Note 18 — Chapter IV · The New Life

Spitta, in his Life of Bach, says: “In former times Bach’s grandfather had had an appointment at the court of Duke Wilhelm IV at Weimar. This, however, can hardly have been the cause of his grandson’s being invited to the same town. Other ties must have existed of which we know nothing, but which of course would easily have been formed at Eisenach or Arnstadt.” Bitter, in his Life, says Bach probably owed the appointment to his numerous relatives in the Saxon state.