Anna Magdalena Bach

Anna Magdalena Bach (née Wilcke; 22 September 1701 – 27 February 1760) was a German professional singer and the second wife of Johann Sebastian Bach. Biography Anna Magdalena Wilcke was born at Zeitz, in the Duchy of Saxe-Zeitz. While little is known about her early musical education, the family was musical. Her father, Johann Caspar Wilcke (c. 1660–1733), was a trumpet player, who had a career at the courts of Zeitz and Weißenfels. Her mother, Margaretha Elisabeth Liebe, was the daughter of an organist. By 1721, Anna Magdalena was employed as a soprano singer at the princely court of Anhalt-Cöthen. Johann Sebastian Bach had been working there as Capellmeister (director of music) since December 1717. Johann Sebastian, 36, married the 20-year-old Anna Magdalena on 3 December of that year, seventeen months after the death of his first wife, Maria Barbara Bach. Later that month, the couple’s employer, Prince Leopold of Anhalt-Cöthen, married Frederica Henriette of Anhalt-Bernburg. Bach believed the princess’ lack of interest in music caused the musical life at the court to decline, although there is evidence that other factors were involved. There were budgetary constraints of which B