| A Grand Old Duchy |
The old duchy of Saxe-Meiningen was a
fairy tale unto itself. Meiningen on the
Werra River was the capital of the old,
almost exclusively Protestant duchy of
Saxe-Meiningen in hilly Thuringia, tucked
between the south-west slope of the
Thuringian Forest and the Rhön Mountains,
at a time when old Germany was made up
of 350 mini-kingdoms and tiny duchies.
fairy tale unto itself. Meiningen on the
Werra River was the capital of the old,
almost exclusively Protestant duchy of
Saxe-Meiningen in hilly Thuringia, tucked
between the south-west slope of the
Thuringian Forest and the Rhön Mountains,
at a time when old Germany was made up
of 350 mini-kingdoms and tiny duchies.
It bordered on the old duchy of Coburg, Bavaria and portions of four other former Thuringian states
and former Prussia. It had a territory of only 530 square miles and was less than half the size of
Rhode Island. First mentioned in the 10th century, it passed to the dukes of Saxony in 1583, and the
ducal palace in Meiningen dates from the 16th and 17th century. The duchy of Saxe-Meiningen was
founded in 1681 by Bernard, the third son of Ernest the Pious, duke of Saxe-Gotha. The Dukes
were Wettins of the Saxonian royal dynasty. By 1763, the duchy was in financial trouble until the
emergence of Charlotte Amalie, who ruled as regent for her sons, Carl and Georg. She led it into
prosperity until the war with France brought poverty and destruction. The Meiningen Court
Orchestra is one of the oldest orchestras in Europe, being first mentioned in 1690. Georg Caspar
Schürmann, director from 1702-1707, and Johann Ludwig Bach, director from 1711-1731 (and
founder of the Meiningen Bach line), were responsible for the high musical standard as conductors
of the court orchestra. While J.S. Bach was never there, Saxe-Meiningen was one of the duchies
where numerous members of the Bach family lived and worked.
and former Prussia. It had a territory of only 530 square miles and was less than half the size of
Rhode Island. First mentioned in the 10th century, it passed to the dukes of Saxony in 1583, and the
ducal palace in Meiningen dates from the 16th and 17th century. The duchy of Saxe-Meiningen was
founded in 1681 by Bernard, the third son of Ernest the Pious, duke of Saxe-Gotha. The Dukes
were Wettins of the Saxonian royal dynasty. By 1763, the duchy was in financial trouble until the
emergence of Charlotte Amalie, who ruled as regent for her sons, Carl and Georg. She led it into
prosperity until the war with France brought poverty and destruction. The Meiningen Court
Orchestra is one of the oldest orchestras in Europe, being first mentioned in 1690. Georg Caspar
Schürmann, director from 1702-1707, and Johann Ludwig Bach, director from 1711-1731 (and
founder of the Meiningen Bach line), were responsible for the high musical standard as conductors
of the court orchestra. While J.S. Bach was never there, Saxe-Meiningen was one of the duchies
where numerous members of the Bach family lived and worked.
Coupled with cattle disease and bad harvests, the land again plunged into distress and recovered
very slowly. In 1825, the extinction of the male line of Saxe-Gotha necessitated a rearrangement of
the Saxon duchies, and Saxe-Meiningen benefited greatly by receiving 530 new square miles of
territory. Duke Bernard granted a new constitution in 1829. In 1866, unlike the other Saxon duchies,
Saxe-Meiningen sided with Austria in the war with Prussia and the land was immediately occupied
by Prussian troops. Duke Bernard abdicated in 1866 and was succeeded by his son Georg, who
immediately made peace with Prussia and joined the North German Confederation, becoming a
member of the new German empire. Their rulers were expelled in 1918, and in 1920 the state of
Thuringia was founded under the Weimar Republic by the union of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (without the
city of Coburg which went to Bavaria), Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, Saxe-Altenburg, Saxe- Meiningen,
the two principalities of Reuss, and two principalities of Schwarzburg.
