Johann Gottfried Bernhard Bach was born on 11 May 1715, the sixth of seven children born to Johann Sebastian and Maria Barbara Bach and the fourth to survive childhood. The Baptismal records at the State Church in Weimar noted his baptism on 12 May 1715. Very little is known about his brief life, as he suddenly died in 1739 at the tender age of 24. Most of what we know about Bernhard and his characters comes from references dating from the 1730s. Apparently, he was a proficient musician on both the flute and the keyboard. As his father wrote in a letter of reference, “Bernhard has acquired sufficient skill in music that he should be properly equipped to fulfill the duties of the position.” All this should come as no surprise given his family background, his father’s musical instruction and the obvious musical competition with his elder brothers.

Johan Sebastian and Maria Barabara Bach and Children
Johann Sebastian Bach: Cantata “Der Himmel lacht! Die Erde jubilieret,” BWV 31 (Kurt Equiluz, tenor; Siegmund Nimsgern, bass; Chorus Viennensis; Vienna Boys Choir; Concentus Musicus Wien; Nikolaus Harnoncourt, cond.)

State Church in Weimar
It is somewhat more surprising, however, that Johann Gottfried Bernhard was “considered thoughtless, unreliable, and frivolous by his friends.” Once he left the protected environment of his father’s house, he lived well beyond his means and kept piling up debts that his father grudgingly paid later. Given his obvious musical talents, he had no difficulty holding down a job. However, he abruptly left both positions and huge debts behind, prompting Johann Sebastian to call his son “misguided.” There is much speculation that Bernhard was heavily addicted to gambling and that his sudden death might have come as the result of bodily harm inflicted by moneylenders. Clearly, his relationship with his father was rather unsettled, as Bernhard did not participate in the preparation of performance parts for his father’s music. Whatever the reason, Bernhard must not have been an easy child, as he was probably uncooperative and disobedient at home. Johann Sebastian must surely have been disappointed and ashamed of Bernhard’s poor judgments, but he was anxious when his son disappeared without leaving a trace. As far as we can tell, Johann Sebastian was ready to stand by his most difficult and troubled child.
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