Heinrich August Wildenhayn (Theologian, Bach's Pupil)

Born: November 24, 1712 - Leipzig, Saxony, Germany
Died: 1769 (?) - Frankfurt an der Oder, Brandenburg, Germany (?)

Heinrich August Wildenhayn made his application to enrolld at the Thomasschule in Leipzig in 1729. He began as an “Externus” in 1728, not accepted as Thomaner but may have continued as “Externus”. He continued his studies at Universität Leipzig from in 1734 (Major: Theology). Although he attended (as external) the Thomasschule during J.S. Bach's tenure, it is not known if he actually studied with him. In his report on candidates for an assistant's post at the Thomasschule in Leipzig from January 18, 1740, J.S. Bach wrote that he can play a keyboard instrument somewhat but that he personally admitted that he had no talent for singing. He later worked as sub-rector at the Lyceum in Frankfurt an der Oder, Brandenburg.

Source: fine-print footnotes in the Bach-Dokumente; Bach Digital Website (August 2019)
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (March 2020)

Links to other Sites

Actual and Potential Non-Thomaner Singers and Players who participated in Bach’s Figural Music in Leipzig (BCW)
Wildenhayn, Heinrich August (Bach-Digital)

Bibliography

Bach's Pupils: List of Bach's Pupils | Actual and Potential Non-Thomaner Singers and Players who participated in Bach’s Figural Music in Leipzig | Alumni of the Thomasschule in Leipzig during Bach's Tenure | List of Bach's Private Pupils | List of Bach's Copyists
Thomanerchor Leipzig: Short History | Members: 1729 | 1730 | 1731 | 1740-1741 | 1744-1745 | Modern Times
Bach’s Pupils Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2
Articles: Organizional Structure of the Thomasschule in Leipzig | The Rules Established for the Thomasschule by a Noble and Very Wise Leipzig City Council - Printed by Bernhard Christoph Breitkopf Leipzig, 1733 | Homage Works for Thomas School Rectors