LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Johann Sebastian Bach: Maria Barbara
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In 1705 Bach obtained a month's leave to hear the renowned Dietrich Buxtehude, organist at St. Mary's Church in Lübeck. Bach walked the 200 miles to Lübeck and he was so impressed by the brilliant sound of choir, organ, and 40 instrumentalists performing the annual Abendmusiken, or evening music, that he remained there for 4 months without sending an explanatory message to Arnstad. Bach, too, must have made an impression because he was offered Buxtehude's position on his retirement, but the offer contained the traditional stipulation that he marry one of Buxtehude's daughters. Since she was considerably older than Bach and Maria Barbara was back in Arnstad, Bach turned down the offer. when he returned to Arnstad, he imitated Buxtehude and composed long organ preludes. Soon Bach was admonished, and he countered by making the preludes extremely short.
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In 1720, Bach's first wife Maria, with whom he had 7 children, died. A year later, Bach married Anna Magdalena Wilcke, with whom he had 13 children. Bach wrote the famous "Clavierbuchlein," dedicated to Anna Magdalena and preserved in notebooks.
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Bach’s first wife, Maria Barbara, died in 1720. The couple had seven children. Soon afterwards he married Anna Magdalena, with whom he had another fourteen children. However, several of his children died young.
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In 1707, Bach was hired to play for special services at a church in Mühlhausen; Bach composed the music in which he was to play. Shortly there after, his uncle died and left him 50 gulden. This provided him with enough money to marry Maria Barbara. In 1708, Bach received and accepted a job offering with a higher salary from the Duke of Weimar, Wilhelm Ernst, to play in his court.
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Tragedy struck Bach when he returned with the prince from Carlsbad in July 1720. He was informed that his wife had died and had been buried on July 4. Bach lost a great source of inspiration and encouragement in Maria Barbara. He again visited his old friend Reinken in Hamburg, from whom he had received instruction 20 years earlier. At this meeting Bach improvised on the melody An WasserflüssenBabylon (By the Waters of Babylon). Reinken paid Bach the highest compliment by saying, "I thought this art was dead; but I see that it survived in you."
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Johann married twice. His first wife, Anna Barbara, died at the age of 30 while giving birth to their seventh child. Bach later married his cousin, Anna Magdalena, who was over 20 years younger than himself, and a soprano in his church choir. Together they had 14 more children! Of all these children... only 10 survived past 5 years of age. Four of Bach's sons grew up to be famous musicians as well. Bach was known to be opinionated, stubborn and hot headed! He spent some time in jail, got into trouble with his bosses and the musicians who played his music were afraid of him! But in spite of all that, he was a very devoted husband and father and a respected, successful and well-known musician during his lifetime.
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