New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-24
The Childhood Of Bach.

Three hundred and fifty years ago many things
were very different from what they now, but
IN some ways people then were quite like us. For
one thing they had eat do and there were
mIllers who ground the grain into -four and bakers
who made the -four into bread Between the years
1850 and 1900 in the small town of Wechmar, Ger
many. there lived man named Welt Bach, who
was miller and baker in one Welt Bach found. as
happens 70 many people in these days. that grind
ing and baking acre not all he needed TO make
him happy. He fond of music and his greatest
pleasure was in instrument-perhaps a either
which he carried 70 the mill and played upon while
the corn was grinding. The miller had son,
Hans, who inherited much of his fathers taste
for music that he became a professional musician
and travelled through the country as a Spiel
mann or player OF Hans Bach il was said that
his addle sounded merriy. and his head was full
OF fun: and he bequeathed both his talent FOR
music and his sense Of humor 10 his descendants
who Increased and multiplied and replenished the
earth with musicians Cor nearly TWO hundred years
The Bachs practised music fer the love or It and
not for money for fame. They did not need
much money. because the things they cared most
for they could get small expense. They We're a
remarkably afectionate family, learned music from
one another, and delighted in anothers society
Once a year they had family gathering, which
was really q great musical festival. and al which
as many as three hundred Bachs were sometimes
present. Besides the serious musical works
which were produced at these gatherings comic
songs were sung. in which each singer made up
his own part he went along The singers were
good enough musicians 10 make the parts har-
monte musically. bit each sang whatever words
he pleased, so that these performances gave those
who took part in them a good chance TO show how
much fun they mad inherited from the good old
Hans, whose head was fun Of il.
i Is not surprising that In a family like the one
just described one Of the greatest musical genuses
Of all time should have at last appeared. This
happened OF March p. 1855. when Johann Sebas-
tan Bach born a. Eisenach. lovely little
German town surrounded by wooded hills. where
As fhttei. johann Amnrosius baCh, occupied the
position 90 court organist Sebastians father. VINO
was great grandson Of INC musical miller, taught
iira,ef.i,,I lif, a,5i tic lat,-ifil ecerer ~ lts
birthplace until he nine years old. Al that
tine HIS mother died. and 4 year later he lost his
father. lie was then adopted by older brother,
an organist IN another town who gave him his
n Lessons N singing ana bisYhtng upon ,6,,J me
him and his mind craved more substantial food
organ WIEN le had co9ie5 from, The works Of the
best composers Of the time. and Sebastian's great
by mos az he Bscbe and was nnwiliing that
Accordingly it was kept locked in a latt!ced cup
hoped 10 get what he wanted in spite OF the lock-
smiths: he found that he could squeeze his small
hand through Of the openings OF the lattice and
az night he extracted the coreted music. The next
Il Il. -pii1 lig1,if5 ti,,, -
Elk months. Sad TO relate. when he had completed
covered what he had done. and was cruel enough
20 take rom nm MS haraly earned treaS9rs II
Cured a few years later that he got II back
While living with his brother Sebastian went TO
school where ne taught theology. Greek.
Latin arithmetic and rhetoric, ana where also much
attention given to music. The school chorus
assisted AZ weddings and funerals. besides singing
ron house house in the streets for money. Our
young genius became OF the chief singers. and
received share OF the profits IN proportion TO his
importance.
A the age OF fourteen. when he was left by The
beautiful soprano voice and knowledge OF music
enabled him enter a school at l<uneburg where
he paid his expenses for a time by hts services IN
TIE school choir. He was unfortunate to lose
his voice soon after going Liineburg. hut. he
remained the school until he eighteen, il IL
EKu rs instrumental musician During these
years be continued his general studies and prepared
himself FOR university course. but he never had
me means 20 enter n university. The musical in
atructOn he received here was somewhat limited
nut he had access large musical library. which
contained among other valuable things compost
lions by TWO or the more famous members or his
own family Of Bach. Besides making the most OF
the resources of l-ineburg. the young musician
MADE many trips foot 10 Hamburg, thirty miles
distant. 20 hear the music faere.
HE Little Men and Little Women may perhaps
remember that il was about this time that Handel
VINO was born in the year as Bach. 10
Hamburg 10 piay in the orchestra The musi-
Clans never met although n is not impossible that
bach may have been present At some operate pro-
auction in which Handel played his humble part
as second violin
Bach's student days ended when ne was eighteen
ane during the next twenty years he held several
Inherent positions. either Esn'st
clan. When he fhTty-eight he went TO Leip-
1S as cantor OF the Thomasschule. which means,
IN this position ne remained until! he died twenty