very slowly. In 1825, the extinction of the male line of Saxe-Gotha necessitated a rearrangement of
the Saxon duchies, and Saxe-Meiningen benefited greatly by receiving 530 new square miles of
territory. Duke Bernard granted a new constitution in 1829. In 1866, unlike the other Saxon duchies,
Saxe-Meiningen sided with Austria in the war with Prussia and the land was immediately occupied
by Prussian troops. Duke Bernard abdicated in 1866 and was succeeded by his son Georg, who
immediately made peace with Prussia and joined the North German Confederation, becoming a
member of the new German empire. Their rulers were expelled in 1918, and in 1920 the state of
Thuringia was founded under the Weimar Republic by the union of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (without the
city of Coburg which went to Bavaria), Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, Saxe-Altenburg, Saxe- Meiningen,
the two principalities of Reuss, and two principalities of Schwarzburg.
In 1885, Brahms wrote to Duke Georg II of beautiful, peaceful Saxe-Meiningen: "A journey to
Meiningen always offers the most beautiful prospects." Meiningen's court orchestra, during the reign
of Duke Georg II between 1866 and 1914, was among the best in Germany, especially when musical
director Hans von Bulow brought it to the status of a top European orchestra. Bülow invited Brahms
to Meiningen in 1881, marking the start of a Brahms tradition along with Richard Strauss, Bülow's
most famous pupil and his successor.
Meiningen always offers the most beautiful prospects." Meiningen's court orchestra, during the reign
of Duke Georg II between 1866 and 1914, was among the best in Germany, especially when musical
director Hans von Bulow brought it to the status of a top European orchestra. Bülow invited Brahms
to Meiningen in 1881, marking the start of a Brahms tradition along with Richard Strauss, Bülow's
most famous pupil and his successor.
Duke Georg II founded a resident theater troupe in 1866, a
fore-runner to the Royal Shakespeare company, who toured
Europe and Russia from 1874 to 1890, giving lavish
productions as far as Moscow and London. From a small
theater, the Meiningen Court Theater became the theatrical
sensation of its age and was a major influence in the movement
toward modern theater.
fore-runner to the Royal Shakespeare company, who toured
Europe and Russia from 1874 to 1890, giving lavish
productions as far as Moscow and London. From a small
theater, the Meiningen Court Theater became the theatrical
sensation of its age and was a major influence in the movement
toward modern theater.
On February 23, 1945, the 8th US-Air Force dumped 582 Spring loaded bombs on the old center of
Meiningenin Saxony, killing 208 people and destroying 160 historic buildings.
Meiningenin Saxony, killing 208 people and destroying 160 historic buildings.
Thuringia is interesting for many reasons. Woad is a plant which was cultivated all over Thuringia in the Middle Ages
because of the blue dye extracted from its leaves. Woad was single source of blue dye until indigo was discovered in the
16th century. Erfurt had a monopoly on it in Europe, and local merchants grew wealthy from it, earning up to three tons
of gold a year. These rich woad dealers built great mansions in Thurigia, some of which still remain.
because of the blue dye extracted from its leaves. Woad was single source of blue dye until indigo was discovered in the
16th century. Erfurt had a monopoly on it in Europe, and local merchants grew wealthy from it, earning up to three tons
of gold a year. These rich woad dealers built great mansions in Thurigia, some of which still remain.
The ancient Thuringians, conquered by the Franks during the 6th century AD, were a Germanic
tribe that occupied central Germany between the Elbe and the Danube and converted to Christianity
in the 8th century. Charlemagne made Thuringia a defensive frontier country in the 9th century, and
it passed to the Saxon dukes in the 10th century. In the 11th century, the landgraves of Thuringia
with their seat at Wartburg became princes of the Holy Roman Empire, and in 1247 Thuringia fell in
part to the house of Wettin, the Meissen Margraves who became electors of Saxony in 1423. In
1485, when the Ernestine branch of the family acquired most of the Thuringian territories, Thuringia
was split into several duchies prefaced by "Saxe." Thuringia towns also include Eisenach, Gera,
Jena, Gotha, Suhl, Nordhausen, and the capital Erfurt.
