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Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach

 
Artist: Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach
 
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Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach
  • Period: Classical (1750-1819)
  • Country: Germany
  • Born: June 21, 1732 in Leipzig, Germany
  • Died: January 26, 1795 in Bückeburg, Germany
  • Genres: Miscellaneous Music

Biography

Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach was one of four J.S. Bach sons who attained renown in classical music. He is generally ranked behind Carl Philipp Emanuel in importance, but stands about on equal footing with Wilhelm Friedemann and Johann Christian. Johann Christoph Friedrich (generally referred to as "Friedrich") is known as the "Bückeburg" Bach, since he served at the court there from 1750, when he was just 18, until his death in 1795. His early music reflected the style of his father, while his mature compositions began showing Italian influences, offering a sort of cross between the German and Italian schools. His late works began to exhibit Classical characteristics. To clear up matters about the large Bach family and his position within it, Friedrich was the oldest surviving son of J.S. Bach and his second wife Anna Magdalena, and was the third oldest of the four Bach sons who attained musical prominence: Wilhelm Friedemann was the oldest, born 1710, followed by Carl Philipp Emanuel (b. 1714) (their mother being Maria Barbara Bach), and the last was Johann Christian (b. 1735).

Friedrich was given his first music lessons by his father and later by a cousin of his father, Johann Elias Bach. When he was about 17 Friedrich enrolled at the University of Leipzig in preparation for a career in law, but left after a year, apparently because his father had become seriously ill. (The elder Bach died in July 1750.) Friedrich must have decided that not only would funds for his education be lacking, but that he must choose a career in music since this was where his greatest talents lay. After all, he was by now a keyboard player of virtuoso rank. Moreover, he was offered an attractive post in the chamber orchestra at the Bückeburg court, under Count Wilhelm of Schaumberg-Lippe.

In 1759 he was appointed concertmaster of the orchestra, though he had, in effect, already served in that capacity for three years. While his position was secure and his work with the highly-respected chamber ensemble more than satisfactory to the Court, his music seems not to have been highly regarded or performed often.

With arrival at Court in 1771 of Johann Gottfried Herder, Friedrich's creative juices seems to have been stimulated, as the two collaborated on several successful choral and dramatic compositions, including the cantata Michaels Sieg and the oratorio Die Kindheit Jesu. Herder's departure five years later was a blow to the composer, and in 1778 he took leave of his post for a trip to England to visit his brother Johann Christoph. It was in London that he grew fond of Mozart's music from the many concerts he attended.

After his return to Bückeburg, that same year, Friedrich continued to compose at a fairly prolific pace, his music divulging a more Classical bent. The Court was now under the rule of Count Philipp Ernst (Count Wilhelm died in 1777), but still enjoyed high musical standards. Friedrich wrote his last symphony in 1794, remaining active until his last days. ~ Robert Cummings, All Music Guide
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Music Encyclopedia: Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach
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(b Leipzig, 21 June 1732; d Bückeburg, 26 Jan 1795). German composer [49 in Bach family genealogy], son J. S. Bach He studied with his father and his relative Johann Elias (39), and on his father's death he took a post at the court of Count Wilhelm of Schaumburg-Lippe at Bückeburg, where he remained throughout his career, becoming Concert-Meister in 1759. He composed in most of the genres of the time; his chamber and keyboard music is lightweight, but his keyboard concertos and symphonies show Viennese Classical influence and some of the dramatic cantatas and oratorios (some to texts by Herder, for a time his colleague at the progressive Bückeburg court) show imaginative expression.


 
Wikipedia: Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach
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Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach

Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach (June 21, 1732 – January 26, 1795), the ninth son of Johann Sebastian Bach, sometimes referred to as the "Bückeburg Bach". He is not to be confused with Bach's first cousin once removed, Johann Christoph Bach.

Born at Leipzig, Germany, he was taught music by his father, and also tutored by his distant cousin Johann Elias Bach. He studied at the St. Thomas School, and some believe he studied law at the University there, but there is no record of that. In 1750, Count Wilhelm of Schaumburg-Lippe appointed Johann Christoph harpsichordist at Bückeburg, and in 1759, he became Konzertmeister. While there, Bach collaborated with Herder, who provided the texts for six vocal works; the music survives for only four of these.

