Johann Ludwig Krebs
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Johann Ludwig Krebs (1713–February 1, 1780), was a Baroque period musician and composer primarily for organ.
[edit] Life
Krebs was born in 1713 in Weimar, Germany to Johann Tobias Krebs, a well known organist. J. Tobias had at least three sons who were considered musically talented, and J. Ludwig was sent to Leipzig to study organ, lute, and the violin.
Krebs was privileged enough to be taught by Johann Sebastian Bach on the organ. Bach (who had also instructed J. Ludwig’s father) held Krebs in high standing. From a technical standpoint, Krebs was unrivaled next to Bach in his organ proficiency. However, it was quite difficult for Krebs to obtain a patron or a post at any cathedral. This can be attributed to the fact that by this time the Baroque tradition was being left behind in favor of the new style of the Classical period.
Krebs took a small post in Zwickau, and later in 1755 (five years after the death of Bach and the official end of the Baroque period) he was appointed court organist of Gotha–Altenburg under Prince Friedrich. Krebs was so desperate at the time that he did not work for money but instead for food to feed his family (including seven children). Despite never holding a significant post, never being a court composer, and never being commissioned for a work, Krebs was able to compose quite a significant collection of works, though few were published until the 1900s.
[edit] Works
Krebs received excellent training from Bach, though his counterpoint is not as good as Bach's (Bach is considered the master of counterpoint), and, overall, his work is considered of good quality, though at the time it was outdated.
His Toccata and Fugue in E is among his most famous works, and the Eight Short Preludes and Fugues are sometimes attributed to him as well as to his father and J.S. Bach. Krebs's three sons went on to become well known performers in their day.
