Heinichen (46) dies, 16 July.
|
|
1730
|
45
|
Fourteenth child, Christiana Benedicta Louise, baptised, 1 Jan.;
dies, 4 Jan.; Bach addresses memorandum on church music to town
council, 23 Aug., and letter to Erdmann seeking possible
employment in Gdansk, 28 Oct..
J.M. Gesner appointed Rektor of the Thomasschule, 8 Sept..
|
|
|
1731
|
46
|
Clavier-Übung I (BWV825-30)
published. Fifteenth child, Christiana
Dorothea, baptised, 18 March. St Mark Passion
performed in Thomaskirche, 23 March. Bach
gives organ recitals in Dresden, 14-21 Sept. Examines
organ at Stöntzsch, 12 Nov.
|
Cannabich bapt., 28 Dec.
|
|
1732
|
47
|
Sixteenth child, Johann Christoph Friedrich, born 21 June.
Daughter, Christiana Dorothea (1), dies, 31 Aug.
Bach examines organ in Martinskirche, Kassel, 22-8 Sept.
|
Haydn born, 31 March;
Marchand (63) dies, 17 Feb.
|
|
1733
|
48
|
Daughter, Regina Johanna (4), dies
25 April. Son, Wilhelm Friedemann (23), appointed
organist at Sophienkirche, Dresden, 23 June.
Bach visits Dresden, July, and presents Missa (BWV232)
to the Elector Friedrich August II. Seventeenth child, Johann
August Abraham, bapt., 5 Nov; dies, 6 Nov.
|
Böhm (71) dies, 18 May;
Couperin (64) dies, 11 Sept.
|
|
1734
|
49
|
J.A. Ernesti (27) appointed Rektor
of the Thomasschule. Christmas Oratorio,
parts I-III performed 25, 26, 27 Dec.
|
Gossec born, 17 Jan.
|
|
1735
|
50
|
Christmas Oratoria, parts IV-VI
performed, 1, 2, 6 Jan. Clavier-Übung II (BWV971, 831)
published, May. Bach examines organ in Marienkirche, Mülhausen,
June, where his son Gottfried Bernhard (20) is appointed organist,
16 June. Bach's eighteenth child, Johann Christian, born, 5 Sept.
|
|
|
1736
|
51
|
'Battle of the prefects' with Ernesti begins, July.
Appointed Hofcompositeur to the Elector of Saxony,
19 Nov. Gives organ recital in Frauenkirche, Dresden, 1 Dec.
|
Caldar (c.66) dies, 28 Dec;
Pergolesi (26) dies, 16 March.
|
|
1737
|
52
|
Son, Johann Gottfried Bernhard (22), appointed organist at the
Jakobikirche, Sangerhausen, 4 April. Bach temporarily relinquishes
directorship of the collegium musicum, Spring. J.A. Schiebe publishes
adverse criticism of Bach's music. Johann Elias Bach joins Bach's
household as tutor and secretary, ?Oct. Nineteenth child,
Johanna Carolina, bapt., 30 Oct.
|
Myslivecek born, 9 March.
|
|
1738
|
53
|
Son, Carl Philipp Emanuel (24), appointed
harpsichordist to crown prince Frederick of Prussia. Bach visits
Dresden, May. Son, Johann Gottfried Bernhard (23) contracts debts at
Sangerhausen and absconds.
|
|
|
1739
|
54
|
Son, Johann Gottfried Bernhard (24), dies, 27 May. Bach gives organ recital
in the Schlosskirche, Altenburg. Clavier-Übung III published, Sept.
Resumes as director of the collegium musicum, 2 Oct. Visits Weissenfels with Anna Magdalena,
7-14 Nov.
|
Dittersdorf born, 2 Nov.; Keiser (65) dies, 12 Sept;
B. Marcello (52/53) dies, 24/25 July; Vanhal born, 12 May.
|
|
1740
|
55
|
Visits Halle, April.
|
Paisiello born, 9 May.
|
|
1741
|
56
|
Visits son, Carl Philipp Emanuel, in Berlin, Aug. Anna Magdalena seriously ill.
Bach visits Dresden, Nov. Clavier-Übung IV published (or 1742).
|
Fux (c.80) dies, 13 Feb.; Grétry born, 8 Feb.; Vivaldi (63) dies, 28 July.
|
|
1742
|
57
|
Twentieth child, Regina Susanna, bapt., 22 Feb.
Johann Elias Bach leaves Leipzig, 31 Oct.
|
|
|
1743
|
58
|
Examines organ in Johanniskirche, Leipzig, Dec.
|
Boccherini born, 19 Feb.
|
|
1744
|
59
|
Son, Carl Philipp Emanuel (30), marries Johanna Maria Dannemann (20) in Berlin.
|
|
|
1745
|
60
|
First grandchild, Johann August Bach, born, 10 Dec.
|
Zelenka (66) dies, 22 Dec.
|
|
1746
|
61
|
Son, Wilhelm Friedemann (36), appointed organist at the Liebfrauenkirche, Halle,
16 April. Bach examines organ in Wenselskirche, Naumburg, 27 Sept.
|
|
|
1747
|
62
|
Visits court of Frederick the Great at Potsdam, 7-8 May, and gives organ recital
in teh Heiliggeistkirche there, 8 May. Composes and published (Sept.) the Musical Offering.
Joins Mizler's Society of Musical Sciences, June, for which he composes the Canonic Variations (BWV869).
|
Bononcini (76) dies, 9 July.
|
|
1748
|
63
|
|
J.G. Walther (63) dies, 23 March.
|
|
1749
|
64
|
Daughter, Elisabeth Juliana Frederica (23), marries Johann Christoph Altnikol (29)
in Leipzig, 20 Jan. Harrer performs Probe in Leipzig, with a view to succeeding Bach as
Thomaskantor, 8 June.
|
Cimarosa born, 17 Dec.
|
|
1750
|
65
|
Son, Johann Christoph Friedrich (18), appointed court musician at Bückeburg, Jan.
Bach occupied engraving the Art of Fugue. Operated on by oculist, John Taylor,
March-April. Takes final communion, 22 July, and dies, 28 July. Buried in graveyard of the
Johanniskirche, 31 July.
|
A. Marcello (66) dies;
Agricola aged 30;
Albinoni 79;
Altnikol 30;
Arne 40;
F. Benda 41;
G. Benda 28;
Boccherini 7;
Boismortier 61;
Boyce 39;
Dittersdorf 11;
Doles 35;
Fasch 62;
Gassmann 27;
Geminiani 63;
Gluck 36;
Gossec 16;
C.H. Graun c.47;
Graupner 67;
Grütry 9;
Harrer 47;
Hasse 51;
Haydn 18;
Jommelli 36;
Kirnberger 29;
J.L. Krebs 37;
Leclair 53;
Locatelli 55;
Martini 44;
L. Mozart 31;
Myslivecek 13;
Paisiello 10;
Piccinni 22;
Pisendel 63;
Porpora 64;
Quantz 53;
Rameau 67;
Sammartini c.50;
J. Stamitz 33;
Tartini 58;
Telemann 69;
Traetta 23;
Vanhal 11;
Wagenseil 35;
Weiss 64 (dies)
|
