Christian Friedrich Penzel (Composer, Kantor, Teacher, Copyist, Bach's Pupi?)

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Christian Friedrich Penzel (Composer, Kantor, Teacher, Copyist, Bach's Pupil?)

Born: November 25, 1737 - Oelsnitz, Vogtland, Saxony, Germany
Died: March 14, 1801 - Merseburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany

Christian Friedrich Penzel was a German Kantor, teacher, and composer. He was born the son of Johann Christian Penzel (sexton in Oelsnitz. He attended the town school in Oelsnitz and received his first musical training in Oelsnitz from the Kantor Johann Georg Nacke (1718-1804). In 1751² he entered the Thomasschule in Leipzig (since 1749 ¹ already as external) and became one of J.S. Bach's last pupils. After J.S. Bach's death, C.F Penzel became a prefect at the school under J.S. Bach's successor Johann Gottlob Harrer. The position involved him directing the boys' choir (Thomanerchor Leipzig) on occasion. J.G. Harrer needed a deputy because he had health problems: he died in 1755 while taking the waters at Karlsbad. C.F Penzel studied law at Leipzig University (enrolled on November 10, 1756). Around 1761 he stayed in Oelsnitz; and in 1762 he made an unsuccessful attempt in to obtain his father's position as sexton at Oelsnitz. Around 1762/1763 he stayed in Leipzig. In 1765¹ or 1768³ he became Schloß- und Domkantor (castle and cathedral cantor); from 1780 he was Tertius in Merseburg, where he stayed until his death.

Today Christian Friedrich Penzel is remembered mainly as one of the most reliable copyists of J.S. Bach's works. His J.S. Bach copies (from exemplars at the Thomasschule and from sources in the possession of Wilhelm Friedemann Bach) are mainly of cantatas, but include also instrumental music. His manuscript collection was inherited by his nephew Johann Gottlob Schuster (1765-1839), who sold most of it to Franz Hauser in 1833; the remainder was acquired by the Leipzig publisher C.F. Peters.

Christian Friedrich Penzel noted on the copy of the Premier Livre d’Orgue by Nicolas de Grigny made by J.S. Bach in his youth: "Dieses Buch habe ich v. meinem Lehrer J. Sebastian Bach zu Geschenke erhalten, als Andenken an seine Handschrift" (I wrote this book from my teacher J. Sebastian Bach for gifts as a souvenir of his handwriting). Orally, C.F. Penzel may also have described himself as J.S. Bach's pupil, which was continued by his nephew Johann Gottlob Schuster until the 19th century. However, there is no reliable evidence that C.F. Penzel had already been alumnus of the Thomasschule in Leipzig before his admission in 1751. A list of the children of J.C. Penzel, mentioned in 1988 by Karen Lehmann and started in 1749, with the mention of C.F. Penzel as a student of Thomasschule, cannot be used for the exact date of his school days, because apparently supplements were added to the document (see the year 1751 for Sister Johanna Christiana). Rather, a newspaper report from 1766 mentions that J.C. Penzel attended the city school in Oelsnitz until he was 14 years old, in other words until around 1751. In general, it is unlikely that the aged J.S. Bach should have given private lessons to a barely 12 or 13 year old. In addition, J.C. Penzel may have received his numerous J.S. Bach scores from third parties. Above all, one has to think of Wilhelm Friedemann Bach, with whom J.C. Penzel is demonstrably known and during which time in Halle (Saale) from Merseburg was also spatially close.

References: Koska: C-30; GND: 121253171; Bach Digital: 00003987

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

Sources:
1. Oxford Composer Companions J.S. Bach (Author: Peter Wollney; Editor: Malcolm Boyd, OUP, 1999)
2. Bernd Koska: Bachs Privatschüler in Bach-Jahrbuch 2019, English translation by Aryeh Oron (May 2020)
3. Bach Digital Website (June 2019)
4. Wikipedia Website (November 2019)
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (April 2008, May 2020)

Links to other Sites

Penzel, Christian Friedrich (Bach digital)
Christian Friedrich Penzel (Wikipedia)

Bibliography

Y. Kobayashi: 'Franz Hauser und seine Bach-Handschriftensammlung' (dissertation, University of Göttingen, 1973)
K. Lehmann: 'Bachiana unter "Tabak & Cigaretten": die Bach-Sammlung des Leipziger Verlages C. F. Peters in der erstcn Hälfte des 19. Jahrhunderts', Bjb 82 (1996), 49-76
K. Lehmann: 'Neues zur Vorgeschichte der Bach-Sammlung Franz Hausers', Beiträge zur BachforschulIg, 6 (1988), 65-81.
Sources 2: D-F, Mus Hs 1538 (Bachs Grigny-Abschrift); J. A. Hiller, Lebensbeschreibungen berühmter Musikgelehrten und Tonkünstler neuerer Zeit, Leipzig 1784, S. 25; Dok III, Nr. 726;Löffler 1929/31, Anh. Nr. 23; K. Lehmann, Neues zur Vorgeschichte der Bach-Sammlung Franz Hausers. Dokumente zum Überlieferungskreis C. F. Penzel –J. G. Schuster aus dem Zeitraum 1801–1833, in: Beiträge zur Bachforschung 6 (1988), S. 65–81, speziell S. 71; MGGo; Pfarrarchiv Oelsnitz, P 20 (Acta Die Ersezung des, durch Absterben Weyl. Herrn Johann Christian Penzels, vacant wordenen Kirchner-Dienst betreffen, Ergangen vor E. E. Rath allhier zu Oelßniz, als Kirch- und Schul- Patronen und Collatoren, Anno 1762.)
References 3: NBA I/1–8, 10, 11.1, 12–15, 17.1–23, 25–28.1, 30–32.2, 34, 35, 39–41; II/2; III/2.1–3; IV/1–3, 5, 6, 10, 11; V/1, 6.1, 7–9.2; VI/3–5; VII/1, 2, 4, 7; VIII/1, 2; NBArev 2; BR II; VI; Dok III, V, VI; Koska 2018

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

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