Bach FAQ 167
How Many Bibles Did Johann Sebastian Bach Own?..
A look inside Bach's Calov Bible: Anyone who left behind 300 comments, underlines, and corrections in a three-volume Bible must have studied it carefully. At the top, you can read one of Johann Sebastian Bach's most famous statements: “In devotional music, God is always present with His grace"..
The PRO media magazine misquotes the director of the Bach House in its 2017 article. The quote: "A large part of the Bach collection consists of Bible editions from the 17th and 18th centuries. The musician developed an ambition to own the authoritative editions. According to the estate inventory, he owned two multi-volume complete editions of Martin Luther's writings: the modern Altenburg edition and the older Jena edition. Both were in German. An exciting aspect of the collection is Bach's interest in Pietism. For example, the Lutheran owned devotional writings by Johann Jacob Rambach. The Bachs even gave some of these writings to selected friends." (... end of quote). You can read the complete article via the link above. And if you really want to dive into this topic, there is also a link to the nmz with their article on the subject..
Here is the conclusion in advance: Bach did indeed own a Bible in three of five volumes. And he also owned the famous Calov Bible in three volumes. That makes two. He also left behind his Merian Bible. That makes three..
There is also the Bible that Johann Sebastian Bach gave to his son Johann Christian Bach. He gifted another Bible to his second wife Anna Magdalena during his lifetime. So we know of five Bibles – one in several volumes – that Bach once owned. Of course, he may have owned many more Bibles during his lifetime. However, nothing is known about this. And on a side note, strangely enough: According to the inventory of his possessions, Bach did not own any Bibles in the classical sense. And certainly not two Calov Bibles. It did not, and does not, exist in two versions. As I discovered in my correspondence on this subject. And you will too ... later, in the text that follows..
The title of the Calov Bible, which exists in three volumes. It is – if you will – the Bach Bible, when we talk about “the Bach Bible”..
The Bach Bible in the USA..
If you are interested, you can read here how the Calov Bible once "traveled" from Leipzig to St. Louis in the USA. With one click ..
What a cool illustration on the Bach theme. Definitely no: This picture is not historical. And that's why it's "not authentic” either. The woman above is not Maria Barbara Bach, nor is she Anna Magdalena Bach. © Peter Bach, Jr..
First of all, a note on my own behalf: Originally, I wrote a similarly late FAQ on the topic of why people assumed and continue to assume that Bach “only” composed church music. The answer is that Bach was very religious. This can be recognized, among other things, by the fact that Bach owned many Bibles. That was my level of knowledge before writing this FAQ. Bach therefore created every piece of music he composed for the pleasure of the Lord. For church occasions ... and also for secular ones..
I have only illustrated three or four FAQ pages in that style: namely, my range of Artificial Intelligence results. I mention this because I began retrieving information from such a source (... AI) for this page in the fall of 2024. My website does not claim to be scientific. Nevertheless, facts and jokes should be presented separately and with references. More on this in the following section. © Peter Bach, Jr..
What's more: It was in the fall of 2024 that I discovered Bing Chat and Artificial Intelligence, also known as AI. And that in its broadest form..
That is, firstly, to generate information. Secondly, to design images. And thirdly, I plan to create some silly videos as short Bach clips. AI is fascinating. With this impression, I now use AI intensively in my everyday life. However, I am well aware that AI can also provide completely false and even "bizarre" information. And without you realizing why that is. That's why, as a professional, you quickly get used to the fact that every piece of information from Jasper AI & Co., and indeed any other AI, must be checked. In the case of important and decisive facts, this must be done several times. But creating texts... that's something I do myself. Consistently without AI..
The collaboration between a creative person (... well, me) and artificial intelligence is fascinating. AI designs the painting style. But the designer (... again, me) decides what surreal components to include in the motif. © Peter Bach, Jr..
To my sole delight, the topic of AI also found its way onto this page in another form. You may have already noticed: namely, as illustrations. On this page, I supplemented the text for you with images created exclusively by AI. So I actually “commissioned” AI to create various cool motifs specifically for this page ... my offer to you..
It's fascinating once you've formulated the request as text: Every additional click on the edit button creates a new work of art. Then you select the best one and edit it extensively. © Peter Bach, Jr..
Generating information with artificial intelligence: For me, my endless amazement at the correct answers provided by “my” AI to my questions is directly opposed to the boundless amateurism of the information received. That is, when the answer is wrong. To many questions and really to all aspects of life... about health, mathematics, everyday life, and... also just about Bach..
For me, this discrepancy reached its peak with the question of how many Bibles Bach once owned. AI claimed that Bach must have owned a total of 52 Bibles: They were supposed to be listed in his estate. Of course, I did not include any AI information on my website for you that had not been thoroughly verified..
I myself am often unable to help visitors to my website with questions about Bach. But at the Bach House... you always get a qualified answer..