tribe that occupied central Germany between the Elbe and the Danube and converted to Christianity
in the 8th century. Charlemagne made Thuringia a defensive frontier country in the 9th century, and
it passed to the Saxon dukes in the 10th century. In the 11th century, the landgraves of Thuringia
with their seat at Wartburg became princes of the Holy Roman Empire, and in 1247 Thuringia fell in
part to the house of Wettin, the Meissen Margraves who became electors of Saxony in 1423. In
1485, when the Ernestine branch of the family acquired most of the Thuringian territories, Thuringia
was split into several duchies prefaced by "Saxe." Thuringia towns also include Eisenach, Gera,
Jena, Gotha, Suhl, Nordhausen, and the capital Erfurt.
Schmalkalden also lies in the heart of the Thuringian Forest. In 1531, the Schmalkaldic League was formed here by the
Protestant princes, led by Landgrave Philip of Hesse and Duke Johann Friedrich I of Saxony as an alliance against
Emperor Karl V’s threat to stamp out Lutheranism. Under the league's protection, the Reformation spread over
Germany. It was defeated by Catholic forces under Karl V in the 1547 Schmalkaldic War at the Battle of Mühlberg.
Protestant princes, led by Landgrave Philip of Hesse and Duke Johann Friedrich I of Saxony as an alliance against
Emperor Karl V’s threat to stamp out Lutheranism. Under the league's protection, the Reformation spread over
Germany. It was defeated by Catholic forces under Karl V in the 1547 Schmalkaldic War at the Battle of Mühlberg.
| Musical Saxon Thuringia |
Duke George II developed ensemble acting and realized the importance of using historically accurate
costumes and settings. He was the first to recognize the importance of central artistic control, which
anticipated the function of the director in the production of plays. The last duke abdicated in 1918,
and in 1920 Saxe-Meiningen was incorporated into Thuringia.
costumes and settings. He was the first to recognize the importance of central artistic control, which
anticipated the function of the director in the production of plays. The last duke abdicated in 1918,
and in 1920 Saxe-Meiningen was incorporated into Thuringia.
| Dice and a Boring Guy |
Music publishing was a thriving, competitive trade during the latter part of the 18th century and publishers looked for
gimmicks to bring new customers into their music shops. One idea was to publish systems that would allow amateurs
unfamiliar with the techniques or rules of composition compose music on their own. Many of these schemes involved using
dice to select musical fragments from an array of choices. Kirnberger suggested the use of dice for this purpose in his
book 'The Ever-ready Composer of Polonaises and Minuets', published in 1757. Austrian composer Maximilian
Stadler later put a set of musical bars and tables together for generating minuets and trios using dice. The idea being to
cut and paste pre-written measures of music together at random by a dice roll, creating a piece of music. The sum of the
thrown numbers is looked up in a scoring table to determine which measure to play. Mozart's 'Musikalisches
Würfelspiel' became a famous game, and was first published in 1793, two years after Mozart's death. Even today, if one
listens closely to some modern "original" composers, one detects a system similar to this in play in their works.
gimmicks to bring new customers into their music shops. One idea was to publish systems that would allow amateurs
unfamiliar with the techniques or rules of composition compose music on their own. Many of these schemes involved using
dice to select musical fragments from an array of choices. Kirnberger suggested the use of dice for this purpose in his
book 'The Ever-ready Composer of Polonaises and Minuets', published in 1757. Austrian composer Maximilian
Stadler later put a set of musical bars and tables together for generating minuets and trios using dice. The idea being to
cut and paste pre-written measures of music together at random by a dice roll, creating a piece of music. The sum of the
thrown numbers is looked up in a scoring table to determine which measure to play. Mozart's 'Musikalisches
Würfelspiel' became a famous game, and was first published in 1793, two years after Mozart's death. Even today, if one
listens closely to some modern "original" composers, one detects a system similar to this in play in their works.
