Bach FAQ 118
Is Bach's Birthday on March 21st? Or Is Bach's Birthday on March 31st? Both in1685..
To the point: Johann Sebastian Bach's birthday is on March, 31st. For the first time, about 333 years ago: in 1685..
On Johann Sebastian Bach’s day of honor: In some and historical publications – or alternatively – Bach’s birthday is listed as March 31, 1685. The existence of two birth dates is not only due to the fact that, over a period of about 300 years, the world eventually switched from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar. It is also, and in particular, because Eisenach had not yet made the switch at the time of Bach’s birth. Thus, Bach was born on March 21, 1685..
Then the change took place. In 1700 in Thuringia. And with it came the option to “convert” – if one so chose – certain dates of birth. However, since Jesus’s birthday was not retroactively moved ten days to January 3, we – the Bachs in Flein – believe that Bach certainly did not celebrate his birthday on March 31 starting in 1700. And incidentally, according to the church records of that time, Bach would have been baptized before his birth..
Just a quick note on this topic. And to add a bit of background to the explanation above: Whether Johann Sebastian Bach was born on March 21 or March 31, 1685, is actually... completely irrelevant. But the explanation above – thanks to a Bach friend for the concise phrasing – was quite exciting. Especially when you read mid-March here and late March there, whenever the birthday of this outstanding musician is mentioned. But of course, that goes way too far in many publications. Just imagine an introduction, and then an asterisk after the third word, followed by all these references. No..
Finally, even within Bach sciene – to which Bach on Bach does not belong – a consensus has been reached. That is, on March 21, 1685. And since this is not among the most important secrets or pieces of information, we simply go along with it. This puts us “on the same page” with Christoph Wolff, the most outstanding Bach expert of our time, the Bach Archive in Leipzig, and the Bach House in Eisenach..
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This is a historical postcard. It was certainly printed in many thousands of copies, written on, mailed, delivered, and read ... ..
... and we “learned”? Johann Sebastian Bach’s birthday was on March 21 or March 31. Or was it not in March at all, but in May? Specifically, on May 21? Of course, this note is not meant to be taken seriously. The above is simply a charming misprint..
How many more compositions and pieces of heavenly music would the superstar Johann Sebastian Bach have created if he had actually lived to be 127? And he would then have been the oldest Classical Composer on earth. The King of Prussia and the King of Poland would certainly have come together to congratulate him on Bach’s 126th birthday..
Now everyone can explore it even better. Or is this just another conspiracy theory? Yeah ... I'm just messing around again. In any case, this little mishap really did happen..
Finally: Where was Bach born? Now that we know when he was born? The answer: in Eisenbach. It’s crystal clear: the name of his birthplace says it all. Actually – of course – it was Eisenach, no “b,” no “... bach.” What else can I offer to answer the question: “When was Bach born?”..
Aha, so from 1714 to 1786. By the way: Did Bach ever compose a ballet? Probably ... not..
A Summary Regarding the Curious Birthday of Johann Sebastian Bach..
If we were to be a little foolish, then Johann Sebastian Bach would have been born in the spring – specifically on March 21, March 31, and May 21, 1685, as well as again in 1714 – in “Eisenbach” in Thuringia. He would have died in 1750, 1786, and 1812: The sprightly, eternally young “Eisenbacher” would thus have turned a super-cool 127 years old. Even turtles would be amazed by that..
On March 21, 2018, We Bachs Celebrated the 333rd Birthday of Johann Sebastian..
We know for sure: The champion would have really loved this round birthday with the lucky number 333..
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