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Johann Gabriel Rothe (Kantor, Bach's Pupil) |
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Born: July 17, 1702 - Johanngeorgenstadt, Saxony, Germany
Died: March 9, 1755 - Grimma, Saxony, Germany |
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Johann Gabriel Rothe [Roth] was born the son of Valentin Rothe (organist in Johanngeorgenstadt). He enrolled at the Thomasschule in Leipzig on May 15, 1717; studied there from 1717 to 1723; and at Universität Leipzig from 1725. Although he attended the Thomasschule during J.S. Bach's tenure, it is not known if he actually studied with him. After his studies, he worked as Kantor in Geringswalde from 1726; Kantor in Grimma from 1730 to 1752. His son, Gottlob Friedrich Rothe (1732-1813), was also a Thomaner (1744-1752).
Johann Gabriel Rothe was the first choir prefect of the Thomanerchor Leipzig during the tenure of Johann Kuhnau, J.S. Bach's predecessor as Thomaskantor. During the almost year-long inrerval following Johann Kuhnau's death, J.G. Rothe - a capable and highly regarded substitute - bore primary responsibility for meeting both the instructional needs of the school and the musical needs of the churches. For example, The Passion performance of 1723 (Johann Kuhnau's Markus-Passion), was held under his direction at the Thomaskirche. But now a new beginning was in sight. Of even greater significance than capellmeiscer , J.S. Bach's taking up che Kantor's regular duties was the expectation that he would play a crucial rote in reshaping the city's musical life, a rote that only "a famos man," in the words of che reigning burgomaster, could fulfill.
For the performance of Cantata BWV 59 Wer mich liebet, der wird mein Wort halten on Pentecost (May 16, 1723) at St. Paul's Church in Leipzig, J.S. Bach would have had to make the appropriate arrangements with the first prefect of the Thomanerchor Leipzig, J.G. Rothe. But J.S. Bach had worked with him already the previous February, in conjunction with his audition; and now, as Kantor designate, he needed to arrange a smooth transition to a new and orderly regime. The relative proximity of Köthen facilitated matters considerably and enabled J.S. Bach to make the trip to Leipzig during the month following his election (on April 22, 1723) at least four times.
References: Richter: 14; GND: 1041289774; Bach Digital: 00007313 |
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Source: 1. 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 (April 2020)
2. Christoph Wolff: J.S. Bach - The Learned Musician (W.W. Norton & Company, 2001), pp 237, 243, 244, 291
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (April 2020) |
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Links to other Sites |
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Roth, Johann Gabriel (Bach Digital) |
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Bibliography |
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Sources: StA Grimma, Abt. IV, Abschn. 6, No. 10; StaatsA Leipzig, Konsistorium Leipzig, Nr. 153 (Subscriptio derer Visitations-Articul), 1726 und 1730
Literature: Richter 1907, Nr. 14; Dok I, Nr. 63; Dok V, Nr. N I (111); Vollhardt 1978, S. 124 und 139; Schulze 1998, S. 103–107
GND: 1041289774 |
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