preview

Why Is Bach Important

Decent Essays

If we are to evaluate Bach’s significance as a tutor, should we then assess the success of his students? Bach had taught numerous pupils during his life, particularly since c. 1706/7, where most primary sources are dated from. Johann Casper Vogler was one of Bach’s ‘successful’ students who became a nationally known organist and won an exclusive examination performance in the Markt-Kirche at Hanover. In 1721 he moved to take Bach’s former post as Organist for the Weimar Court. Vogler, previously known as “Anonymous 18”, is of significance today through his hand copies of Bach’s works. His copy of Bach’s Prelude and Fughetta in C Major, BWV 870a, is of particular influence, being highly regarded within performance study practices for having the fingerings written out. It is seen that Bach’s teaching methods went beyond the scope of influencing his direct pupils. Johann Tobias Krebs was another of Bach’s ‘acclaimed’ students who in 1721 accepted the post as Organist at Buttelstedt. Here he was expected to play the organ of Michaeliskirche and instruct at the school. Although J. T. Krebs remained at Buttelstedt for the rest of his life, he is mostly acknowledged as being the father of Johann Ludwig Krebs, also a student of Bach. Johann Ludwig Krebs became to be considered comparable to Bach; continuing the genius particularly through his keyboard technique and counterpoint. The names of some other notable pupils of Bach include Johann Martin Schubart, who in 1717 succeeded Bach at his organist post in Weimar. Another student was Johann Schneider who became organist of St. …show more content…

He was of significance to his pupils and contempory musical connoisseurs in a way that set the foundation for the rest of Western Art music to follow. For many Bach is like coming home, in fact, “…in old Bach there is always something astonishing, and, what is the main thing, there is always something to be learned from

Get Access