Bach FAQ 154
Did Johann Sebastian Bach Only Compose Sacred Music, That Is, Church Music?..
Johann Sebastian Bach wrote, or rather composed, only music for the church, that is, church music, sacred music, or even spiritual music! Why do many fans of his masterpieces believe this? Why do people who are not yet familiar with his music but have read or heard this or that about Bach believe this? And why do some who have read more about him, for example, one of the many, many biographies, believe this? One of around 700 biographies. Please continue reading below the advertisement..
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So Did Bach Now “only” Compose Sacred Music?..
No. But why do so many Bach enthusiasts believe this? Well, there are several reasons that probably lead to this assumption. First of all, for many of us, Bach and the church are closely linked when it comes to Bach's compositions. At Christmas, at Easter, but also during countless church services and all over the world, you can hear the music of the composer from Eisenach. What's more, Johann Sebastian Bach's works are referenced in church service bulletins, church newsletters, parish letters, program booklets, and hymn sheets. On the other hand, none of his secular works, also known as “profane works,” are marked as having been composed not for the church..
Why is Bach so often associated with music that he is said to have composed exclusively for the church? Above is Bach in Ulm Minster in Ulm, Germany..
Next, the many monuments, commemorative plaques, and, in particular, Bach's grave give the impression that he spent his entire life – and, above all, exclusively – working for the church. Here, too, nowhere is it mentioned that Bach also entertained with secular compositions. A strange example: The monument on the other side of the world, in Shanghai, China, does not, of course, say “Johann Sebastian Bach, who also composed secular music.” Bach is therefore mostly associated with church music because honors are so often associated with the church..
The most famous and impressive Bach monument stands in the immediate vicinity of St. Thomas Church in Leipzig. It is the New Bach Monument. A few steps further on is the Old Bach Monument. Bach got married in Dornheim. There is another Bach monument in the tiny churchyard. Nothing there indicates Bach's connection to the church. But in Dornheim, it stands in a small churchyard..
Back to Leipzig: Bach's grave in St. Thomas Church naturally plays a decisive role in shaping opinions on precisely this topic. There is also a stained glass window with his portrait. And in St. Nicholas Church, a reminder of Bach “welcomes” worshippers, tourists, and Bach enthusiasts. In Eisenach, the Bach monument stood in front of St. George's Church for many years. And even today, the black Bach sculpture still stands in the church. In Berlin, Bach is prominently featured in a local organ as a tribute. In Mühlhausen, Bach stands next to his monument directly at the Divi Blasii Church. A bronze plaque also pays tribute to him. In Arnstadt and Lüneburg, too, information boards at churches commemorate or commemorated the master. In Ulm, an impressive work of Bach – alongside other personalities – even stands in the cathedral. In Ohrdruf, one of the lesser-known monuments can be found directly next to the church tower. In Rothenburg on the Tauber, one of the most “hidden” tributes to the baroque star composer is an entire window ensemble: behind the altar of blood. In addition to the ensemble for Dr. Martin Luther, there are a total of ten window surfaces. In Lübeck, a text on an inconspicuous monument in St. Mary's Church indicates that it is dedicated to Bach: Bach is sitting at the organ, Buxtehude is standing behind him listening to him. Here, too, all the monuments listed associate Bach with the church. But none in a secular place indicates that he also composed secular music..
Once again, Bach, music, and the church are connected: The photos were taken very late. Because until then, there was only one image on Google. And that wasn't even on the first ten pages. In Rothenburg on the Tauber, an entire stained glass window ensemble is dedicated to the master..
Of course, Bach's grave in St. Thomas Church in Leipzig is associated with his close ties to the church and thus to religious music..
Then there is his career: We learn that Bach was taught by his eldest brother after his father and mother died in quick succession. And what did his brother do for a living? He was organist at St. Michael's Church in Ohrdruf. Today, only the church tower remains. Much later, Bach got his first “real” job: as organist at the New Church in Arnstadt. Today, it is called the Bach Church..
