Johann Christoph Altnickol

German organist, bass singer, and composer (1720–1759)

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Johann Christoph Altnickol, or Altnikol, (baptised 1 January 1720, buried 25 July 1759)[1] was a German organist, bass singer, and composer. He was a student, copyist and son-in-law of Johann Sebastian Bach.

## Biography

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Altnikol was born in Berna bei Seidenberg, Oberlausitz,[1][2] and first educated at the Lauban Lyceum in 1733. He was employed as a singer and assistant organist at St Maria Magdalena, Breslau, between 1740 and 1744. He began studying theology at the University of Leipzig from March 1744,[1] after being granted four thalers as a viaticum in January of that year. From Michaelmas 1745 he sang as a bass in Johann Sebastian Bach's choirs (asserted by Bach in May 1747 when Altnickol claimed a grant of 12 thalers in April/May 1747 for the work), something he should not have been allowed to do as a university student. He also served as a scribe for Bach, copying for example The Well-Tempered Clavier.[1] He was recommended by W. F. Bach as the successor to his post at Dresden in April 1746, with the assertion that he had studied keyboard and composition with his father, but was not awarded the appointment.

He was appointed as organist and schoolmaster at Niederwiesa, near Greiffenberg, Silesia, in January 1748, after Bach testified that he was a satisfactory student.[1] In September of that year, he moved to a post at St Wenzel, Naumburg,[3] after another recommendation from Bach;[1] the council unanimously agreed to appoint him before they had received his formal application. He married Bach's daughter Elisabeth Juliane Friderica in January 1749;[1] their first son was born in October of the same year and named Johann Sebastian, but died in infancy. Forkel wrote that Bach dictated his last chorale prelude (Vor deinen Thron tret ich hiermit, BWV 668) to Altnickol on his deathbed, although this manuscript did not survive.

Johann Sebastian Bach died in 1750. One of his last students, Johann Gottfried Müthel, continued his studies with Altnikol,[4] who was also involved in the marketing of the Art of Fugue which had been initiated by Bach's heirs.[5] Altnikol was unsuccessful in an application for a post at the Johanniskirche, Zittau, in 1753, along with W. F. Bach. He taught trumpeter J. Ernst Altenburg in 1757, and is known to have directed a pasticcio passion cantata Wer ist der, so von Edom kömmt, featuring music by C. H. Graun, Bach and Telemann, as well as Bach's St Matthew Passion. He was succeeded by Johann Friedrich Gräbner at Naumburg upon his death in 1759. Shortly afterwards his widow returned to Leipzig with her two daughters. She received allowance from C. P. E. Bach, her half-brother, and died on 24 August 1781.[6]

## Compositions

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Many of his works have been lost.[1]

### Vocal

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* Missa in D minor (Kyrie and Gloria)
* Sanctus (2 settings), 1748

#### Cantatas

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* Frohlocket und jauchzet in prächtigen Chören
* Ich lebe und ihr sollt auch leben

#### Motets

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* Befiehl du deine Wege
* Nun danket alle Gott (SSATB), BWV Anh. 164, partly based on BWV 386.[7]

### Keyboard

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* Sonata in C major
* 7 dances
* Ricercar a 4

## References

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1. ^ a b c d e f g h Dadelsen 1953.
2. ^ Bautz 1975.
3. ^ Dommer 1875.
4. ^ Neumann & Schulz 1963–1972, vol. III, p. 479.
5. ^ Neumann & Schulz 1963–1972, vol. III, p. 9.
6. ^ Maria Hübner: Anna Magdalena Bach. Ein Leben in Dokumenten und Bildern. Evangelische Verlagsanstalt, Leipzig 2005, pp. 110, 118, 124.
7. ^ Bach Digital Work 01475

### Sources

[edit]

* Bautz, Friedrich Wilhelm (1975). "Johann Christoph Altnickol". In Bautz, Friedrich Wilhelm (ed.). Biographisch-Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon (BBKL) (in German). Vol. 1\. Hamm: Bautz. cols. 133–134. ISBN 3-88309-013-1.
* Dadelsen, Georg von (1953). "Altnikol, Johann Christoph". Neue Deutsche Biographie (in German). Vol. 1\. Berlin: Duncker & Humblot. pp. 228–228. (full text online).
* Dommer, Arrey von (1875). "Altnikol, Joh. Christoph". Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (in German). Vol. 1\. Leipzig: Duncker & Humblot. p. 372.
* Neumann, W.; Schulz, H. J., eds. (1963–1972). Bach-Dokumente. Vol. I–III. Kassel and Leipzig: Bärenreiter. OCLC 1053080.

## Further reading

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* Walter Emery/Andreas Glöckner: "Altnickol [Altnikol], Johann Christoph", Grove Music Online
* Alfred Dürr. "Zur Chronologie der Handschrift Johann Christoph Altnikols und Johann Friedrich Agricolas". In: Bach-Jahrbuch, vol. 56. Evangelische Verlagsanstalt, Leipzig 1970, ISSN 0084-7682, pp. 44–65.
* Peter Wollny: "Eine apokryphe Bachsche Passionsmusik in der Handschrift Johann Christoph Altnickols". In Leipziger Beiträge zur Bach-Forschung I (1995)
* Peter Wollny (1999). "Altnickol, Johann Christoph". Die Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart (in German). Vol. P1. (subscription required)

## External links

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* Free scores by Johann Christoph Altnickol at the International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP)

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Bach family

Ordered by relationship with Johann Sebastian Bach

Grandparents|

* Veit Bach (great-great-grandfather)
* Johannes Bach I (great-grandfather)
* Johannes Bach (great uncle)
* Christoph Bach (grandfather)

Parents|

* Johann Ambrosius Bach
* Elisabeth Lämmerhirt

Uncles|

* Georg Christoph Bach
* Johann Aegidius Bach
* Johann Christoph Bach (musician at Arnstadt)

Brothers|

* Johann Jacob Bach
* Johann Christoph Bach (organist at Ohrdruf)

Cousins|

* Johann Christoph Bach (1st once removed)
* Johann Bernhard Bach (2nd)
* Johann Ernst Bach (musician at Saxe-Weimar) (2nd once removed)
* Maria Barbara Bach (2nd)
* Johann Nicolaus Bach (2nd)
* Johann Ludwig Bach (3rd)

Wives|

* Maria Barbara Bach
* Anna Magdalena Bach

Sons|

* Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach
* Gottfried Heinrich Bach
* Johann Christian Bach
* Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach
* Johann Gottfried Bernhard Bach
* Wilhelm Friedemann Bach

Nephews|

* Johann Bernhard Bach the Younger
* Johann Michael Bach

In-laws|

* Johann Christoph Altnickol (son-in-law)
* Johann Michael Bach (father-in-law)

Grandchildren|

* Johann Sebastian Bach the Younger
* Wilhelm Friedrich Ernst Bach

Compositions|

* Altbachisches Archiv
* Bach Digital
* by Carl Philipp Emanuel
* by Johann Christian
* by Johann Sebastian

Authority control databases

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