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Johann Tobias Krebs (Composer, Kantor, Organ, Copyist, Bach's Pupil) |
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Born: July 7, 1690 - Heichelheim, near Weimar, Thuringia, Germany
Died: February, 11, 1762 - Buttstädt, near Weimar, Thuringia, Germany |
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Johann Tobias Krebs was a German composer and distinguished organist. He was born the son of Johann Christoph Krebs Heichelheim. He attended the Gymnasiums in Weimar. In 1710 he was appointed Kantor and organist at Buttelstedt, near Weimar, and in 1721 he became organist (substituted from the 1750's) and headmaster at nearby Buttstädt, where he remained until his death. He taught son organ, harmony, theory, and counterpoint. |
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J.S. Bach Connection |
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From about 1710 to 1714 Johann Tobias Krebs studied in Weimar with J.S. Bach's kinsman and colleague Johann Gottfried Walther, and from about 1714 to 1717 with J.S. Bach himself. Along with J.G. Walther he was the main copyist of the manuscript complex P 801-3 (Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin), which contains numerous keyboard compositions by J.S. Bach. Many of J.T. Krebs's copies are the earliest surviving sources for certain works. Johann Tobias Krebs is believed to be the composer of the Eight Short Preludes and Fugues (BWV 553-560) previously attributed to J.S. Bach. The studies of Krebs with J.S. Bach and J.G. Walther, which were given while working in Buttelstedt, were mentioned by the latter in his Lexikon in 1732. The numerous J.S. Bach transcriptions of Krebs probably did not at least predominantly arise in direct connection with the lessons, but reflect a longer-lasting collecting activity.
References: Koska: A-4; GND: 130635642 |
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J.T. Krebs's sons |
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Of Krebs's three sons the most important was Johann Ludwig Krebs (1713-1780), a renowned performer and prolific composer. Another son was Johann Tobias Krebs, Jr. (1716-1782), born in Buttelstedt. From 1729 to 1740 he was at the Thomasschule, and from 1739 to 1742 studied at Leipzig University. In 1746 he was appointed assistant headmaster at the lyceum in Chemnitz. He then moved to Grimma, where in 1751 he was appointed assistant headmaster, and in 1763 headmaster. He remained in Grimma until his death. In 1729, following Krebs's audition at the Thomasschule in Leipzig, J.S. Bach judged the 13-year-old as having 'a good strong voice and fine proficiency'. The youngest son was Johann Carl Krebs (1724-1759), born in Buttstädt. Prom 1740 to 1747 he was at the Thomasschule and in 1750 was appointed headmaster at the village school in Buttstädt, where he remained until his death. When, in the 1750's, his father became blind, Johann Carl assisted him with his duties as town organist. |
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Works |
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Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland BWV 660b; Emans 138
Trio, c-Moll BWV Anh. 46 / Anh. III 170-> |
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Works of Bach he copied [Manuscript No. in Bach Digital / Work / Performance date] |
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B-Br Ms II 4196 Mus (Fétis 2444): BWV 54 [probably between 1714 and 1717]
D-B Mus.ms. Bach P 801, Faszikel 2: BWV 643; BWV 640; BWV 616; BWV 617; BWV 637; BWV 638a; BWV 601; BWV 642; BWV 606; BWV 609; BWV 706/1,2; BWV 634; BWV 633; BWV 626; BWV 603; BWV 632; BWV 627; BWV 611; BWV 602; BWV 604; BWV 621; BWV 610; BWV 635; BWV 630; BWV 612; BWV 607; BWV 599; BWV 615; BWV 605; BWV 600; BWV 765; BWV Anh. 65; BWV Anh. 77; BWV Anh. 55 [1714-1717]
D-B Mus.ms. Bach P 801, Faszikel 3: BWV 664a
D-B Mus.ms. Bach P 801, Faszikel 4: BWV 894 [1710-1717]
D-B Mus.ms. Bach P 801, Faszikel 11: Pieter Bustijn: Suite in a [Fragment]
D-B Mus.ms. Bach P 801, Faszikel 23: BWV 989 [1710-1717]
D-B Mus.ms. Bach P 801, Faszikel 24: BWV 569
D-B Mus.ms. Bach P 801, Faszikel 30: G. Le Roux: Suite in d, Suite in a, Suite in G (aus: Pièces de Clavecin, 1705) [Fragment]; BWV 667b
