Friedemann Bach (film)
Encyclopedia
Friedemann Bach is a German 1941 film depicting the life of Johann Sebastian Bach
's son Wilhelm Friedemann Bach
. The film is based on Albert Emil Brachvogel's novel Friedemann Bach. Wilhelm Friedemann Bach is shown as a gifted son trying to escape his father's shadows.
because he no longer could endure the reprisals taken by his superiors. After he helps his sister Frederike to tell father Johann Sebastian about her
engagement to Christoph Altnikol, the family gets a visit by a messenger from the Saxon Court. Johann Sebastian is asked to take part in a musical competition against French composer Louis Marchand. Johann Sebastian, however, does not want to let his Thomanerchor
down and so, he sends Friedemann to Dresden.
Friedemann wins the competition, as Louis Marchand takes flight during Friedemann's performance. Many aristocrats, among which is Comtesse Antonia Kollowrat, come to Friedemann to be taught in music; Friedemann is ordered by the court to write a ballet. Friedemann and ballet dancer Mariella Fiorini fall in love with each other, which is also due the influence of Count Graf von Brühl, who has an eye on Antonia. After the ballet is successful, Friedemann is to be appointed court composer. As Antonia criticizes the ballet, Friedemann recognizes that the court's superficiality does not go together with his artistic ambitions. Friedemann and Antonia fall in love with each other. Friedemann promises to find a new position and to get Antonia to join him; his father will surely help him.
However, Johann Sebastian dies. So, Friedemann is confronted with a series of disappointments. Being demanded again and again to play music following his father's style, he finally passes, when applying in Braunschweig
, one of his father's early compositions off as one of his own. The truth is discovered, Antonia and Christoph are unable to understand Friedemann, who is frustrated and responds that he no longer wants to be compared with his father Johann Sebastian but wants to be Wilhelm Friedemann Bach.
Embittered, he joins a group of travelling actors who regard him to be as what he is. As Christoph comes after years to see him and tells him that Antonia had been waiting for him in Braunschweig, Friedemann wants to see her again. Antonia, however, has meanwhile married Count Heinrich von Brühl. When Friedemann's group gives a performance in Dresden, the Count arranges that Friedemann and Antonia meet. Although she is still willing to help him, Friedemann shows her his full embitterment; at the Count's behest, Friedemann has to leave Saxony.
Desperately, Friedemann offers one of his father's compositions to a music trader. As one of the trader's client mocks Johann Sebastian Bach, Friedemann starts to argue with the client who hurts Friedemann with a rapier
; shortly after, Friedemann dies.
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity...
's son Wilhelm Friedemann Bach
Wilhelm Friedemann Bach
Wilhelm Friedemann Bach , the second child and eldest son of Johann Sebastian Bach and Maria Barbara Bach, was a German composer and performer...
. The film is based on Albert Emil Brachvogel's novel Friedemann Bach. Wilhelm Friedemann Bach is shown as a gifted son trying to escape his father's shadows.
Plot
During a house concert, the Bach family gets a visit by their son Wilhelm Friedemann, who has just given up his position in DresdenDresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
because he no longer could endure the reprisals taken by his superiors. After he helps his sister Frederike to tell father Johann Sebastian about her
engagement to Christoph Altnikol, the family gets a visit by a messenger from the Saxon Court. Johann Sebastian is asked to take part in a musical competition against French composer Louis Marchand. Johann Sebastian, however, does not want to let his Thomanerchor
Thomanerchor
The Thomanerchor is a boys' choir in Leipzig, Germany. The choir was founded in 1212. At present, the choir consists of 92 boys from 9 to 18 years of age...
down and so, he sends Friedemann to Dresden.
Friedemann wins the competition, as Louis Marchand takes flight during Friedemann's performance. Many aristocrats, among which is Comtesse Antonia Kollowrat, come to Friedemann to be taught in music; Friedemann is ordered by the court to write a ballet. Friedemann and ballet dancer Mariella Fiorini fall in love with each other, which is also due the influence of Count Graf von Brühl, who has an eye on Antonia. After the ballet is successful, Friedemann is to be appointed court composer. As Antonia criticizes the ballet, Friedemann recognizes that the court's superficiality does not go together with his artistic ambitions. Friedemann and Antonia fall in love with each other. Friedemann promises to find a new position and to get Antonia to join him; his father will surely help him.
However, Johann Sebastian dies. So, Friedemann is confronted with a series of disappointments. Being demanded again and again to play music following his father's style, he finally passes, when applying in Braunschweig
Braunschweig
Braunschweig , is a city of 247,400 people, located in the federal-state of Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located north of the Harz mountains at the farthest navigable point of the Oker river, which connects to the North Sea via the rivers Aller and Weser....
, one of his father's early compositions off as one of his own. The truth is discovered, Antonia and Christoph are unable to understand Friedemann, who is frustrated and responds that he no longer wants to be compared with his father Johann Sebastian but wants to be Wilhelm Friedemann Bach.
Embittered, he joins a group of travelling actors who regard him to be as what he is. As Christoph comes after years to see him and tells him that Antonia had been waiting for him in Braunschweig, Friedemann wants to see her again. Antonia, however, has meanwhile married Count Heinrich von Brühl. When Friedemann's group gives a performance in Dresden, the Count arranges that Friedemann and Antonia meet. Although she is still willing to help him, Friedemann shows her his full embitterment; at the Count's behest, Friedemann has to leave Saxony.
Desperately, Friedemann offers one of his father's compositions to a music trader. As one of the trader's client mocks Johann Sebastian Bach, Friedemann starts to argue with the client who hurts Friedemann with a rapier
Rapier
A rapier is a slender, sharply pointed sword, ideally used for thrusting attacks, used mainly in Early Modern Europe during the 16th and 17th centuries.-Description:...
