Sigma Alpha Iota

PAN PIPES • SUMMER 2018 • sai-national.org 18 A VISIT WITH A WORLD OF MUSIC By Jayne I. Hanlin I n May 1723, when Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) was 38, he became the kantor of St. omas School in Leipzig, Germany, as well as Music Director of the city's four main churches, including omaskirche. Almost 150 years later, in 1894, Bach's probable resting place was found in the city's St. John's Cemetery, which was damaged in World War II. In 1950, his remains were buried inside the church he so faithfully served for the last 27 years of his life. Individuals oen pay their respects to him by placing fresh flowers on his grave beneath the floor in the choir. Outside the church is Carl Seffner's 1908 Neues Bach-Denkmal (New Bach Memorial), a bronze statue (about two and a half meters high) of this Baroque composer standing with his feet slightly apart. A long curly wig covers his head. He dons a cravat, and his right hand holds a rolled-up music manuscript. A long-flowing coat partially covers his buttoned vest, breeches, and knee socks. e monument faces the Bach Museum, which is only a stone's throw away. Expanded between 2008-2010, the museum located at omaskirchhof 15/16 welcomes visitors throughout the year. Adult admission is currently eight euros, except on the first Tuesday of every month when it is free. Once inside the front doors of the building, the first room on the le has the ticket counter and also a variety of Bach souvenirs for purchase, including magnets, keychains, mugs, pencils, baseball caps, and tote bags, as well as books, posters, and recordings. I selected a black T-shirt with Bach's music in white and a white tea towel with his music in black. e musical selection on both purchases is the first movement, Allegro moderato, of his Concerto No. 1 in A Minor for Violin and Orchestra, BWV 1041. rough an open courtyard is the entrance to the museum itself. Inside visitors must deposit identification to get an audioguide. Alternately, it is possible to download it on their smart phones. Greeting everyone a few steps away is a marble bust of Bach. It is best to begin exploring the twelve rooms by going upstairs so see an artistic modern family tree on the wall of the first room. A small light on the display indicates which composer's music A World of Music A World of Music A World of Music

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