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Johann Jacob Kieser (Organ, Copyist, Bach's Pupil) |
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Born: May 24, 1703 - Gräfinau, near Ilmenau, Thuringia, Germany
Died: April 21, 1762 - Schleiz, Thuringia, Germany |
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Johann Jacob Kieser was born the son of Johann Jacob Kieser in Gräfinau. He probably attended Gymnasium in Schleiz; c1722 he was representative organist in Schleiz. He studied at Universität Leipzig (enrollment on December 24, 1727) and was J.S. Bach's student. His arrival in Leipzig and the start of studies with J.S. Bach could have taken place some time before he enrolled at the university. More recently, Peter Wollny has identified Kieser as the writer of some J.S. Bach transcripts, but they are unlikely to be directly related to his studies. From 1728 he was court and town organist in Schleiz.
Another important representative of J.S. Bach's heritage in Thuringia emerged only recently. While still in Leipzig. a certain Johann Jacob Kieser applied in 1727 for the post of organist in the Thuringian town of Schleiz, describing himself as a student of the famous Musicus Mr Bach. Kieser, who came from the area around Ilmenau, received the position and retained it until his death. Comparisons of his handwriting have revealed that Kieser was the copyist of numerous surviving copies of works by J.S. Bach and also other composers. His copy of an organ sonata by north German organist Christian Ritter (c1650-c1725) is particularly significant as it is unusually richly decorated. Kieser probably based it on a music manuscript book owed by the Ohrdruf Bachs. which had originally been created by Johann Christoph Bach [22], J.S. Bach's elder brother. However, the numerous ornaments were added by Kieser and may go back to his lessons with J.S. Bach in Leipzig. At any rate, the source reflects authentic ornamentation practice from J.S. Bach's environment. There is still much work to be done on Kieser's copies to determine how and exactly when they came about. and how they have come down to us. This opens up a whole new field of research providing further insights yet also raising previously unasked questions. As we can see. a research project like 'Johann Sebastian Bach's Private Students' opens up unexpected perspectives and encourages us to continue exploring the traces of J.S. Bach's students.
References: Koska: A-21; GND: 1171148917; Bach Digital: 00000324 |
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Works of Bach he copied [Manuscript No. in Bach Digital / Work / Performance date] |
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D Gs Cod. Ms. 2020.21/1 (was: D-Gb Ms. Esser 1; was: D-Gms (o. Sign.) BWV 540/2, 582 [Leihgabe H. Esser]): BWV 540/2, 582
D Gs Cod. Ms. 2020.21/2 (was: D-Gb Ms. Esser 2; was: D-Gms (o. Sign.) BWV 577 [Leihgabe H. Esser]): BWV 577
D Gs Cod. Ms. 2020.21/6 (was: D-Gms (o. Sign.) BWV Anh. 97 [Leihgabe H. Esser]; was: D-Gb Ms. Esser 6 (Depositum)): Fugue in F# BWV App A 23; BWV Anh. 97; BWV Anh. II 97 / Anh. III 181->; Krebs-WV 409/2
D-LEb Go. S. 104: S. 1f.: Anon.: Fuge in a; S. 2f.: Anon.: Alla breve in F; S. 4. Anon.: Canon à 5 in G; S. 6f: Christian Ritter: Sonata (S. 6) und Fuge in d (S. 6-7); S. 8f.: Anon.: Alla breve in c; S. 10f.: Johann Peter Kellner: Fuge in c (Fechner 6.2 = BR-WFB YA 148); S. 12f.: Johann Pachelbel: Alla breve in d (Perreault 271; vgl. D-B Mus.ms. Bach P 291, Faszikel 1); S. 14f.: Johann Pachelbel: Fuge in d (Perreault 154); S. 16: Anon.: Fuge in D
D-LEb Rara Ib, 158 (was: D-Gb Ms. Varia 1): BWV 535
Verschollen [D-Bim] BWV 705, Emans 165, M. Seiffert [Film teilweise in: Winterthur, Archiv des Musikkollegiums, Stadtbibliothek]: BWV 657, BWV 733, BWV 705; Emans 58, 165; Johann Michael Bach: Fuga sopra Nun freut euch lieben Christen gmein (C. Wolff, Nr. 4); Fuga super Auf meinen lieben Gott (C. Wolff, Nr. 16); Chorale arrangements by: Johann Pachelbel, C.F. Witt, Kauffmann, Georg Böhm (vgl. H. Joelson-Strohbach) |
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Fig. 31 : Johan Jacob Kieser
Application for the post of organist at Georgenkirche in Schleiz
Leipzig,
December 27, 1727 |
Fig. 32 : Christian Ritter:
Sonata for organ in D minor
Copyist: Johann Jacob Kieser |
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Sources:
1. Katalg zum austellung im Bach Musumleipzig (April 20-September 23, 2018; Author: Bernd Koska)
2. Bernd Koska: Bachs Privatschüler in Bach-Jahrbuch 2019, English translation by Aryeh Oron (May 2020)
3. Bach Digital Website (January 2020)
Contributed by Christine Blanken (July 2019), Aryeh Oron (May 2020, December 2022); Dr. William H. Bates (December 2022) |
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Links to other Sites |
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Kieser, Johann-Jacob (Bach Digital) |
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Bibliography |
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Sources: BJ 2012, S. 230–232 (B. Koska); BJ 2018, S. 81–93 (P. Wollny) |
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