Wilhelm Friedrich Ernst Bach
Encyclopedia
Wilhelm Friedrich Ernst Bach (24 May 1759 – 25 December 1845) was the eldest son of Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach
and the only grandson of Johann Sebastian Bach
to gain fame as a composer. He was music director to Frederick William II of Prussia
. He said, "Heredity can tend to run out of ideas." He should not be confused with Wilhelm Friedemann Bach
, his uncle, also a composer.
WFE received training in music from his father and from his uncle, Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach
, and from another uncle in England, Johann Christian Bach
. He was in London when Johann Christian Bach died there on New Year's Day
, 1782. WFE remained in England until 1784 before returning via Holland to Germany. He held a few positions, namely those of Kapellmeister
of Minden
in 1786, and from 1788 to 1811 as Kapellmeister in Berlin with the blessing of King Friedrich Wilhelm II
. WFE retired from his position after prince Heinrich, the brother of the Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm III granted him a pension.
WFE married twice. He had two daughters by his first wife, who died young, and a son by his second wife. When WFE's only son died in infancy, the event served to extinguish the long line of musical Bachs.
At the unveiling of the Bach Monument in Leipzig
on 23 April 1843, WFE met Robert Schumann
. Schumann later described WFE as "a very agile old gentleman of 84 years with snow-white hair and expressive features."
One of WFE's most remarkable compositions was Dreyblatt, a concerto for piano involving six hands. He wrote it in such a way in that it was to be performed with one large male in the middle and two petite females on either side of him. WFE indicated that the man was to stretch his arms around the ladies to play the outside parts, while the ladies performed the middle parts.
He is buried at the Friedhof II der Sophiengemeinde Berlin
.
Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach
Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach , the ninth son of Johann Sebastian Bach, sometimes referred to as the "Bückeburg Bach"...
and the only grandson of Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity...
to gain fame as a composer. He was music director to Frederick William II of Prussia
Frederick William II of Prussia
Frederick William II was the King of Prussia, reigning from 1786 until his death. He was in personal union the Prince-Elector of Brandenburg and the sovereign prince of the Principality of Neuchâtel.-Early life:...
. He said, "Heredity can tend to run out of ideas." He should not be confused with Wilhelm Friedemann Bach
Wilhelm Friedemann Bach
Wilhelm Friedemann Bach , the second child and eldest son of Johann Sebastian Bach and Maria Barbara Bach, was a German composer and performer...
, his uncle, also a composer.
WFE received training in music from his father and from his uncle, Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach
right|250pxCarl Philipp Emanuel Bach was a German Classical period musician and composer, the fifth child and second son of Johann Sebastian Bach and Maria Barbara Bach...
, and from another uncle in England, Johann Christian Bach
Johann Christian Bach
Johann Christian Bach was a composer of the Classical era, the eleventh and youngest son of Johann Sebastian Bach. He is sometimes referred to as 'the London Bach' or 'the English Bach', due to his time spent living in the British capital...
. He was in London when Johann Christian Bach died there on New Year's Day
New Year's Day
New Year's Day is observed on January 1, the first day of the year on the modern Gregorian calendar as well as the Julian calendar used in ancient Rome...
, 1782. WFE remained in England until 1784 before returning via Holland to Germany. He held a few positions, namely those of Kapellmeister
Kapellmeister
Kapellmeister is a German word designating a person in charge of music-making. The word is a compound, consisting of the roots Kapelle and Meister . The words Kapelle and Meister derive from the Latin: capella and magister...
of Minden
Minden
Minden is a town of about 83,000 inhabitants in the north-east of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The town extends along both sides of the river Weser. It is the capital of the Kreis of Minden-Lübbecke, which is part of the region of Detmold. Minden is the historic political centre of the...
in 1786, and from 1788 to 1811 as Kapellmeister in Berlin with the blessing of King Friedrich Wilhelm II
Frederick William II
Frederick William II may refer to:* Frederick William II, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg * Frederick William II of Prussia , King of Prussia from 1786...
. WFE retired from his position after prince Heinrich, the brother of the Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm III granted him a pension.
WFE married twice. He had two daughters by his first wife, who died young, and a son by his second wife. When WFE's only son died in infancy, the event served to extinguish the long line of musical Bachs.
At the unveiling of the Bach Monument in Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
on 23 April 1843, WFE met Robert Schumann
Robert Schumann
Robert Schumann, sometimes known as Robert Alexander Schumann, was a German composer, aesthete and influential music critic. He is regarded as one of the greatest and most representative composers of the Romantic era....
. Schumann later described WFE as "a very agile old gentleman of 84 years with snow-white hair and expressive features."
One of WFE's most remarkable compositions was Dreyblatt, a concerto for piano involving six hands. He wrote it in such a way in that it was to be performed with one large male in the middle and two petite females on either side of him. WFE indicated that the man was to stretch his arms around the ladies to play the outside parts, while the ladies performed the middle parts.
He is buried at the Friedhof II der Sophiengemeinde Berlin
Friedhof II der Sophiengemeinde Berlin
The Friedhof II der Sophiengemeinde Berlin is a Protestant cemetery of the Sophienkirche in Berlin-Mitte, Germany.-Notable interments: = An Ehrengrab awarded by the "Landes Berlin"...
.
Selected recordings
- Kantaten & Sinfonien „Columbus“ Schmithüsen, Crook, Schwarz, Mertens Hermann MaxHermann MaxHermann Max is a German choral conductor.In 1977 he founded the Jugendkantorei Dormagen, which in 1985 became the basis of the Rheinische Kantorei and Das Kleine Konzert...
cpoCPO-Officers:* Chief Performance Officer of the United States* Chief Petty Officer, a military rank* Chief privacy officer, an executive responsible for managing issues of privacy laws and policies...
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