Anna Magdalena, née Wilcke was born into a prominent family in 1701. Her family were all gifted musicians in the town of Weissenfels, a part of the Saxony-Anhalt region of Germany.
Anna Magdelena’s father was a court trumpeter, at that time an important position for a musician. Anna’s mother was actually exposed to music as well since she was the daughter of an organist. Anna Magdalena became a renowned singer herself, being employed by the royal court.
In fact, her position as court singer was one of more importance than other male musicians. Her position was a testimony to her exceptional talent as a musician and in 1729, she was invited to perform at the funeral of her benefactor, Prince Leopold.
Early marriage to Johann Sebastian Bach
There is little that we know of her early acquaintance to her famous husband, Johann Sebastian Bach. What is known is that Bach, a man 16 years her senior, married Anna Magdalena on 3 December 1721 in their home at the behest of Prince Leopold of Anhalt-Köthen.
Bach was living in Köthen at the time and shortly before the marriage, it is speculated that he wrote the cantata,Weichet nur, betrübte Schatten (Dissipate, you troublesome shadows), BWV 202. It was one of a series of wedding and festival pieces he wrote.
There is no real evidence on how Anna Magdalena felt about her position as the young wife of the famous Bach, however, what is known is that she was a loving wife.
She bore him thirteen children [seven of whom died] and she supported him in his music as copyist and organiser of the many house concerts he hosted. It is also said she enjoyed gardening and other artistic endeavors. She was also a loving step-mother to Bach’s four children from his first marriage to singer Maria Barbara Bach.
Assistant to the great master
On many occasions, Anna Magdalena served as assistant to her famous husband. She meticulously copied many of his compositions, oftentimes for impromptu performances either for the church or for home concerts. Her ability to do this aided Bach in many situations where he was called upon to compose and perform a new piece for a special occasion at the last moment.
Anna Magdalena often performed a beautiful love song,Bist du bei mir. It is a song that features a tender melodic tone and poignant lyrics. Written originally in 1718 by the composer Gottfried Heinrich Stölzel, Bach reworked the piece for voice and continuo in 1725. It was included in her famous notebooks.
She was also the copyist for the Notebook for Anna Magdalena 1722, a gift from her husband that contained a number of his compositions. It featured musical pieces composed for organ, some airs, chorales and fragments of French Suites in “C” minor BWV 813 and one in “D” minor, BWV 812 to name a few.
It was a labour of love on Bach’s part for his wife since the final edition was a gilt-edged bound book on vellum paper, expensive materials for making books. He recognised in this gift, the musical talent of his wife, who was also music teacher to his children.
Anna Magdalena’s legacy
An argument was proposed by Dr. Martin Jarvis, a professor at the Charles Darwin University of Australia. At the 2014 BAFTA in London, he credited Anna Magdalena with composing Bach’s, Cello Suites and The Well Tempered Clavier, exclaiming she was never given credit because as a woman, she was not allowed to publish them. Instead, the compositions were published under Bach’s name.
This bold proclamation however, is not substantiated with conclusive evidence, although a forensic document examiner believes that there is, 'a reasonable degree of scientific certainty' that Anna Magdalena could have composed these works. Yet, even if she did not compose the entire works, it is likely she made some contribution to a number of Bach’s works.
It is interesting to note that Bach’s most prolific compositional period occurred after his marriage to Anna Magdalena. It is a testament at the very least that her musical knowledge and creativity influenced his work. Their relationship was a productive and loving one and even if Anna Magdalena was not necessarily able to take full credit for her contributions, she was respected by her husband and in the area in which she resided. Her voice continues to resonate in the annals of great women who have left for all of us a story of courage, humility and music.