Bach Cities, Bach Places ... Why Are There Four Categories ... and Not Five?..

To the point? Because for every single person, exaggeration begins somewhere. And for most Bach fans, I have already far exceeded the limit with my four categories. Only one person in the whole world counts more municipalities, communities, locations, groups of houses, former villages and now incorporated neighborhoods . . . and, of course, large cities as Bach cities and Bach places in the sense of my collection. It is our Bach friend Aryeh Oron in Israel..

London, Milan, Bückeburg... they too are 100 percent Bach cities ... but ... they are attributed to Johann Sebastian Bach's sons. Or to different branches of the family. And if London, Milan, and Bückeburg are allowed to be Bach cities, then many, many more should be allowed to be as well. And where, ultimately, should the line be drawn?..

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Bach Places, Bach Cities, Bach Locations: My Four Categories (... Why and How Come)..

This page is intended for all those who came to this website via Google or one of the Bach locations. And who are now wondering why there are four categories of Bach cities and Bach places. Or why this location and that city are even considered Bach places or Bach cities at all. Here you can find out quickly and compactly..

Bach Cities and Bach Places, Category A..

Category A includes the classic Bach locations. Almost everyone who is interested in Bach beyond his music knows them. Bach was born in Eisenach. The fact that he moved to Ohrdruf to live with his brother is common knowledge among Bach enthusiasts. Bach studied in Lüneburg for two years, which clearly defines the first three Bach locations in this category..

Next come the three places of activity in Thuringia, that is Weimar, Arnstadt, and Mühlhausen. Or, if you want to leave out those few weeks in Weimar before the first real job, then Arnstadt, Mühlhausen, and Weimar. What is different? The order..

Bach spent the “rest of his life” in Köthen and Leipzig, just outside Thuringia..

So now we have the eight Bach cities and Bach places, which, in a nutshell, tell us about Bach's life. But that's not enough for a Bach portal. Because with a shining light like JSB and a family of musicians of this size and importance, other significant locations are impossible to ignore. It is not any of the great musical families. It is by far the largest family of musicians, with an enormous gap between it and the number two: There are and were around 200 musicians. Family members still make music today, and some of them earn their living from it. So the gap between them and the number two is still growing..

Wechmar is the small place near Gotha that first brought together the family name Bach and music. In a Bach project, it belongs in quality class A... without question..

Bach got married in Dornheim. This is significant for those interested in Bach. Dornheim is located “on Arnstadt's doorstep.” Since we are not talking about just any musician or composer, and since these pages of the Bach website are about places and cities associated with Bach, this little Bach gem clearly deserves a place in the premier league. So: also category A..

So there are ten Bach locations in category A..

Bach Cities and Bach Places, Category B..

Category B on this Bach website – which I have defined just like that – includes Bach locations that play a role in the genealogy of the Bach family, between Johann Sebastian Bach and his great-great-grandfather Veit Bach. Erfurt, where Johann Sebastian Bach's father once lived, is the Bach city par excellence. More than 60 entries in the church records of this town ... specifically relating to this family of musicians – not "just any" Bachs – make Erfurt a very special Bach city..

Hans, the Minstrel, once played in Gotha, the second most important person in early Bach genealogy. That alone is reason enough for Gotha to be listed as a Bach city on our website. Johann Sebastian Bach also once performed there. And both facts together elevate Gotha from the third category to the second, namely category B..

Lübeck played a role and is therefore a Category B Bach city. Every biography mentions Johann Sebastian Bach's trip to Lübeck. Where Bach even “almost” got married. Or did he “almost”? He was there, he made music, he found inspiration. And his trip to Lübeck upset his employer. Lübeck is therefore definitely a Category B Bach city..

Weißenfels? But sure! You just have gotta do a little digging to even recognize Weißenfels as a Bach city. Bach was the regent's "musical advisor and Kapellmeister" there. That ... was almost like a second job. So Bach already had a second job back in his day. Or maybe... not really..

Bach Cities and Bach Places, Category C..

The third category of all Bach cities and places now includes all Bach locations that remain, so to speak. There are many cities and communities where Bach once played music, examined an organ, planned an organ, applied for a job, or at least won a music competition. Not included in this category are only those places that actually served only as transit points: places that no longer exist today or that had fewer than three and a half houses. Otherwise ... everything is included..

Bach Cities and Bach Places, Category D..

This category D is my own personal fun and that of my wife... initially in Bach genealogy. Part of our family emigrated to the USA, and there are members of this musical family even today. Not many, but definitely some. And certainly more than here in Germany. This is documented. It is certain for at least one line. We are still working on proving the second..

Andisleben was the place where the Bachs once lived before their adventurous journey to the USA. That is why Andisleben is in category D. And Gehren? Gehren is included in category D because Johann Sebastian Bach's first father-in-law worked, lived, and played music here: He was also a Bach... and his daughter was Johann Sebastian Bach's second cousin. Bach married her. So – let's just imagine – JSB could, yes could, have stopped by Gehren as well..

Gräfenroda. Excuse me? Who knows Gräfenroda? I first had to “dig” Gräfenroda out of the jumble of Bach's history. Officially, Gräfenroda was not wanted in the circle of Bach cities and Bach places. Today we call this “bending history.” This happens quite often, usually in connection with terrible events such as wars. In comparison, our case is harmless. Anyone who is interested in finding out more can find plenty of information here on the website about why Gräfenroda definitely belongs in category D of important Bach locations. Gräfenroda represents four whole generations of “Bachs” prior to Wechmar. Even though music did not play a role in the Bachs of that time..

In 2021, more Bach locations were added to my collection. This is based on the findings from my research into the "most direct Bach genealogy" before "Veit Bach, who died in Wechmar in 1619". First there is Janegg in Bohemia in Czechia, where Veit Bach the Elder was born. Then, after the Bachs moved south, there is Hanfthal near Laa on the Thaya in the north of the Wine Quarter region in Austria. And finally, of course, there is Ungerndorf, or Ungern for short, a "walk" away from Hanfthal..

Bach Cities and Bach Places, Which Do Not Show Up in a Category E..

The Bache ... “somewhat back in the day”, they were around 40 musicians who held positions with princes and churches as well as in towns and communities across a wide area. Bach was a trademark back then, just like Q-tips, Xerox, Hoover, or Google are today. There were numerous so-called Bach trunks: the Ruhlaer, the Binderslebener, the Ohdrurfer, and the Bückeburger, as well as the Meininger and Molsdorfer. And many more. London and Milan are also associated with one of Bach's sons. But where do you draw the line with these Bachs and the corresponding Bach locations and Bach cities? We have done so. By grouping together in categories A to D those places that played a role in the life of Johann Sebastian Bach. Plus those that are so important for Bach's genealogy. And ... all of this is subjectively decided. And that is why exactly these Bach cities and Bach places are included in the list in the navigation..

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