Bach wrote keyboard sonatas, symphonies, oratorios, liturgical choir pieces and motets, operas and songs. Because of Count Wilhelm's predilection for Italian music, Bach had to adapt his style accordingly, but he retained stylistic traits of the music of his father and of his brother, C. P. E. Bach.

He married the singer Lucia Elisabeth Munchhusen (1728-1803) in 1755 and the Count stood as godfather to his son Wilhelm Friedrich Ernst Bach. J.C.F. educated his son in music as his own father had, and Wilhelm Friedrich Ernst went on to become music director to Frederick William II of Prussia.

In April 1778 he and Wilhelm travelled to England to visit Johann Christian Bach.

The 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica says of him "He was an industrious composer, ... whose work reflects no discredit on the family name." He was an outstanding virtuoso of the keyboard, with a reasonably wide repertory of surviving works, including 20 symphonies, the later ones influenced by Haydn and Mozart and hardly a genre of vocal music was neglected by him[1]

Professor Peter Schickele, in comparing his alter ego, the fictitious composer P. D. Q. Bach, to Johann Sebastian's other sons, said that P.D.Q. possessed "the obscurity of Johann Christoph Friedrich."

Sadly, a significant portion of J. C. F. Bach's output was lost in the WWII destruction of the Staatliches Institut für Musikforschung in Berlin, where the scores had been on deposit since 1917. Bach's work shows him to have been a transitional figure in the mold of his half-brother C. P. E., his brother Johnn Christian, the Grauns, and Georg Philipp Telemann, with some works in the style of the high Baroque, some in a galant idiom, and still others which combine elements of the two, along with traits of the nascent classical style.

Contents

Works list

Keyboard Works
BR A 1 \ Keyboard Sonata in F major (Wf XI:1)
BR A 2 \ Keyboard Sonata in C major (Wf XI:2)
BR A 3 \ Keyboard Sonata in C major (Wf XI:3/1)
BR A 4 \ Keyboard Sonata in F major (Wf XI:3/2)
BR A 5 \ Keyboard Sonata in E major (Wf XI:3/3)
BR A 6 \ Keyboard Sonata in D major (Wf XI:3/4)
BR A 7 \ Keyboard Sonata in A major (Wf XI:3/5)
BR A 8 \ Keyboard Sonata in E flat major (Wf XI:3/6)
BR A 9 \ Keyboard Sonata in C major (Wf XI:4)
BR A 10 \ Keyboard Sonata in G major (Wf XI:5)
BR A 11 \ Keyboard Sonata in F major (Wf XI:6)
BR A 12 \ Keyboard Sonata in A minor (Wf XI:7)
BR A 13 \ Keyboard Sonata in D major (Wf XI:8/1)
BR A 14 \ Keyboard Sonata in A major (Wf XI:8/2)
BR A 15 \ Keyboard Sonata in E major (Wf XI:8/3)
BR A 16 \ Keyboard Sonata in D major
BR A 17 \ Keyboard Sonata in A major
BR A 18 \ Keyboard Sonata in F major (Wf XI:9)
BR A 19 \ Keyboard Sonata in B flat major
BR A 20 \ Keyboard Sonata in G major
BR A 21 \ Keyboard Sonata in E flat major
BR A 22-25 \ 4 Keyboard Sonatas (lost)
BR A 26 \ Keyboard Sonata in E flat major
BR A 27 \ Keyboard Sonata in F major
BR A 28-30 \ 3 Keyboard Sonatas (lost) (I)
BR A 31 \ Keyboard Sonata in D major
BR A 32-34 \ 3 Keyboard Sonatas (lost) (II)
BR A 35-37 \ 3 Keyboard Sonatas (lost) (III)
BR A 38-39 \ 2 Keyboard Sonatas (lost)
BR A 40 \ Sonata for keyboard-4 hand in A major (Wf XIII:1)
BR A 41 \ Sonata for keyboard-4 hand in C major (Wf XIII:2)
BR A 42-43 \ 2 Sonatas for 2 keyboards (lost)
BR A 44 \ Variations in A major (Wf XII: 1) (lost)
BR A 45 \ Variations on "Ah vous dirais-je Maman" in G major (Wf XII: 2)
BR A 46 \ Menuet in D major (Wf XII: 3)
BR A 47 \ Menuet in F major (Wf XII: 4)
BR A 48 \ 2 Menuets in D major (Wf XII: 5)
BR A 49 \ Alla polacca in F major (Wf XII: 6)
BR A 50 \ Alla polacca in G major (Wf XII: 7)
BR A 51-119 \ 69 pieces for keyboard (Wf XII:13)
BR A120 \ Fughette on HCFBBACH in C major (Wf XII:14)
BR A121 \ Polonaise in G major (Wf XII: 8)
BR A122 \ Menuet in F major (Wf XII: 9)
BR A123 \ Polonaise in F major (Wf XII:10)
BR A124 \ Menuet in G major (Wf XII:11)
BR A125 \ Menuet in A major (Wf XII:12)
BR AInc1 \ Partia for keyboard in C major
BR AInc2 \ Fugue for keyboard in G minor (lost)
BR AInc3 \ Fugue for keyboard in E minor (lost)
BR AInc4 \ Fugue for keyboard in C major (lost)
BR AInc5 \ Fugue for keyboard in F major
BR AInc6 \ Fugue for keyboard in D major (lost)
BR AInc7 \ Fugue for keyboard in C major (lost)
BR AInc8 \ Galanterie-Stücke for keyboard