His next job was once again that of organist, later in Mühlhausen. Here, too, the positions Bach held in Arnstadt and Mühlhausen are interpreted as church duties simply because they are referred to as “organist.”..
However, nowhere does it say that he was not( ! ) employed by the church in Weimar, again in Weimar, and then in Köthen. Instead, he was employed by the ruling prince. Finally, Leipzig. Johann Sebastian Bach lived and worked there for 27 long years, almost half of his entire life: for the church. His work there is associated with the Christian faith for 40 percent of his existence. Bach also accompanied his father for several years to play at festivals, and these were not church jobs either. Similarly, we must deduct the time he spent in Ohrdruf, in Lüneburg, and six months without a job in Thuringia. According to this, he spent almost 60 percent of his time “traveling with secular music.”..
There stands Bach. Right next to the enormous entrance to the imposing Divi Blasii Church in Mühlhausen. © Renate Bach..
Bach and the church: They go so well together that many people think Bach did nothing else but compose church music. His whole life long. All day long..
Then Bach connoisseurs know that Bach was very, very god-fearing. He owned three volumes of the Bible, known as the “Calov Bible.” These three works are supplemented with commentaries by the theologian Abraham Calov. And there are many handwritten notes by Bach himself in them. This makes it clear how religious Bach's views were. But that is only one explicit highlight regarding these three printed works..
Now, I would like to ask you to pay particular attention to a small episode: Using AI, which I use very frequently – and only for information purposes – I subsequently googled how many Bibles Bach actually owned. The AI result? Bach actually owned a total of over 50 Bibles, some of which are on public display at the Bach House in Eisenach. What is so special about this?..
Of course, I check every AI result, and to this end, I wrote – once again – to the director of the Bach House in Eisenach, Dr. Hansen. His reply made it clear: Johann Sebastian Bach undoubtedly owned far fewer Bibles. These are the three volumes mentioned above. And there is one that he gave to his son Johann Christian. But an original is not in the Bach House. And by the way: I always check important information – researched via AI –several times. Welcome to my project. Much later, Bach's Merian Bible and another multi-volume work “surfaced.” You can find more information about Bach's Bibles and how many there really are here..
Bach's “Calow Bible”: with one of Bach's incredibly numerous handwritten notes..
S.D.G..
Finally, however, and I consider this to be the most important argument: Bach connoisseurs know that the Thuringian composer ended many of his works with the abbreviation “S.D.G.”. Written out in full, this stands for “Soli Deo Gloria,” which means “to God alone for glory”. From this, one can conclude that Bach composed everything for God. And somehow that is correct, but only somehow. Because Bach also composed many, really very many and significant works that were not sacred. Bach is said to have made the following statement: “Music should give glory to God, and everything else is rubbish.” For the purposes of this FAQ, it is not important whether this quote actually came from Bach. There are no reliable sources for it. It is also not mentioned in Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach's necrology about his father..
However, it very clearly reflects Bach's religiosity. It is noteworthy that he also signed at least one work that is definitely secular in nature, that is, not a work for the church, with these three letters “S.D.G.”. Namely, the Brandenburg Concertos. They are clearly music for entertainment. And not for worship. He wrote far more secular music than that. However, this one reference to the Brandenburg Concertos shows that Bach believed that all music should be of a certain quality in order to please God with one's work..
“Soli Deo Gloria”: At the very least, it is one work of outstanding importance that Bach did not write for the church, but nevertheless added “Soli Deo Gloria” to. In this case, he even wrote it out in full. This proves that Bach also composed secular music works to please God..
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My Conclusion for You: Johann Sebastian Bach Did Not Only Compose Sacred Music..
These factors combined still lead many aspiring Bach experts and Bach fans to believe that Johann Sebastian Bach composed mainly or even exclusively sacred works. However, a very small group of experts ... and I, as an amateur researcher specializing in Bach ... are working to correct this misconception. I hope that you come across this, my FAQ 154..
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