Samuel Kittler (Copyist, Magister, Kantor, Rector, Bach's Pupil)

Born: November 19, 1715 - Belgern, Saxony, Germany
Died: October 15, 1781 - Belgern, Saxony, Germany

Samuel Kittler [Küttler] was born to Samuel Kittler (blacksmith in Belgern). He enrolled at the Thomasschule in Leipzig on April 28, 1729. His father’s application for acceptance as Thomaner stated that he had a good soprano voice and was very interested in studying. He studied there from 1729 to 1737, since April 28, 1729 already as external; and at Universität Leipzig in 1737. J.S. Bach reported (August 23, 1730): “usable for 1^st Choir (figural music)”. He was one of J.S. Bach's copyists from 1730 to 1735, appearing in the manuscripts as Anon. Vf; Anon. 10; Anon. L 88. After his studies, he works as Magister in Wittenberg (1741). Later he was Kantor and Rector in Belgern, Saxony.

Works of Bach he copied [Manuscript No. in Bach Digital / Work / Performance date]

B-Br Ms II 3893 Mus (Fétis 1879): BWV Anh. 28 [c1730-1740]
D-B Mus.ms. Bach P 1051: BWV 180 [1731/1734]
D-B Mus.ms. Bach St 23: BWV 172: [2nd Leipzig version: 1731]
D-B Mus.ms. Bach St 65: BWV 213 [5.9.1733]
D-B Mus.ms. Bach St 77: BWV 215 [5.10. 1734]
D-B Mus.ms. Bach St 97: BWV 100 [after 1735]
D-B Mus.ms. Bach St 106, Faszikel 1: BWV 29 [27.8. 1731]
D-B Mus.ms. Bach St 319: Steffano Agostini (1654-1728): La Tempeste, BNB I/B/6 [1729/1730]
D-WIbh Mus. ms. 11: BWV 238 [c1735]
PL-Kj Mus.ms. Bach St 14, Faszikel 3: BWV 31 (Leipzig version) [25.3. 1731]

Source: Bernd Koska: Dissertation "Bachs Thomaner als Kantoren in Mitteldeutschland" (Beeskow 2018), Anhang VII.1 Die Alumnen der Thomasschule 1710-1760, English translation by Aryeh Oron (March 2020); Bach Digital Website (February 2020)
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (March 2020)

Links to other Sites

Kittler, Samuel (Bach Digital)

Bibliography

Richter 1907, Nr. 113; Dok II, Nr. 382

Bach's Pupils: List of Bach's Pupils | Actual and Potential Non-Thomaner Singers and Players who participated in Bach’s Figural Music in Leipzig | Alumni of the Thomasschule in Leipzig during Bach's Tenure | List of Bach's Private Pupils | List of Bach's Copyists
Thomanerchor Leipzig: Short History | Members: 1729 | 1730 | 1731 | 1740-1741 | 1744-1745 | Modern Times
Bach’s Pupils Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2
Articles: Organizional Structure of the Thomasschule in Leipzig | The Rules Established for the Thomasschule by a Noble and Very Wise Leipzig City Council - Printed by Bernhard Christoph Breitkopf Leipzig, 1733 | Homage Works for Thomas School Rectors