Bach in the Kingdom of Two Castles: The Weimar Chronicles

Johann Sebastian Bach’s early and most formative years as a court musician began in Weimar beginning in 1703. In a kingdom of two castles, the young Bach provided music for two competing dukes. At the informal and lively Rote Schloss (Red Castle) Bach was mostly active as a violinist in the small private orchestra of Duke Johann Ernst. Nearby, was the more formal Castle Wilhelmsburg. It was the residence of Duke Wilhelm Ernst where Bach worked as a chamber musician, court organist and composer. Unfortunately, the Weimar Kingdom and its complicated succession of dukes and princes, brothers and half-brothers, created an artistically satisfying but politically volatile situation for Bach. Within the castle walls was a world devoted to poetry, painting and music. It was also a place where Bach was swept into the drama of double loyalties, family tension and intrigue.

J.S. Bach, Recently Discovered: ‘Alles mit Gott’ & Arias from the Weimar Cantatas

Johann Ernst, Prince of Sachsen-Weimar: Violin Concerti
Buxtehude, “Herr, wenn ich nur Dich hab”
Vivaldi, Concerto for Two Recorders & Strings

Special Guests:
Ilana Davidson, Soprano
Daphna Mor & Tricia van Oers, Recorder
Jörg-Michael Schwarz & Karen Marie Marmer, Baroque Violin
Dongsok Shin, Harpsichord
& the Ars Antiqua Period Instrument Orchestra