Wrong J. C. Bach on Aria Eberliniana
Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2025 4:23 am
The work page for Aria Eberliniana pro dormante Camillo, variata (https://imslp.org/wiki/Aria_Eberliniana ... Christoph)) has the wrong Johann Christoph Bach connected as composer. The current attached composer is the Eisenach organist Johann Christoph Bach (1642-1703) on IMSLP here https://imslp.org/wiki/Category:Bach,_Johann_Christoph
Per the following from the online version of Die Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart (German text to English per Google Translate), the composer who should be attached to Aria Ebeliniana is the Ohrdruf organist Johann Christoph Bach (1671-1721) on IMSLP here https://imslp.org/wiki/Category:Bach_@o ... _Christoph:
Although J. C. Bach [1671-1721] is referred to as "optimus artifex" in his burial entry, it is not clear whether he also emerged as a composer. As first considered by H.-J. Schulze (1985, pp. 77f.), two variation works preserved in copies by J. C. Bach (22)* with the authorship information "Joh. Christoph Bach" and "J. C. B.« (Aria Eberliniana pro dormente Camillo in E-flat major and Aria in A minor) are perhaps more likely to be attributed to the Ohrdruf organist (22)* than to the better-known Eisenach organist (13)*. The same applies to a Sarabande in G, which has been handed down together with works by Johann Bernhard Bach (41)*, a son of the Ohrdruf organist J. C. Bach; all three works are based on Pachelbel's compositional style.
JeffW writing again...J. C. Bach (1671-1721) was apprentice to Johann Pachelbel (1653-1706) for at least three years, helped Pachelbel prepare music for publication, and was recommended for organist in Gotha after Pachelbel resigned. It makes more sense that J. C. Bach (1671-1721) would compose in the style of his teacher/mentor/friend Pachelbel than would the older and then-notable J. C. Bach (1642-1703) would compose in the style of Pachelbel who was 11 years his junior.
*The numbers in parentheses in the MGG quote refer to the "official" number assigned to individuals in the Bach family tree with J. C. Bach (1642-1703) assigned "(13)" and J. C. Bach (1671-1721) assigned "(22)"
Per the following from the online version of Die Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart (German text to English per Google Translate), the composer who should be attached to Aria Ebeliniana is the Ohrdruf organist Johann Christoph Bach (1671-1721) on IMSLP here https://imslp.org/wiki/Category:Bach_@o ... _Christoph:
Although J. C. Bach [1671-1721] is referred to as "optimus artifex" in his burial entry, it is not clear whether he also emerged as a composer. As first considered by H.-J. Schulze (1985, pp. 77f.), two variation works preserved in copies by J. C. Bach (22)* with the authorship information "Joh. Christoph Bach" and "J. C. B.« (Aria Eberliniana pro dormente Camillo in E-flat major and Aria in A minor) are perhaps more likely to be attributed to the Ohrdruf organist (22)* than to the better-known Eisenach organist (13)*. The same applies to a Sarabande in G, which has been handed down together with works by Johann Bernhard Bach (41)*, a son of the Ohrdruf organist J. C. Bach; all three works are based on Pachelbel's compositional style.
JeffW writing again...J. C. Bach (1671-1721) was apprentice to Johann Pachelbel (1653-1706) for at least three years, helped Pachelbel prepare music for publication, and was recommended for organist in Gotha after Pachelbel resigned. It makes more sense that J. C. Bach (1671-1721) would compose in the style of his teacher/mentor/friend Pachelbel than would the older and then-notable J. C. Bach (1642-1703) would compose in the style of Pachelbel who was 11 years his junior.
*The numbers in parentheses in the MGG quote refer to the "official" number assigned to individuals in the Bach family tree with J. C. Bach (1642-1703) assigned "(13)" and J. C. Bach (1671-1721) assigned "(22)"