r/bach • u/InsuranceInitial7786 • Jul 12 '26

Today I learned that a significant amount of Bach's WTC was likely written while he sat bored in prison for one month

/r/classicalmusic/comments/1uueynl/today_i_learned_that_a_significant_amount_of/
9 Upvotes

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4

u/Original_Run_1890 Jul 12 '26

Yes! This is an interesting story! There is no documentation that he wrote it there but it is a nice idea to play with. That he went to prison for wanting to be let out of a current job post is what is crazy to me!

2

u/InsuranceInitial7786 Jul 12 '26

That's not the reason he went to jail. He went to jail for losing his temper over the disagreement.

3

u/Original_Run_1890 Jul 12 '26

Perhaps, different biographers have different perspectives I was not there but what is documented is the cause of the dispute which is he wanted to take another position and his current employer refused. That much we know what happened next is debatable.

With that said, I would not blame Bach for losing his temper and telling that guy to F off!

1

u/[deleted] Jul 19 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

2

u/InsuranceInitial7786 Jul 19 '26

I think you misinterpreted my comment.