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3 unusual facts about Christian Friedrich Witt


Christian Friedrich Witt

He moved to Gotha to take up a post as chamber organist to the court in June 1686; he remained there for the rest of his life.

Funeral ode: Wer kan des Höchsten Rath, for 5 voices (1697)

While on his deathbed, Johann Sebastian Bach was commissioned to substitute for him and perform a Passiontide work for the court chapel (the Weimarer Passion BWV deest (BC D 1)).


Weimarer Passion

At any rate, during this flurry of activity, Bach had also received a commission from Frederick II, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg to compose and perform a Passion setting for his court for Good Friday (his then Kapellmeister, Christian Friedrich Witt, was on his deathbed).


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