Bach FAQ 168

The Bach Hall of Fame ... A “Project Within the Project” ... Dedicated to the Thomas Cantor..

Ehrenstein Castle in the Bach city of Gotha, in the heart of “Bach Country.” Will this location soon be home to a new Bach museum?..

The Johann Sebastian Bach Hall of Fame: I always have “plans.” There have always been “cool projects.” My whole life. I always come up with big ideas, and some of them work. Others, not so much. It's reassuring to know that even global corporations only develop a small fraction of their new offerings for the shelves. Over 80 percent are discarded. I like to exaggerate ... you can already tell that from this website. No one writes as much about Bach on the internet as I do ... or so ... I think. Except perhaps... Aryeh Oron in Israel. No one else offers as many topics on Johann Sebastian Bach. Except again... Aryeh Oron. And in the winter of 2024, artificial intelligence also came into play..

That's right... there are now some really cool Bach motifs. When I started my project in 2012, I had to travel 1,200 kilometers to Paris and back for my first Bach cartoon. Today, I paint these pictures myself: easily one an hour. © Peter Bach, Jr..

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2012 to 2014..

It was between 2012 and 2014, and I was enthusiastic about the idea of “bringing to life” another museum dedicated to Bach. At the time, it seemed like an exciting, surreal project. Surreal... why? Because there are already several museums dedicated to Bach. Almost every Bach city of significance has one. So what else could be shown? How would I get exhibits? Who would pay for it? Who would run it? Who would be responsible for the construction? Who would such a “cultural site” appeal to? Where in the world could such an attraction await visitors and Bach fans? These were the questions I pondered for many hours when a Bach creative (... i.e., me) couldn't sleep..

Once you've been “infected,” it's almost impossible to stop creating new Bach portrait motifs. Personally, I find Salvador Dalí's style the most exciting. © Peter Bach, Jr..

Of all the factors, one of the most important for allowing the idea to flourish was: What can be exhibited? What could be offered to Bach fans? My initial thoughts led me to Dornheim and Wechmar, Köthen, Ohrdruf, and Arnstadt. But then also to the Bach cities of Lüneburg, Mühlhausen, and Weimar. Because, to my knowledge, there are still no comparable Bach offerings in these last three Bach locations..

Yes, I could also imagine the “Bach Hall of Fame” very well in Ohrdruf..

The living situation in Bach's time: This could certainly be recreated with furniture from 1700. Of course, it would not be authentic, but it would be a good start. However, this theme already exists in Eisenach. Then, of course, the portraits that exist of Bach, at least the three known ones and a few more, could be presented: the one by Haußmann, the one by Ihle, and the one by Rentsch... One could copy them and two dozen others and hang them up. But this has also already been implemented in Eisenach. Musical instruments from Bach's time: With a lot of effort, they could be found. But this would also be a copy of what is on offer in Bach's birthplace..

Reading material such as Bach's bibles is hardly realistic to copy and present as an attraction. This applies, of course, to the entire Bach family's possessions. His music, on the other hand, would always be an option. Not original, but easy to do. Of course, other possibilities could be considered. But none of them made enough sense to be offered somewhere in “Bach Country” in addition to the existing offerings. It had to be something completely different..

Eisenach really doesn't need another Bach location. And the Bach House there already covers most of the possible content mentioned: for example, furniture, instruments, and the Bachs' living situation at that time..

If you give your subconscious mind enough time to come up with exciting ideas... or solve problems... then it definitely works: in my experience. Very often, in fact. This was also the case for me, and over many nights, plus while waiting for whatever it was, a plan developed to present something completely different: a Bach Hall of Fame... a place and a building where Bach is honored..

But once again: What should be exhibited? I had the idea of drawing a parallel with my website: How and who is Bach honored around the world, and in such different ways? The answer is Bach monuments (1): These could be presented in their actual size. Then there is the recognition of important personalities from the last 300 years, which today exists in the form of Bach quotations (2). In addition, the enthusiasm for Bach stamps is noticeable: many incredible works of art have been created in around 100 years (3). These stamps would be placed on the white walls as huge works of art. And the quotes from famous personalities about Bach would be immortalized directly on the white walls..

The Bach House is still missing in Weimar. At the same time, it is also the birthplace of two other famous musicians: Bach's two sons... definitely. Although Bach worked in Weimar twice, almost for a total of ten years, there is no building or institution in Weimar that honors him..

Arnstadt and a question that overwhelmed me: How many square meters would you like, Mr. Bach?..

Here in addition, visitors can find information about the many Bach cities and Bach locations and enjoy entertainment (4). These three- to five-minute films are shown in a small cinema. Naturally, they are in German and English. Another video provides information about the Bach House in Eisenach. Bach's music can be heard throughout the Bach Hall of Fame (5). Of course, these are his most popular pieces. There is also a concert area where choirs and orchestras are invited to perform (6). Whose works? Bach's works, of course. And of course, there is a Bach shop (7) offering a wide range of Bach-related items..

Arnstadt would still be the perfect location today. That's because Arnstadt offers a wide range of Bach highlights. However, they can be explored quickly. So another one would fit in perfectly. Incidentally, Arnstadt is our favorite Bach city..