Chamber Music
BR B 1 \ Cello Sonata in A major (Wf X:3)
BR B 2 \ Cello Sonata in G major (Wf X:1)
BR B 3 \ Trio Sonata for flute, violin & bc in A major (Wf VII:1)
BR B 4 \ Trio Sonata for flute, viola & bc in E minor
BR B 5-10 \ 6 Sonatas for 2 flutes & continuo (lost)
BR B11 \ Trio Sonata for 2 violins & b.c. in A major (Wf VII:2)
BR B12 \ Trio Sonata for 2 violins & b.c. in F major (Wf VII:3)
BR B13 \ Trio Sonata for 2 violins & b.c. (lost)
BR B14 \ Flute Sonata in E flat major (Wf VIII:2)
BR B15 \ Flute Sonata No.1 in D minor (Wf VIII:3/1)
BR B16 \ Flute Sonata No.2 in D major (Wf VIII:3/2)
BR B17 \ Flute Sonata No.3 in D major (Wf VIII:3/3)
BR B18 \ Flute Sonata No.4 in C major (Wf VIII:3/4)
BR B19 \ Flute Sonata No.5 in A major (Wf VIII:3/5)
BR B20 \ Flute Sonata No.6 in C major (Wf VIII:3/6)
BR B21 \ Violin Sonata in G major (Wf IX:2)
BR B22 \ Violin Sonata in D major (Wf IX:3)
BR B23-24 \ 2 Flute Sonatas (lost)
BR B25 \ Flute Sonata in F major (Wf VIII:1)
BR B26 \ Violin Sonata in F major
BR B27 \ Violin Sonata in D major
BR B28 \ Violin Sonata in G major (Wf IX:1) (lost)
BR B29 \ Keyboard Trio in D major (Wf VII:4)
BR B30 \ Keyboard Trio No.1 (lost)
BR B31 \ Keyboard Trio No.2 in G major (Wf VII:5)
BR B32 \ Keyboard Trio No.3 in A major (Wf VII:6)
BR B33 \ Keyboard Trio No.4 (lost)
BR B34 \ Keyboard Trio No.5 in C major (Wf VII:7)
BR B35 \ Keyboard Trio No.6 (lost)
BR B36 \ Cello Sonata in A major (Wf X:4) (lost)
BR B37 \ Flute Quartet No.1 in C major (Wf VI:1)
BR B38 \ Flute Quartet No.2 in G major (Wf VI:2)
BR B39 \ Flute Quartet No.3 in C major (Wf VI:3)
BR B40 \ Flute Quartet No.4 in A major (Wf VI:4)
BR B41 \ Flute Quartet No.5 in F major (Wf VI:5)
BR B42 \ Flute Quartet No.6 in B major (Wf VI:6)
BR B43 \ String Quartet No.1 in E flat major
BR B44 \ String Quartet No.2 in B flat major
BR B45 \ String Quartet No.3 in A major
BR B46 \ String Quartet No.4 in D major
BR B47 \ String Quartet No.5 in G major
BR B48 \ String Quartet No.6 in F major
BR B49 \ Wind Septet in E flat major (Wf IV) (lost)
BR B50-53 \ 4 Marches for wind band (lost)
BR BInc1 \ Trio Sonata for 2 violins & b.c. in B major (Wf XX:3)
BR BInc2 \ Trio Sonata for 2 flutes & b.c. in C major (lost)
BR BInc3 \ Cello Sonata in D major (Wf X:2) (lost)
BR BInc4 \ Violin Sonata (lost)