; shortly after, Friedemann dies.
Historical Inaccuracies
In fact, it was Johann Sebastian Bach and not Wilhelm Friedemann who competed against Louis Marchand. Furthermore, Wilhelm Friedemann Bach did not die as young as shown in the film.Cast
- Gustav Gründgens — Wilhelm Friedemann BachWilhelm Friedemann BachWilhelm Friedemann Bach , the second child and eldest son of Johann Sebastian Bach and Maria Barbara Bach, was a German composer and performer...
- Eugen Klöpfer — Johann Sebastian BachJohann Sebastian BachJohann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity...
- Wolfgang LiebeneinerWolfgang LiebeneinerWolfgang Georg Louis Liebeneiner was a German actor, film director and theater director.He was born in Liebau in Prussian Silesia. In 1928, he was taught by Otto Falckenberg, the director of the Munich Kammerspiele, in acting and directing...
— Carl Philipp Emanuel BachCarl Philipp Emanuel Bachright|250pxCarl Philipp Emanuel Bach was a German Classical period musician and composer, the fifth child and second son of Johann Sebastian Bach and Maria Barbara Bach... - Lina Lossen — Anna Magdalena BachAnna Magdalena BachAnna Magdalena Bach was the second wife of Johann Sebastian Bach.-Biography:...
- Lotte Koch — Friederike Bach
- Leny Marenbach — Antonia Kollowrat
- Johannes Riemann — Heinrich Graf von Brühl
- Camilla HornCamilla HornCamilla Horn was a former German dancer and a film star of the silent and sound era. She starred in several Hollywood films of the late 1920s and in a few British and Italian productions.-Biography:...
— Mariella Fiorini - Hermine Körner — Countess Kollowrat
- Gustav KnuthGustav KnuthGustav Knuth was a German film actor. He appeared in 128 films between 1935 and 1982.-Selected filmography:* Friedemann Bach * Das Grosse Spiel * Die Mücke * Sissi...
— Christoph Altnikol - Sabine Peters — Charlotte von Erdmannsdorf
- Franz SchafheitlinFranz SchafheitlinFranz Schafheitlin was a German film actor. He appeared in over 160 films between 1927 and 1974.He was born in Berlin, Germany and died in Bavaria, Germany.-Selected filmography:* The Sorceror...
— Sekretär Siepmann - Franz Arzdorf — Kammerherr am königlichen Hof in Dresden
- Paul BildtPaul BildtPaul Hermann Bildt was a German film actor. He appeared in over 180 films between 1910 and 1956. He was born and died in Berlin, Germany.- Selected filmography :* Ludwig II: Glanz und Ende eines Königs...
— Musikalienhändler Lohmann - Ernst Dernburg — Kurfürst August IIIAugustus III of PolandAugustus III, known as the Saxon ; ; also Prince-elector Friedrich August II was the Elector of Saxony in 1733-1763, as Frederick Augustus II , King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania in 1734-1763.-Biography:Augustus was the only legitimate son of Augustus II the Strong, Imperial Prince-Elector...
- Erich DunskusErich DunskusErich Dunskus was a German film actor. He appeared in 170 films between 1927 and 1966.He was born in Pillkallen, East Prussia and died in Hagen, Germany.-Selected filmography:* Friedemann Bach...
: Mitglied der fahrenden Theatertruppe - Albert Florath: Gastwirt in Dresden
- Eric Helgar: Singender Gast bei Fiorini
- Karl HellmerKarl HellmerKarl Hellmer was an Austrian film actor. He appeared in 92 films between 1932 and 1969.He was born in Vienna, Austria and died in Berlin, Germany.-Selected filmography:* Ungeküsst soll man nicht schlafen gehn...
: Gärtner - Liselotte Schaak: Gemahlin Josepha
- Werner Scharf: Baron am Dresdener Hof
- Just Scheu: Königlicher Kurier aus Dresden
- Alfred Schieske: Wirt in Braunschweig
- Heinrich SchrothHeinrich SchrothHeinrich Schroth was a German stage and film actor.-Career:Born Heinrich August Franz Schroth in Pirmasens, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, Schroth made his acting debut at the Sigmaringen Royal Theatre in 1890. In 1894 he went to the Municipal Theatre in Augsburg, in 1896 to Mainz and in 1897 to...
: Gutsverwalter bei Baron von Sollnau - Wolfgang StaudteWolfgang StaudteWolfgang Staudte , born Georg Friedrich Staudte, was a German film director, script writer and actor. He was born in Saarbrücken....
: Musiker bei Philipp Emanual Bach - Annemarie SteinsieckAnnemarie Steinsieck-Selected filmography:* Ariane * Andere Welt * Fracht von Baltimore -External links:...
: Frau von Erdmannsdorf - Magnus StifterMagnus StifterMagnus Stifter was an Austrian film actor. He appeared in 85 films between 1914 and 1941.He was born in Vienna, Austria-Hungary and died in Vienna, Austria.-Selected filmography:...
: Zeremonienmeister des Königs in Dresden - Leopold von Ledebur: Gast bei Fiorini
- Otto WernickeOtto WernickeOtto Karl Robert Wernicke was a German actor. He was best known for his role as police inspector Karl Lohmann in the two Fritz Lang films M and The Testament of Dr. Mabuse. He was the first one to portray Captain Smith in the first "official" Titanic film.Wernicke was married to a Jewish woman...
: Kunde im Musikladen - Wolf Trutz: Franz
- Walter Werner: Prinzipal der fahrenden Theatertruppe