Because I am sometimes really too impatient, I asked AI again. Also because, while googling, I came across “theological writings” that Bach is said to have left behind. Exactly 52 of them. This number reminded me precisely of the 52 Bibles that AI presented to me as the first search result. With that, I could “proceed.” I asked “my” artificial intelligence, now using different wording, how many of the 52 theological writings were Bibles. And AI replied: eight Bibles. According to my interim research, however, this was wrong again..
Of course, in the meantime, I researched more and more on the internet. And a scanned article by Bach expert Martin Petzold, which I had requested, arrived on the same day. The result was a hodgepodge of exciting facts. Because I also came across some earlier information on this occasion. In an article and interview with the aforementioned Bach House director. I asked Bach expert Dr. Hansen explicitly about this, and what he explained is in the first paragraph on this page..
Advertisement
There Is No Publishing House, That Offers So Many Bach Busts, Bach Tin Figures, Bach Statues and Little Bach Men from the Ore Mpountains Like "Bach 4 You"..
It wasn't easy to find those five Bach busts in five different sizes. Why is that so? Because, what's important, is the facial expression of Bach. Many Bch busts don't provide this important detail. You get to these Bach busts with a click here..
Are you looking for a personalized Bach gift? Then the five online shops run by the Publisher “Bach 4 You” are just the right place for you. There are almost endless Bach gift ideas. For the next birthday, the next Christmas party ... and ... even without a special occasion ... as well as for yourself..
End of Advertisement
That's right ... when it comes to Bach, I'm often a nitpicker. But the above is another “deep fake.” Because the image is neither historical nor is it Maria Barbara Bach. And it's not Anna Magdalena Bach either. AI, or Artificial Intelligence, is only allowed on four of my FAQ pages. © Peter Bach, Jr..
Another „nitpicking“ point of mine is the observation that, of course, we no longer know how many Bibles Johann Sebastian Bach ever owned, but only how many he probably owned at the time of his death and shortly before. Plus the two that he is said to have given away. And those are – once again – the following works..
First, there is the famous Calov Bible. It comes in three volumes. Second, this Bible does not come in two versions. So Bach could not have owned two different ones. The Calov Bible (... one edition, three volumes) contains around 300 notes in Bach's handwriting. That makes three Bibles ... or just one. It's up to you how you want to look at it. This isn't a scientific essay, after all. Next, Bach owned another Bible that existed in four or five volumes, of which Bach owned three volumes. That makes two or six Bibles... you know what I mean. Next, Bach owned a so-called Merian Bible. That makes three, or seven if you like. Finally, Bach actually gave a Bible to his son in Milan. That would make it either four Bibles. Or eight... and so the second question to the AI above would have been answered correctly..
The Merian Bible, discovered only 260 years after Bach's death: a jewel. Two volumes were once “guests in Leipzig”, before both began their journey back to the Library of Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. © The photo was taken by Leipzig photographer Mathias Knoch, who kindly allowed us to publish it. Click here to visit his website. Many thanks for that..
Finally, I analyzed the essay sent to me by the Bach expert in Leipzig. In his first sentence, he stated that Bach owned two Bible volumes, both of which Bach had commented on. The far more famous of the two, in three parts, is the Calov Bible, which Martin Petzold was the first to name as a Bible in five volumes. And the expert listed another work that belonged to Anna Magdalena Bach ... so strictly speaking, it was no longer one of Bach's Bibles. Not listed in this essay is the Merian Bible. This is probably because Petzold's publication was written before it was found..
It's fascinating when you consider that Renate and I drove a total of 1,200 kilometers to Paris and back in 2012. Just to have a single simple Bach caricature painted there. Today, another click is all it takes for AI to produce another, different, individual work of art. Always with the same order text. © Peter Bach, Jr..
The History of the “Bach Bible”
The Calov Bible, first printed in 1681/82, is Luther's German translation of the Bible with commentaries and interpretations by Abraham Calovius (1612–86), a professor of theology in Wittenberg. Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750) owned a copy, as shown by his signed title page from 1733..
Pastor Christian G. Riedel discovered the work in 1934 while visiting his cousin in Michigan in the USA. Riedel recognized Bach's handwriting and found all three volumes, which had been in the family since around 1830. They must have been taken to America by German emigrants. After their authenticity was confirmed, they were handed over to the library of Concordia Seminary in Missouri in 1938. The work only gained scholarly interest after the Second World War. The Bible contains 348 underlinings, notes, and marginal comments by Johann Sebastian Bach. He even corrected occasional typographical errors. And he added quotations. It offers rare insights into Bach's approach to the Bible, the core of his church music. A 2008 article in the daily newspaper “Welt” provides a little more detail: exciting and well worth reading. Another great report with additional information is an interview with Dingman van Wijnen, one of the editors of the facsimile of Bach's Calov Bible. Click here to read it..
There was once a traveling exhibition of this Calov Bible at the Melanchthon House in Bretten, Baden-Württemberg. Click here to visit their website..
Fascinating ... well ... you know... © Peter Bach, Jr..
The Merian Bible of Bach..