Initial considerations regarding the location naturally led to a cost-effective project. This meant that there were plans to establish this Hall of Fame in an existing building. And there were various options available. For example, in Arnstadt. There is the castle there, which had already been partially renovated. And which already has a small Bach offering. So my idea was to make Arnstadt even more attractive as a Bach city..

We presented our concept in Arnstadt and also performed one of the small shows that we could imagine doing there. Both the city's marketing manager and the director of the castle were positive and asked me about my ideas regarding the space for such a plan. I was completely stumped. The topic was so new that I hadn't even considered the most trivial of questions, let alone thought about an answer. I couldn't answer this question spontaneously, nor had I given any thought to this important detail in advance. And time "passed"..

Was this page created specifically to showcase cool Bach locations and even cooler Bach artworks? Who knows, who knows? Pop art, how exciting. © Peter Bach, Jr..

Other options came to mind: I love having a Plan B, C, D, and E. It was no different with my “new Bach Museum.” Gotha also came to mind after I had already enjoyed implementing my plan within historic walls in Arnstadt. Mayor Knut Kreuch, who has made a name for himself among Bach fans with his work in Wechmar, helped me significantly in my search for my ancestors in 2012. At a time when I considered the “origin” presented by my namesake Dr. Peter Bach on his website to be his achievement. I congratulated him on his research and only realized much later that it was J.S. Bach's own compilation of the Origin of the Musical Bachish family..

Yes, that's right ... we can do all that ourselves now. Bach cool and completely dust-free. Oops. Van Gogh sends his regards. © Peter Bach, Jr..

The Friedenstein Palace is located in Gotha. I could also imagine that it would offer sufficient space to make my project a reality. The next option, also a palace, was Ohrdruf. Ohrdruf would have been particularly suitable as a location because, apart from two Bach monuments, it does not yet have a Bach place of interest. Finally, Köthen: Here, too, a palace would have been the most exciting place. Of course, there would also have been the perfect place in Weimar: on the site of Bach's former residence, which is now a parking lot. Plus a really ugly vacant lot..

Because other people also had and still have the idea of finally establishing something "Bach-related" in Weimar, I read and listened to the ongoing efforts of recent years a long time ago. Although I did not manage to contact the professor in charge after two attempts, we did manage to obtain an "audience" at the highest level in the town hall. Once again, we watched a short film together and presented our suggestions. And what did the back then ( ! ) mayor say to us in front of his responsible staff member: "Even if we were given a Bach house as a gift, we wouldn't want it" . Well, if a city is “so richly blessed with culture" ... then so be it. I wanted to continue the whole discussion, somewhat more diplomatically than before, with the owners of the parking lot and work together to find the best way to accommodate everyone's interests: at that time, still without ”my" museum. However, this visit to Weimar was a disappointment. And perhaps that also influenced the further course of my plans for the Bach Hall of Fame. In Gotha, I had not yet knocked on the doors of the town hall. Nor had I in Ohrdruf..

Happy to share another Bach-related illustration. I'm really into Dalí's style. Dalí style for the second time... on this page. © Peter Bach, Jr..

It was the year 2020, more precisely the first “Corona year”. And a Bach enthusiast solved the exciting question from where exactly the Bachs moved to Wechmar back then exclusively for me. He lives in Laa on the Thaya, an hour’s drive north of Vienna, right on the Czech border. There is a place called Ungerndorf there, which used to be called "Ungern" by its inhabitants. The complete story can be found elsewhere on this website. I met the owener of a bookstore, and artist and a local historian, Mr. Lehner, in Laa and he showed me around his town..

At that time, the idea with my museum had clearly taken a back seat, and in the meantime I was toying with the idea of setting up a Bach location in a modern but inexpensive newly built industrial hall. Where that would be... I already had my ideas. More on that later..

At first, I liked the idea of establishing this building in Laa, Austria. On a piece of land next to the local spa and between the town center and the Orthodox church. And... because one is allowed to dream, the architectural finesses took shape in my mind. Perhaps because, in the meantime, I still didn't know how many square meters I wanted to exhibit in. Perhaps also because of the disappointment in Weimar. Or simply because time was always taken up with the ongoing maintenance of my Bach project and our Bach Mission. As a result, the plan did not develop any further in practice. Something else always took priority..

For its approximately 6,000 residents, it is an impressive town hall: in Laa on the Thaya, Austria..

Mr. Michael Lehner..

It was at that time that I could imagine my Bach Hall of Fame in completely different locations around the world. And, of course, everything would be “one size bigger.” Knowing very well, of course, that the realization of this would be less likely than winning the lottery twice in a row. But you can always dream ... of something really big..

So locations such as New York and Orlando in Florida were also options for me. Las Vegas too. Or Washington, D.C. And I could definitely imagine something like that in Dubai as well..

A portrait of Bach as an illustration “always works". Friedensreich Hundertwasser was clearly an inspiration. © Peter Bach, Jr..

AI Comes Into Play..