Orchestral Works
BR C 1 \ Symphony in D major (Wf I: 5) (lost)
BR C 2-3 \ 2 Symphonies (1765) (lost)
BR C 4 \ Symphony in D minor (Wf I: 3) (by 1768)[2]
BR C 5 \ Symphony in F major (Wf I: 1) (by 1768)[2]
BR C 6 \ Symphony in B flat major (Wf I: 2) (by 1768)[2]
BR C 7 \ Symphony in E major (Wf I: 4) (by 1769)[2]
BR C 8-9 \ 2 Symphonies (1770) (lost)
BR C10 \ Symphony in C major (Wf I: 6)
BR C11 \ Symphony in D major (Wf I: 7) (lost)
BR C12 \ Symphony in G major (Wf I: 8) (lost)
BR C13 \ Symphony in D major (Wf I: 9) (lost)
BR C14 \ Symphony in E flat major (Wf I:10)
BR C15-17 \ 3 Symphonies (lost)
BR C18 \ Symphony (lost)
BR C19 \ Symphony in D major (Wf I:11) (lost)
BR C20 \ Symphony in F major (Wf I:12) (lost)
BR C21 \ Symphony in D major (Wf I:13) (lost)
BR C22 \ Symphony in C major (Wf I:14) (lost)
BR C23 \ Symphony in G major (Wf I:15) (lost)
BR C24 \ Symphony in E flat major (Wf I:18) (lost)
BR C25 \ Symphony in E flat major (Wf I:19) (lost)
BR C26 \ Symphony in D minor (Wf I:16) (lost)
BR C27 \ Symphony in C major (Wf I:17) (lost)
BR C28 \ Symphony in B flat major (Wf I:20)
BR C29 \ Keyboard Concerto in E flat major
BR C30 \ Keyboard Concerto in A major
BR C31 \ Keyboard Concerto "London No.1" in G major
BR C32 \ Keyboard Concerto "London No.2" in F major
BR C33 \ Keyboard Concerto "London No.3" in D major
BR C34 \ Keyboard Concerto "London No.4" in E flat major
BR C35 \ Keyboard Concerto "London No.5" in B flat major
BR C36 \ Keyboard Concerto "London No.6" in C major
BR C37 \ Keyboard Concerto in E major (Wf II:1)
BR C38 \ Keyboard Concerto (1766) (lost)
BR C39 \ Keyboard Concerto (1788) (lost)
BR C40 \ Keyboard Concerto in F major (Wf II:4)
BR C41 \ Keyboard Concerto in D major (Wf II:2)
BR C42 \ Keyboard Concerto in A major (Wf II:3) (lost)
BR C43 \ Keyboard Concerto in E flat major (Wf II:5)
BR C44 \ Concerto for piano & viola in E flat major
BR C45 \ Concerto for piano & oboe in E flat major (Wf III)

Oratorios
BR D 1 \ Die Pillgrimme auf Golgatha
BR D 2 \ Der Tod Jesu (Wf XIV:1)
BR D 3 \ Die Auferstehung und Himmelfahrt Jesu (Wf XIV:10) (lost)
BR D 4 \ Die Hirten bey der Krippe Jesu (Wf XIV:9) (lost)
BR D 5 \ Die Kindheit Jesu (Wf XIV:2)
BR D 6 \ Die Auferweckung Lazarus (Wf XIV:3)
BR D 7 \ Der Fremdling auf Golgotha (Wf XIV:7) (lost)
BR D 8 \ Mosis Mutter und ihre Tochter (Wf XVII:3) (fragment)

