![]() Second, any errors could of course be corrected during rehearsals under Bach himself. ![]() First, if a visit had been planned, or an invitation hoped for, it would be quite likely and very sensible for Bach to send in advance of his visit a set of scores that he would wish to conduct before the Margrave, so that the orchestra could familiarize themselves with the music. Nonetheless this entirely credible possibility of a personal visit by Bach would explain much. Moreover the death of Kuhnau in June 1722 opened the possibility of an appointment for Bach at Leipzig, perhaps more attractive to him than Berlin. The Margrave was not easily accessible as he was more frequently to be found in residence at his estates at Malchov than in Berlin. History shows no record of Bach's having subsequently visited the Margrave at his Brandenburg Court. Bach, so his contemporaries frequently noted, would not even permit his performers to put in their own trills and elaborations he would certainly not have left an entire movement to the whim of some distant performer about whose capabilities Bach knew nothing. The most noteworthy indication however is the missing middle movement of the third concerto. There are for example some musicological errors in the scores hardly something Bach would permit were he seriously dedicating music to a dignitary, particularly with the hope of prospective employment. There is some internal evidence in the music itself that Bach was intending to visit Berlin in person for the first performances. One possibility was on a visit by Bach to Berlin to find a new harpsichord for Prince Leopold of Cöthen another could have been on a visit accompanying Prince Leopold to Carlsbad in the summer of 1718 or yet again, on one of Bach's visits to the Court of Saxe Meinigen, whose Elector, Duke Ernest Ludwig, was married to a sister of the Margrave of Brandenburg. There are several possible occasions on which the first meeting might have taken place. For the rest, Sire, I beg Your Royal Highness very humbly to have the goodness to continue Your Highness' gracious favour toward me, and to be assured that nothing is so close to my heart as the wish that I may be employed on occasions more worthy of Your Royal Highness and of Your Highness' service.". "Your Royal Highness As I had a couple of years ago the pleasure of appearing before Your Royal Highness, by virtue of Your Highness' commands, and as I noticed then that Your Highness took some pleasure in the small talents which Heaven has given me for Music, and as in taking leave of Your Royal Highness, Your Highness deigned to honor me with the command to send Your Highness some pieces of my Composition: I have then in accordance with Your Highness' most gracious orders taken the liberty of rendering my most humble duty to Your Royal Highness with the present Concertos, which I have adapted to several instruments. ![]() We know from the opening of this dedication, dated March 24th 1721, that Bach had already met the Margrave, at which time Bach had been invited to provide some orchestral music. Bach began to look around for a new position where his talents could be put to better use, and seeing the Margrave of Brandenburg as a possible employer and patron Bach sent him the six "Brandenburg Concertos" accompanied by an elaborate dedication. The prince lost interest in his court orchestra and had it disbanded. ![]() Though Bach enjoyed four happy and fruitful years in his service, the prince then married his cousin Friederika Henrietta, who proved not only to be distinctly unmusical, she gradually persuaded the prince to spend less time and resources on his musical pursuits. They were written around 1721, when Bach was in service at the Court of the young musicloving Prince Leopold of Anhalt≬öthen. ![]() Bach are rightfully regarded as being among the most popular orchestral works of the baroque period, combining as they do the baroque arts of counterpoint with a light and tuneful quality which makes them instantly and universally enjoyable. ![]()
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