Bach Imprisoned by Ernst After Protesting His Working Conditions

Wilhelm Ernst, the powerful Duke of Wiemar, put Johann Sebastian Bach in prison for nearly four weeks in Wiemar because Bach protested his working conditions 300 years ago and resigned to take a more attractive offer. In those days, the only people who could afford to employ musicians were the aristocracy and the church. The Duke of Wiemar intermittently employed Bach as a composer and concertmaster.

In 1717 a feud developed between Wilhelm Ernst and August Ernst. With the assistance of Duke August Ernst, Bach was introduced to the Court of Anhalt-Cothen. Subsequently, he was offered a new position as Capellmeister, which he accepted. Bach resented his working conditions and the substandard musicians he was provided with under Wilhelm Ernst, the Duke of Weimar, so he politely resigned his employment with the duke to take his new position as Capellmeister. Wilhelm Ernst apparently thought imprisonment might soften Bach's resistance and increase his respect for the duke's druthers.

But as his weeks of imprisonment passed, Bach became more obdurate. He became determined to part ways with Wilhelm Ernst. When he was finally freed December 1, he had used his time in prison wisely. He composed parts of his "Well-Tempered Clavier" while a prisoner.

Bach had 13 children and hoped to feed and educate as many of them as possible. Not all survived to adulthood, which was sadly common in those days.

My guess is that Bach, were he alive today, would have supported collective bargaining rights. I would also guess that he resented going to prison for arguing for better working conditions and permission to take a better job.