Dieterich Buxtehude was one of the greatest organists in the northern German tradition when Bach was maturing as a musician. On one occasion Bach asked for a leave of absence from his employer to travel 150 miles to a city where Buxtehude was giving recitals. He traveled on foot and whatever means of transportation he could procure. Once he got there he attended the performances daily and absorbed all he could from the maestro. He was so enthralled by the concerts that he overstayed his leave and ran out of money. Not knowing what to do, he was standing at a corner penniless and without means to return when he was suddenly hit by an object thrown at him from a second story balcony. It was a fish. Now he had food to eat, but the story doesn't end there. I read from a reliable source (the recording label of a series of Bach's toccatas) that inside the fish's mouth there was a gold coin (much like in the story from the Bible when Christ led one of his disciples to a fish containing a coin in his mouth). Now he had money and food to pay for his stay and return trip. whoever his benefactor was, must have been aware of Bach's predicament, as well as his talent as an aspiring musician. Whether this story is apocryphal or real, it highlights the fact that Buxtehude was a strong influence on Bach, and the young musician's attending these recitals was pivotal in his development as an organist. Bach returned to his employer and was accepted back in his old position. Gabe Meruelo.
Dieterich Buxtehude was one of the greatest organists in the northern German tradition when Bach was maturing as a musician. On one occasion Bach asked for a leave of absence from his employer to travel 150 miles to a city where Buxtehude was giving recitals. He traveled on foot and whatever means of transportation he could procure. Once he got there he attended the performances daily and absorbed all he could from the maestro. He was so enthralled by the concerts that he overstayed his leave and ran out of money. Not knowing what to do, he was standing at a corner penniless and without means to return when he was suddenly hit by an object thrown at him from a second story balcony. It was a fish. Now he had food to eat, but the story doesn't end there. I read from a reliable source (the recording label of a series of Bach's toccatas) that inside the fish's mouth there was a gold coin (much like in the story from the Bible when Christ led one of his disciples to a fish containing a coin in his mouth). Now he had money and food to pay for his stay and return trip. whoever his benefactor was, must have been aware of Bach's predicament, as well as his talent as an aspiring musician. Whether this story is apocryphal or real, it highlights the fact that Buxtehude was a strong influence on Bach, and the young musician's attending these recitals was pivotal in his development as an organist. Bach returned to his employer and was accepted back in his old position. Gabe Meruelo.
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