Bachhaus Eisenach

The Museum

The Bach House in Eisenach is worldwide the first and, at the same time, the oldest museum dedicated to Johann Sebastian Bach. It was bought by the Neue Bachgesellschaft in 1906, assuming that it was the house in which Bach was born. Since 1907 the house on the „Frauenplan“ serves as museum and place of remembrance.

Bach was born in Eisenach in 1685 and grew up there until his eleventh year. His father was employed as leader of the town’s musicians. During his childhood in Eisenach Bach received many musical impulses which played a roll throughout the rest of his life.

Today it is the task of the Bachhaus to impart knowledge about Johann Sebastian Bach to the general public and to nurture his music. In the Bachhaus visitors can view exhibitions about the life and work of Bach and attend a musical lecture in which historical instruments from the time of Bach are presented and played.

The collection of the Bachhaus contains a great number of musical instruments as well as a library with thematically relevant publications and archival material.

Body of Sponsors

In the summer of 2001 a supporting body of sponsors for the Bachhaus was founded, whose main member is the Neue Bachgesellschaft e.V. The Bachhaus finances itself through funds from the Free State of Thuringia and from its own income.

Presentations

Conducted tours around different themes for adults (German/English)
Special tours around a variety of themes for children and young people (German/English)
Evening concerts on historical instruments in the musical instruments hall of the Bachhaus

Performance material of Bach cantatas for hire

Bachhaus Concert Series

Opening hours:
Daily from 10:00 to 18:00

Contact Details

Bachhaus Eisenach gGmbH Telephone: +49 36 91 / 79 34-0
Frauenplan 21 Fax: +49 36 91 / 79 34-24
D- 99817 Eisenach

E-Mail:info@bachhaus.de, Internet: http://www.bachhaus.de

Managing director: Dr.Jörg Hansen

 

BACHS HOUSE IN EISENACH

Museum

The past twelve months have been a satisfactory period for the Bach House in Eisenach although with a number of visitors lower than in the two previous years. Even though the expected number of guests (62 500) is clearly above the average for the opening year of 2007 (54000), it represents a decrease of 7500 visitors compared to the previous year. The fall in guests from overseas (USA, Japan) shows that the Bach House was not spared the economic downturn. As usual, the exact figures and results for this year will be published in the coming Summer Leaflet.

Collection

Main acquisitions in 2009

Thanks to our librarian Mrs Margit Loos a complete register can be found on www.gbv.de (Common Library Network of the German States) and in the online catalogue of the Bach House. Many of this year’s acquisitions were made possible thanks to gifts or donations. The Cultural Foundation of the German States subsidised the acquisition of the positive organ. Johann Trier’s choral book was purchased with the financial support of the Wartburg-Sparkasse in Eisenach and that of the Neue Bachgesellschaft as the promoter of the museum. The Neue Bachgesellschaft also supplied half of the sum for the purchase of the 1732 textbook. Many thanks to all donors! I encourage all members and Bach friends to support the collection in the Bach Haus in Eisenach (Bank account details: Bachhaus Eisenach, IBAN: DE22840550500000188000, BIC: HELADEF1WAK, Wartburg Sparkasse – a donation certificate will be issued if the address is indicated. Advice for further purchases is most welcome.

Purchases should mainly serve the following projects: “Bach’s theological library” („Bachs theologische Bibliothek“, TB), Special exhibition 2009- “Blood and Spirit” („Blut und Geist“, B&G), Special Exhibition 2010- „Bach’s Passions“ (Bachs Passionen, P).
Manager and Director

 

Appeal for the collection of the Neue Bachgesellschaft at the Bachhaus Eisenach

A certain owner pride may actually fulfill members of the Neue Bachgesellschaft, when they visit their museum, the Bachhaus in Eisenach. It’s not only that the property and constructions of the 1907 opened and in 2007 essentially enlarged and renewed museum is in possesion of the society, that purchased the last remaining lots Frauenplan 21a and 23 in the years 1998 and 2005. As well almost all highlights of the exhibition, that attract more than 60,000 visitors a year, belong to the Neue Bachgesellschaft. That starts with the entrance door of Bach’s apartment in the Thomasschule, goes via the collection of instruments with two Silbermann spinets and a Hoffmann bas viol, until a Bach cup, the first print of the artistry of the fugue or the voice autograph of the cantata “Alles nur nach Gottes Willen.” In this year the appeal in the middle of the year is not like in the years before in the context of the “Johann Sebatsian Bach Trust”, but should be donated to the collection of the Bachhaus Eisenach. The operating company there, the Bachhaus Eisenach gGmbH, of which the only associate is the NBG, endeavors under her chairman Dr. Jörg Hansen, to let no buying opportunity go by and fill gaps in the collection. About this success we informed in former newsletters by himself. To in my opinion most important new acquisitions of the last years counts among others the text sheet for the cantata regarding the reinauguration of the Thomasschule in 1732 and diverse volumes of Bach’s Theologische Bibliothek. On top ranks as well a Thuringia house organ from the age around 1650. In the content you should know, that the Bachhaus only has a nominell small amount available from the yearly budget of the Ministry of Culture of Thuringia for collection purposes: just 5,000 Euros are scheduled for purchases and restorations. All above that has to be generated by surplus or donations.
We as members of the Bach-Gesellschaft can take pride in our collection in Eisenach. The conservation and increase - all purchases become possesions of the association, as well those from the gGmbH - is supposed to be the concern of all members. That is why I ask in this year, aside of the payment to the member fee, to consider the collection of the Neue Bachgesellschaft in the Bachhaus in Eisenach with an additional donation.

Prof. Martin Petzold

Donantions are requested to the account of the Neue Bach Gesellschaft e.V. No. 672 27-908 at the Postbank Leipzig, BLZ 860 100 90, please mention “BACH-STIFTUNG”

NBG Scores Library in Eisenach Bach House

Scores for the performance of virtually all the cantatas and main works by Johann Sebastian Bach can be borrowed against a service charge from the Bach House in Eisenach. Enquiries: Frauenplan 21, 99817 Eisenach, Tel. (# 49) (0) 36 91 / 79 34 0, Fax (# 49) (0) 36 91 / 79 34 24, e-mail: info@bachhaus.de

 

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