{"id":175,"date":"2025-06-15T09:13:23","date_gmt":"2025-06-15T13:13:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/commons.princeton.edu\/bach\/?p=175"},"modified":"2025-06-15T09:15:43","modified_gmt":"2025-06-15T13:15:43","slug":"i-played-a-356-year-old-bass-that-bach-literally-saw-and-heard","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/commons.princeton.edu\/bach\/2025\/06\/15\/i-played-a-356-year-old-bass-that-bach-literally-saw-and-heard\/","title":{"rendered":"I Played a 356-Year-Old Bass That Bach Literally Saw and Heard!!!!!"},"content":{"rendered":"

This past Saturday was one of the most meaningful days of my time in Leipzig so far. With Princeton, I had the opportunity to attend a performance of three Bach cantatas at St. Nikolai Church \u2014 the same church where Bach once served as music director. Even more surreal was the fact that the concert was conducted by Sir John Eliot Gardiner, someone I\u2019ve admired deeply as a baroque conductor for years. Hearing his interpretation of Bach\u2019s music in that historical setting was truly unforgettable.<\/p>\n

\"\" \"\" \"\" \"\"<\/p>\n

After the concert, I had a conversation with the bassist from the orchestra, and what followed was something I never imagined would happen: she handed me her instrument and invited me to play it. It was an incredibly generous gesture \u2014 and one that meant the world to me.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

What I didn\u2019t realize at first was just how special that bass was. She told me it was 356 years old \u2014 even older than the average Stradivarius \u2014 and had been used to perform Bach\u2019s cantatas and orchestral suites during his lifetime, when he was music director at St. Nikolai. It\u2019s very likely that Bach not only saw this bass, but also heard it in the very works he composed. I was completely stunned.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

At Princeton, I\u2019m not even allowed to touch the original manuscript of BWV 33 \u2014 and yet here I was, unsupervised, holding and playing an instrument that once existed in Bach\u2019s sound world. It was a moment that reminded me why I chose to study this music in the first place.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Later, I met Jenna, a violinist in the ensemble who also happens to be from the U.S., and coincidentally from the South, like me. Talking with her about life as a professional baroque musician was incredibly inspiring. She reminded me that pursuing a life in music \u2014 especially early music \u2014 is not only possible, but full of joy, curiosity, and community.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

To end the evening, I had a slice of cake and an impromptu grammar lesson from Professor Rankin. His explanation of several German language points helped clarify things I had been struggling with all week. Learning German has not been easy, but I\u2019m so grateful to have support from the Princeton German Department while I\u2019m here \u2014 it makes all the difference.<\/p>\n

I left the day feeling energized and thankful. So much so, in fact, that I decided to arrange a short excerpt from the third movement of Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 \u2014 just as a small way of reflecting on the joy I felt.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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This past Saturday was one of the most meaningful days of my time in Leipzig so far. With Princeton, I had the opportunity to attend a performance of three Bach cantatas at St. Nikolai Church \u2014 the same church where Bach once served as music director. Even more surreal was the fact that the concert<\/p>\n

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