Hehe, your trip to Europe is not likely to happen I suppose...

'The Triumph of the Immaculata' (1710/15) by Paolo de Matteis (1662-1728; Italian painter).

Johann Kuhnau was a great composer, teacher, lawyer, father, and reform-supporter, during the post-30 Year war time era. He taught J.S. Bach. Bach was his pupil at some point. Bach was tremendously honored that he was able to walk in the shoe's of Kuhnau as Thomaskantor in Leipzig. This was demonstrated when Bach took some of Kuhnau's works and rearranged them and then presented these pieces in the Thomaskirche in honor of the late Thomaskantor Johann Kuhnau. One cannot really in all fairness say that Bach was the "Great" Bach without recognizing the impact that Kuhnau had in Bach's life. Bach was a different era, really. His music was influenced by Kuhnau (also by Johann Joseph Fux).. and others of course. So Bach went on with his own music obviously with the death of Kuhnau in 1722 and him taking the Thomaskantor position in 1723. I am not so sure about the "greater gifts" statement. I know, from what I know what men both of these talents and geniuses were, I cannot imagine they would compare each other's achievements like that, as if one were better or more talented than the other. I haven't read Spitta's Biography of Bach - that is something that interests me and will dig in... Anyway, it is some interest of mine to learn more about this relationship - Kuhnau and Bach, because I believe there was one, teacher and pupil. Thanks for the discussion. It triggers some fondness of my distant uncle Johann (Kuhnau, not Bach), although I sometimes wonder about them both sitting in heaven together and pondering of how they could bring together some of their posterity in marriage, and enjoying each others' company, composing together and writing the greatest glorifying music for our God... if they only had a modern Bosendorfer Imperial Grand Piano.... right? That would have made their 'life', and today's recording technology... These geniuses leave me in astonishment.

I like your comment. Though I enjoy Kuhnau's music for it's simplicity and lightness (his chorus are very "1,4,5 chords" like his Magnificat), I also wondered how people reacted when Bach, whose music is so much more complex, took the job. From what I have read, the job was very taxing on both of their healths.