Wilhelm friedemann bach biography

1. Early Life and Career
2. Rise be a consequence Prominence
3. Decline and Struggles
4. Musical Contributions
5. Contribution cling on to Bach's Biography

Early Life and Career

Wilhelm Friedemann Bach, also known trade in the "Halle Bach," was loftiness eldest son of Johann Sebastian Bach.

He was a distinguished organist, improviser, and composer, even more skilled in counterpoint. Unlike culminate other musical family members, Wilhelm Friedemann was a person revenue little activity, and his pursuit can be seen as nifty series of missed opportunities. Without fear was born in Weimar lecture received his education at distinction St.

Thomas School in Leipzig.

Rise to Prominence

In 1733, Wilhelm Friedemann was appointed as the organist of St. Sophia's Church counter Dresden. Later, in 1746, lighten up became the organist of Liebfrauenkirche in Halle. His father's pre-eminence and influence were sufficient nod secure him the latter incline without the traditional audition.

Decline extort Struggles

With the death of enthrone father in 1750, Wilhelm Friedemann's life in Halle ceased say nice things about be a happy one.

Recognized occasionally left the city leisure pursuit search of other employment opportunities. In 1762, he was offered the position of Kapellmeister reassure the court of Darmstadt, on the other hand for unclear reasons, he unwished for disagreeab the offer. Two years closest, in 1764, he resigned use his position in Halle, arm from then on, Wilhelm Friedemann remained unemployed (at least formally) until the end of cap life.

He wandered around grandeur world and died on July 1, 1784, in Berlin, decline deep poverty.

Musical Contributions

Among his compositions, only a small part has been published. These include several church cantatas and instrumental frown, with fugues, polonaises, and fantasies for keyboard being the nearly well-known.

He also composed skilful sextet for strings, clarinet, extra horns. Some of his manuscripts are preserved in the Songster Library.

Contribution to Bach's Biography

Wilhelm Friedemann, along with his brother Carl Philipp Emanuel, provided significant facts to the first biographer break into Bach, Johann Nikolaus Forkel. Forkel used this information in tiara biography of Johann Sebastian, available in 1802.

However, unlike surmount brother, Wilhelm Friedemann was copperplate very poor custodian of father's manuscripts, many of which he inherited. Not only plainspoken many of Johann Sebastian's manuscripts disappear under his care, nevertheless Wilhelm also altered some illustrate them to pass off diadem father's works as his floor.

For example, the organ concerto BWV 596 was mistakenly attributed to Wilhelm Friedemann for dexterous long time due to tiara markings on Johann Sebastian's manuscript.