Liturgical Works
BR E 1 \ Miserere

Sacred Works
BR F 1 \ Pfingskantate (Wf XIV:4) (lost)
BR F 2 \ Sieh, Bückeburg, was Gott an Dir getan (lost)
BR F 3 \ Himmelfahrts-Musik (Wf XIV:8)
BR F 4 \ Michaels Sieg (Wf XIV:5)
BR F 5 \ Nun, teures Land, der Herr hat dich erhört (lost)
BR F 6 \ Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied (Wf XIV:11) (lost)
BR F 7 \ Gott wird deinen Fuss nicht gleiten lassen (Wf XIV:12)
BR FInc1 \ Funeral Music for Count Philipp Ernst (lost)
BR FInc2 \ Heut ist der Tag des Dankens, ihr Völker (lost)

Arias, Cantatas & Incidental Music
BR G 1 \ Luci amate ah non piangete (Wf XVIII:8)
BR G 2-11 \ 10 Italian Arias (lost)
BR G12-26 \ 15 Italian Cantatas (lost)
BR G27 \ L'Inciampo (Wf XVIII:2)
BR G28-44 \ 18 Italian Cantatas (lost)
BR G45 \ Scenes for Il pastor fido (lost)
BR G46 \ Cassandra (Wf XVIII:1)
BR G47 \ Die Amerikanerin (Wf XVIII:3)
BR G48 \ Ino (Wf XVIII:4)
BR G49 \ Prokris und Cephalus (Wf XVIII:6)
BR G50 \ Pygmalion (Wf XVIII:5)
BR G51 \ Ariadne auf Naxos (lost)
BR G52 \ Brutus (Wf XVII:1) (lost)
BR G53 \ Philoktetes (Wf XVII:2) (lost)
BR GInc1 \ Stimmt an, greift rasch in eure Saiten (lost)
BR GInc2 \ Va crescendo il mio tormento

Songs
BR H 1 \ Lied: Ein dunkler Feind (Wf XIX:1/1)
BR H 2 \ Lied: Die Gespenster (Wf XIX:1/2)
BR H 3 \ Lied: Die Zeit (Wf XIX:1/3)
BR H 4 \ Lied: Der Sieg über sich selbst (Wf XIX:1/4)
BR H 5 \ Lied: Der Nachbarin Climene (Wf XIX:1/5)

Other Works in Wohlfarth's catalogue
Wf V \ Sextet for piano, winds & strings in C major (lost)
Wf XV:1 \ Ich lieg und schlafe ganz mit Frieden
Wf XV:2 \ Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme
Wf XV:3 \ Dem Erlöser
Wf XV:4 \ Unsere Auferstehung durch die Auferstehung Jesu
Wf XVI:1 \ 5 Geistliche Lieder
Wf XVI:2 \ 50 Geistliche Lieder
Wf XVIII:7 \ O, wir bringen gerne dir
Wf XVIIII:2 \ 24 Lieder
Wf XX:1 \ Keyboard Concerto in C minor
Wf XX:2 \ Keyboard Concerto in G major
Wf XX:4 \ Fugue for keyboard in C minor
Wf XXI:1 \ Arrangement of CPE Bach's "Weynachtslied"
Wf XXI:2 \ Arrangement of CPE Bach's "Dancklied"
Wf XXI:3 \ Arrangement of CPE Bach's "Der thätige Glaube"

Works not referenced in any catalogue
Cello Sonata in G major

Notes

  1. ^ New Grove, p 312
  2. ^ a b c d Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach in Nolte, Ewald V., ed., Four early sinfonias at Google Book Search. Dates based on early copies by Johann Friedrich Peter. Madison, Wis.: A-R Editions, 1982. Preface page xi. ISBN 0895791706. OCLC 9203471.

References

  • Ulrich Leisinger, "Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach," Grove Music Online, accessed 26 August 2006, <http://www.grovemusic.com>.
  • Eugene Helm, "Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach" The New Grove Bach Family Macmillan 1985 pp309-314

External links


This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

 
 

 

Copyrights:

Artist. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ® , a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
Music Encyclopedia. The Concise Grove Dictionary of Music. Copyright © 1994 by Oxford University Press, Inc.. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach".  Read more

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