Behind the Scenes
The Day J. S. Bach Drew His Sword on a Bassoonist
Bach’s contract at Arnstadt included one unwelcome duty: training students from the local Latin school. These students, described by city officials as “scandalous” and unruly, were notorious troublemakers. To make matters worse, most of them were older than Bach, undermining his authority. The young maestro’s frustration grew as he clashed repeatedly with this challenging group. Over time, these tensions boiled over, setting the stage for a dramatic confrontation.
Edward A Kliszus, Editor-in-Chief / Music and Arts Critic