D-B Mus.ms. Bach P 801, Faszikel 31: G. F. Kauffmann: Fantasia in G (Incip. s. Zietz S. 139 Nr. 2
D-B Mus.ms. Bach P 802: BWV 770 (1-2 fehlen), 744, 760 / Anh. III 172->, 761 / Anh. III 172->, 657, 720, 520, 521, 523, Anh. 206 / Anh. II 79->, 637, 721, 660a, 665a, 666a, 522, 519, 621 (nur T. 1-3), 638a, 692a / Anh. III 172->, deest (Serie IV:2), 1085 / 734a-> [= deest (Serie IV:3)], 622, 714, 651a, 727, 722a, 738a, 729a, 732a, 667b, 639, 642, 601, 762, Anh. 57 / Anh. III 172->, 660b, 662a, 661a, 717, 653b, 653a, 652a, 656a, 655a, 767, 654a, 659a, 658a, 663a, 768 (Choral und Variationen 1,2,4 und 10); deest (NBA Serie IV:25); Emans 29, 163, 164, 7, 162, 115, 138; Perreault 376.9, 376.7, 379.4
D-B Mus.ms. Bach P 803, Faszikel 7: BWV 922 [between 1710 and 1714]
D-B Mus.ms. Bach P 803, Faszikel 8-9: BWV 540
D-B Mus.ms. Bach P 803, Faszikel 12: BWV 542/2
D-B Mus.ms. Bach P 803, Faszikel 15: BWV 537
D-B Mus.ms. Bach P 803, Faszikel 16: BWV 582
D-B Mus.ms. Bach P 803, Faszikel 19: BWV 663a
D-B Mus.ms. Bach P 803, Faszikel 20: BWV 566 (in C)
D-B Mus.ms. Bach P 803, Faszikel 22: BWV 903
D-B Mus.ms. Bach P 803, Faszikel 23: BWV 807 [not before 1725]
D-B Mus.ms. Bach P 803, Faszikel 24: BWV 811 [at the earliest 1725]
D-B Mus.ms. Bach P 1204: BWV 830
D-Dl Mus. 2405-E-500: BWV 2
D-LEb DL Crimmitschau (Depositum im Bach-Archiv): BWV 194 (Störmthal version)
D-LEb Go. S. 306 : BWV 529/2, early version |
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Sources:
1. Wikipedia Website
2. Malcom Boyd, editor: Oxford Composer Companion J.S. Bach (Oxford University Press, 1999, Article author: Russell Stinson)
3. Bernd Koska: Bachs Privatschüler in Bach-Jahrbuch 2019, English translation by Aryeh Oron (May 2020)
4. Bach Digital Website (January 2020)
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (January 2006) |
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Works previously attributed to J.S. Bach |
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Prelude & Fugue for organ in C major, BWV 553 [8 Short Preludes & Fugues No. 1]
Prelude & Fugue for organ in D minor, BWV 554 [8 Short Preludes & Fugues No. 2]
Prelude & Fugue for organ in E minor, BWV 555 [8 Short Preludes & Fugues No. 3]
Prelude & Fugue for organ in F major, BWV 556 [8 Short Preludes & Fugues No. 4]
Prelude & Fugue for organ in G major, BWV 557 [8 Short Preludes & Fugues No. 5]
Prelude & Fugue for organ in G minor, BWV 558 [8 Short Preludes & Fugues No. 6]
Prelude & Fugue for organ in A minor, BWV 559 [8 Short Preludes & Fugues No. 7]
Prelude & Fugue for organ in B flat major, BWV 560 [8 Short Preludes & Fugues No. 8]
Trio for organ in C minor, BWV Anh 46 |
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Use of Chorale Melodies in his works |
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Ach Gott vom Himmel sieh darein , Chorale Prelude for Organ (CM: Ach Gott, vom Himmel sieh darein) |
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Nun Komm der Heiden Heiland , Chorale Prelude for Organ (also attributed to J.S. Bach, BWV 660b) (CM: Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland) |
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O Ewigkeit, du Donnerwort, Chorale Prelude for Organ. T 83 (CM: O Ewigkeit, du Donnerwort) |
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Links to other Sites |
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Johann Tobias Krebs (Wikipedia)
Eight Short Preludes and Fugues (Wikipedia)
Reference.com: Johann Tobias Krebs
Johann Tobias Krebs (biography .ms)
Krebs, Johann Tobias (Bach Digital) |
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Bibliography |
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BC i/1, p. 228
S. Daw: 'Copies of J. S. Bach by Walther and Krebs: A Study of the Mss. P. 801, P 802, and P 803', Organ Yearbook, 7 (1976), pp. 31-58
F. Friedrich: Johann Ludwig Krebs: Leben und Werk (Altenburg, 1988)
H. Zietz: Quellenkritische Untersuchungen an den Bach-Handschriften P 801, P 802 und P 803 (Hamburg, 1969).
Sources: Walther L, S. 345 (= Dok II, Nr. 324); Löffler 1929/31, Nr. 4; Löffler 1936, S. 105; BJ 1940/48, S. 136–148 (H. Löffler); Löffler 1953, Nr. 4; MGGo; BJ 2005, S. 99–101 (M. Maul) |
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