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Salomon Günther John was born in Pfaue near Arnstadt as the son of the Kantor Johann Martin John and took up his post in Weira near Neustadt an der Orla in 1716. His apprenticeship period in Arnstadt and Weimar will therefore have to be scheduled between 1705 and 1715. In order to substantiate the suspicion that his Arnstadt teacher is J.S. Bach, all organists working there during this period must first be considered: Christoph Herthum officiated 1683-1710, Andreas Börner 1695-1728, J.S. Bach 1703-1707, Johann Ernst Bach [25] 1707-1739 and Ludwig Martin Herthum 1710-1752. Börner, J.E. Bach and L.M. Herthurn were in late 1727, at the time of John's statement, while still in office, could not therefore be described as "former". C. Herthum had already passed away and would therefore - strictly speaking - have attributed attributes such as "because" or "blessed", but hardly "former". The only remaining organist who no longer works in Arnstadt, but is still alive - and thus John's teacher - would actually be J.S. Bach. However, it remains to be seen whether John's wording in this strict interpretation can be believed the question of why he did not name his teacher by name, especially since this would certainly not have been disadvantageous in connection with the application. Even John’s Weimar period cannot be associated with J.S. Bach, because on the one hand the exact date of his stay there is uncertain and on the other hand his name is not among the members of the court chapel. However, it is conceivable that he was one of the chapel boys employed in the castle chapel. However, the court calculations only summarize these and therefore do not allow any clarification »It must remain open at all whether it was actually J.S. Bach or not another musician who gave John composition lessons in Weimar. Despite all doubts, the indicated stages of life encourage you to keep an eye on the potential J.S. Bach student John.
From the documents relating to Salomon Günther John's tenure in Weira, further details of his biography can be obtained: Immediately before starting his work, he was a clerk at the district court in Oppurg for a few years. Towards the end of the 1730's, a flood of complaints broke out on him that left no glorious impression. He was in debt, had an unprecedented marriage, all too often talked about brandy and violated his duties to a significant degree. A visitation to Weira due to these lawsuits resulted in John being released around the turn of 1739/1740. From his numerous petitions for allegedly inferior salaries, it appears that he moved around the region in the following years, apparently without finding another secure job: From 1740 to 1742 he worked as an informant in Döhlen, in 1742 he stayed in Grobengereuth and in 1743/1744 in Neustadt an der Orla. With one last sign of life from Jena in 1745, his trace is lost.
Applicant for the post of organist in Schleiz Salomon Günther John deserves special attention. The biographical information in his application letter from December 14, 1727 gives reason to consider whether he was a student of J.S. Bach:
"Now that I am from my youth on music, but especially in the piano studio. and not only in the beginning with good foundations with the former Mr. Organist in Arnstadt, but also with the learned composition, later in the Hochfürstlichen Schloß-Capelle of Weimar, for some time also andenverts in such a way that finally in 1716 after my 21st year as a camore and organist, afterwards Weyra vociret, such services too, (since fine music is made) in addition to the troublesome information of their children at school, have been so much in my fortune and I have mercy on me given, faithfully carried out, which last school burden, however, wants to be almost unbearable for me:..."
The earliest possible period from 1705 to 1715 at the earliest matches that of J.S. Bach. However, since John did not name his teacher by name, there is still no clear evidence for the class.
References: Koska: B-1 |
