Johann Christoph Altnickol

Johann Christoph Altnikol ( baptized January 1, 1720 in Berne, today Sulików, Lower Silesia, buried July 25, 1759 in Naumburg (Saale ), in some sources Altnickol ) was a German composer and organist. He was a student and son of Johann Sebastian Bach.

Life

Altnikols exact date of birth is unknown; the only certainty is that he was baptized on 1 January 1720 in Berna at Seidenberg. From 1733 he attended the Lyceum in Lauban. Between 1740 and 1743 he worked as a singer and temporary organist at the Church of St. Mary Magdalene Breslauer active. From 1744 Altnikol studied in Leipzig theology. There he came in contact with his teacher and later his father Johann Sebastian Bach. Visit in May 1747 Bach certifies its students Altnikol that he

" Since Michaelis ao. 1745 the Choro Musico incessantly assistiret by exhibiret soon as Violiste soon as Violoncelliste, but mostly as vocal Bassiste to ... "

In January 1748 he became organist in the Silesian Niederwiesa at Greiffenberg, in turn, supported by a recommendation Bach:

"He's a Ecolier, which I should not have to be ashamed. "

In September of the same year he took over the vacant organist of St. Wenzel's Church in Naumburg ( Saale) and retained this position until his death.

On January 20, 1749, he married Elisabeth Juliane Friederica Bach, the daughter of his composition and piano teacher JS Bach. After the death of his father- Altnikol took the mentally handicapped Gottfried Heinrich Bach (1724-1763, eldest son of the marriage Johann Sebastian and Anna Magdalena ) into his home and looked after him until his death.

About Altnikols later life is otherwise little known. 1750 to 1751 he was temporary teacher of composer Johann Gottfried Müthel.

Work

From Altnikols compositions only a few have survived. Currently, among others, following works known:

• Two motets " Commit thou thy ways ," the musical version of a song by Paul Gerhardt ( in four parts )
• " Now thank we all our God " ( five voices )