By then, the year was 2024, and I realized that such a project would require an incredible investment of time and energy. Not to mention the acquisition for such a project and, of course, the question of “Who, please, is going to pay for all this?” That’s why I thought more and more about an exclusively digital version of such a project. I had already had some initial experience in architecture with the Sketchup software. But because it had been so long ago, my current knowledge was back to zero. However, I remembered that this software was not that easy to use. My Bach family tree still bears witness to this approach today. LOL..

In the summer of 2024, I discovered AI for myself. Initially as a source of information. Two months later, I also found the image software offering. This meant that you could use it to formulate a text, called a "prompt", into a request, and the software, the AI, would turn it into an image.. 

And since the goal was no longer to actually build such a structure, there were no longer any limits to the scope and size of the Hall of Fame. After all, something extraordinary had been built for Salvador Dalí in Florida as well..

Highly impressive and fitting the genius of Salvador Dalí: the new museum right on the marina and next to the new Pier in St. Petersburg, Florida..

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A Quick Detour to My Wife's Shop..

If money really is no object, then you can go "gigantomanic". Okay, there is no such thing as a "Bach 4 You" store. Nowhere. Period. But here are the link to the online stores. © Peter Bach Jr..

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The Bach Hall of Fame..

So there was the realization that it was not possible to actually put my plans into practice with a reasonable amount of time, money, and energy. And there was the recognition that it would have taken many weeks and months, if not years, of work to "build" the Bach Hall of Fame using Sketchup..

This was not compatible with the time required to maintain my existing long-term project, my website Bach on Bach. So I “built” my ideas, at home and around the world, so to speak, using Artificial Intelligence. And that was only as an outside view. Of course, the instructions remained very creative, but still had to be carried out personally. And then you had to choose from dozens of suggestions. But that was exactly the combination of time, money, and energy that allowed me to fulfill my dream ... now electronically ... to the end. In the meantime, of course, without regard to any cost considerations. That's why the designs turned out to be very impressive. Impressive, at least for me..

The Bach Hall of Fame in Austria, initially planned for Laa on the Thaya in Austria. © Peter Bach, Jr..

To lighten up the presentation of my infinitely expensive real estate here, I'll give you another impression. About what AI and I can create together. Cool? Yup ... really cool. Of course, I'd like to point out again that there is no such museum. There is no “Bach 4 You” museum at all. And there are no offers in any brick and mortar store. Instead, there are five online shops. © Peter Bach, Jr..

Just think of all the wonderful works of art you can create: Dalí was, of course, again the inspiration for the work above. And once you know how to do it, you can create some truly amazing new works of art. ©Peter Bach, Jr..

Okay, let's invoke the spirit of Mr. Hundertwasser once again and enjoy the quality and content of the motif above. © Peter Bach, Jr..

Is Orlando, Florida, an ideal location for Bach? Perhaps ... well, we would have to consider how many Mickey Mouse fans might also be enthusiastic about Bach. © Peter Bach, Jr..

In New York, such a location would most likely be much, much better suited. At this location... that would be the dream. Above is a second concept there. © Peter Bach, Jr..

I could also imagine a “Bach Hall of Fame” in Washington, D.C. And yes ... it doesn't look like that there. What AI can't do yet is electronically demolish the Smithsonian Museum and replace it with the “Bach Hall of Fame.” Well ... I mean ... in a few minutes. © Peter Bach, Jr..

The fourth location in the USA is definitely Las Vegas. With millions and millions of visitors every year, there would certainly be some Bach fans left over. Bach fans who were enthusiastic about this offer, far removed from Bach's music and the conservative attitudes of most Bach admirers. © Peter Bach, Jr..

Once again, my interaction with artificial intelligence has produced an infinitely cool result. © P. Bach, Jr..

You want “Bach Pop Art”? You get Bach in Pop Art. What was the most trivial challenge? With the realization that all the Bach portraits that “we know” are not authentic, it was very special. Wait, wait... that doesn't apply to one historical image of Bach. One portrait was known to have been painted in 1746 by the artist Haußmann in Leipzig. And so, the first thing I had to do was to immediately sort out all my results that did not look much like Bach in this particular portrait. © Peter Bach, Jr..

You design and design. And for a Bach fan with my demands, this results in endlessly exciting Bach images. © Peter Bach, Jr..

No comment. © Peter Bach, Jr..

Anyone who “ticks like me” won't be able to get enough of it. Okay, here's one more. © Peter Bach, Jr..

I could come up with another fifty motifs. But at some point, you just have to draw the line. Here and now. © Peter Bach, Jr..

One final exciting location, which was mentioned above, is Dubai. Why the association with this booming desert state? Well, if money is no object. © Peter Bach, Jr..

This marked the end of an era in my life: namely, the "project within a project" Bach Hall of Fame. Ultimately, even creating a perfect presentation of my ideas seemed too labor-intensive. I would also certainly have been too inflexible when it came to incorporating the ideas of third parties. The likelihood that I would have had to make concessions to a participating institution or organization led me to conclude this part of the project in the run-up to Christmas 2024, while creating this page on my Bach website. Perhaps a Bach fan with a lot of money will come across this page. That would be ... winning the lottery three times in a row for three weeks..

A truly “very last” cool Bach motif. © Peter Bach, Jr..

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