The Legacy of Brandenburg: Music from the Margrave’s Private Library

In 1721, Johann Sebastian Bach sent a beautiful presentation manuscript of Six Concertos to Berlin dedicated to Christian Ludwig, Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt. Bach’s gift, now famously known as the Brandenburg Concertos, was given with the hope of gaining favor and possible employment in the Margrave’s court. Bach probably never received an acknowledgment of his gift and there is no evidence the concertos were ever performed in Berlin. After the Margrave’s death in 1734, Bach’s concertos were bundled along with 177 other pieces identified as “concertos by various masters” and remained undiscovered until 1849. Although Bach’s name is absent, an inventory of the Margrave’s music library lists many important composers of the time: Vivaldi, Valentini, Brescianello and Albinoni. Known as the Brandenburg Archive, this collection of music provides fascinating insight into the taste and traditions of Christian Ludwig and his court orchestra at the Berlin City Palace.