It remains unclear how the Merian Bible came into Bach's possession. It could have been a gift, acquired from an estate, or purchased at a book auction in Leipzig. However, a review of contemporary auction catalogs has so far yielded no results. The whereabouts of the Bible after Bach's death were also uncertain. It was not until 1779, almost 30 years later, that a new owner, Johann Christoph Günther, wrote his name on the title page. Günther, a well-known theologian and chronicler from Gera, left no further clues. It was only later that the Bible “reappeared,” after it too had made its way to America..
In the fall of 2010, this Bible changed hands again. The new owner initiated its return to Leipzig, where it was once again brought to St. Thomas Church. Dr. Peter Wollny, an expert on Bach's handwriting and researcher at the Bach Archive in Leipzig, examined the Bible on behalf of the new owner. Wollny explained: “The Bible is in excellent condition. With an intact cover and numerous copperplate engravings that underline the high value of this work”. He added: “The signature in the Merian Bible appears more formal than usual. However, there is no doubt about its authenticity. The letters "JSB" correspond to known writing samples from the 1740s”..
From May 10, 2012, the Merian Bible was presented in the special exhibition “Bach – Bible – Hymn Book” at the Bach Museum in Leipzig. This special exhibition, sponsored by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and supported by the insurance broker Aon, ran from May 9, 2021, to July 31, 2021. At present, it is not possible to find out whether the Bible is currently in the possession of its private owner or in one of the Bach institutions in Leipzig..
Cool, cool, super cool ... Are you a very conservative Bach fan and think that illustrations like these are “abuse” regarding the subject of Bach? Okay. Fine. But I am – at heart – a joker. © Peter Bach, Jr..
Once Again: A Trip to the USA...
I find the story surrounding the Bible that Bach is said to have given to his son Johann Christian Bach extremely exciting and treat it like a conspiracy theory. I can no longer remember where this is written down. But the director of the Bach House also mentioned this very Bible. However, Dr. Hansen does not share my view on this matter. On the contrary ... I did not even correspond with him about it:..
In our time, back in 2012... or around then. I got to know a cousin, a distant cousin, in the USA. Only via email. She had written a book about a second branch of the Bach family of musicians in the USA..
The correspondence was difficult and unpleasant. It even went so far as to threaten to sue my wife and me, as well as other Bachs. For us, this development naturally meant that we were completely unable to view her documents. We had proceeded with extreme caution in our approach, if only because the original documents would have been so important. And now the following situation arose, completely contradictory and also bizarre..
Renate and I are 99 percent convinced that the people my cousin describes in her work are members of this, our family of musicians. This is indicated by research conducted by two reputable scientists in their field who were active before her in the subject of Bach genealogy, but who are sadly no longer alive today. All documents became the property of my cousin. She used all her findings solely for her own publication and "bent the unclear ones to fit"..
I could spend hours “creating” more fantastic illustrations ... however, I don't want to overdo it. © Peter Bach Jr..
The foundation for all of these considerations by my American cousin and her relatives was the existence of a Bible that Johann Christian Bach is said to have received as a gift from his father Johann Sebastian. This is where the areas of research converge..
However, documents in the US assume that it was a Catholic ( ! ) Bible. And Bach was "so very Protestant” that one cannot even imagine the background. Strangely enough, however, it was also this Johann Christian Bach who converted to Catholicism in Milan in order to be a more successful musician in Italy. This was considered outrageous by the entire Bach clan..
One might now wonder – and this is where it gets almost frivolous – whether Johann Sebastian Bach deliberately bought his son a Catholic Bible. And whether he wanted to express his annoyance in this way. Of course, we do not know Bach's thoughts on the matter, whether written or spoken. Perhaps this was simply Bach's way of “processing” the issue. We will only find out when time travel becomes not only possible, but also affordable. Further... ..
In this Bible, which can still be viewed in the USA, a section is missing from the first few pages. It has been neatly cut out. It once contained the note “We came from Thuringia"..
On the one hand, the whole thing is absolutely "bizarre". On the other hand, of course, the story of this Bible lived on in the USA. After it ended with the Bible being given to Johann Christian Bach in Germany. It should also be mentioned that Johann Christian Bach was very short of cash. Therefore, it was conceivable that he had to sell the Bible he had received from his father in order to move to London. Mysterious, mysterious ... and, to our great regret, we never got our hands on the original documents..
The final work together with "my" AI. And it will be the penultimate FAQ in which I "play" with this topic so much. © Peter Bach, Jr..
Advertisement
Music Gifts and Bach Gifts: Music Calendars and Bach Calendars..
A total of 60 music calendars await enthusiastic fans of Bach, pipe organs, composers, and music calendars. Some are inexpensive calendars published by the publisher, while others are printed for you on demand. Click here to visit all five shops..
You will find countless music gift ideas in the five shops run by the Renate Bach Publishing House. And you will also find almost countless personalized Bach gift ideas..
End of Advertisement
Druckversion