Although he wrote keyboard and chamber music, songs and a small amount of
church music, Kirnberger should be respected for his best achievement: he regarded
J.S. Bach as the greatest of all composers and applied exhaustive effort to get Bach's
largely unpublished chorale preludes preserved in print at a time when Bach was in
danger of being forgotten. Kirnberger also developed theories of music that would
carry on Bach's musical thinking.
church music, Kirnberger should be respected for his best achievement: he regarded
J.S. Bach as the greatest of all composers and applied exhaustive effort to get Bach's
largely unpublished chorale preludes preserved in print at a time when Bach was in
danger of being forgotten. Kirnberger also developed theories of music that would
carry on Bach's musical thinking.
His widely published theoretical works so inspired subsequent generations to study Bach's technique
and form that many later composers studied Bach's music and brought him back to his exalted place.
Young Kirnberger was introduced to Bach around 1738, and he quickly relocated to Leipzig to study
with the master. From 1741 to 1751, Kirnberger lived in Poland and worked for various noblemen.
Upon his return to Germany in 1751, he became one of Friedrich the Great's violinists. Later, in the
service of the Princess Anna Amalia, he founded the Amailien-Bibliothek which became an important
repository of Bach manuscripts. He kept this job for life.
and form that many later composers studied Bach's music and brought him back to his exalted place.
Young Kirnberger was introduced to Bach around 1738, and he quickly relocated to Leipzig to study
with the master. From 1741 to 1751, Kirnberger lived in Poland and worked for various noblemen.
Upon his return to Germany in 1751, he became one of Friedrich the Great's violinists. Later, in the
service of the Princess Anna Amalia, he founded the Amailien-Bibliothek which became an important
repository of Bach manuscripts. He kept this job for life.
Johann Philipp Kirnberger, 1721-1783, was among the leading theorists and commentators on music
of the 18th century, but as a composer is at best unknown and, at worst, considered rather boring.
of the 18th century, but as a composer is at best unknown and, at worst, considered rather boring.
In the 16th century it was a silver mining center. The duke of Saxe-Coburg traded Saalfeld for
Gotha with the duke of Saxe-Meiningen in 1826. The city included a 14th-century church, a
16th-century city hall, a 13th-century Franciscan monastery and castle, and an 18th-century palace.
It is one of the most ancient towns in Thuringia, and was lorded over by the palace Kitzerstein,
standing on an eminence above the river, built by King Heinrich I. and further constructed the 16th
century. There is also the ruin of the HoherSchwarm, later called the Sorbenburg, a relic of the past
said to have been erected in the 7th century. Saalfeld is a small industrial town. Thuringia towns also
include Eisenach, Gera, Jena, Gotha, Suhl, Nordhausen, and the capital Erfurt. It includes part of
the Harz mountains and a forest, the beautiful Thüringer Wald.
Gotha with the duke of Saxe-Meiningen in 1826. The city included a 14th-century church, a
16th-century city hall, a 13th-century Franciscan monastery and castle, and an 18th-century palace.
It is one of the most ancient towns in Thuringia, and was lorded over by the palace Kitzerstein,
standing on an eminence above the river, built by King Heinrich I. and further constructed the 16th
century. There is also the ruin of the HoherSchwarm, later called the Sorbenburg, a relic of the past
said to have been erected in the 7th century. Saalfeld is a small industrial town. Thuringia towns also
include Eisenach, Gera, Jena, Gotha, Suhl, Nordhausen, and the capital Erfurt. It includes part of
the Harz mountains and a forest, the beautiful Thüringer Wald.
Johann Philipp Kirnberger was among the many musical souls born in
Thuringia. Today's Saalfeld-Rudolstadt, his birthplace, is in the south of
Thuringia, a medley of little dukedoms and home to Luther, Bach and
others. Saalfeld, the capital of the duchy Saxony-Saalfeld from 1690 to
1735, was about 24 miles from Weimar and founded around 1200AD.
Thuringia. Today's Saalfeld-Rudolstadt, his birthplace, is in the south of
Thuringia, a medley of little dukedoms and home to Luther, Bach and
others. Saalfeld, the capital of the duchy Saxony-Saalfeld from 1690 to
1735, was about 24 miles from Weimar and founded around 1200AD.