Christian Friedrich Penzel

Christian Friedrich Penzel (25 November 173714 March 1801) was a German musician. Although he was a composer in his own right, he is remembered more for his association with Johann Sebastian Bach. He was one of Bach’s last pupils. He continued to be involved in performances of Bach’s music after the composer’s death, and he is known for making copies of some of Bach’s works. Life and career Born in Oelsnitz, Vogtland on 25 November 1737, Penzel was the son of a church sexton. He began his formal musical training in his native city where he studied under the cantor J. G. Nacke. He entered the St. Thomas School, Leipzig in 1749 and, given Penzel’s age at the time, this raises the question of the type of teaching Penzel received from Bach. Penzel described himself as a pupil of Bach, but perhaps he was simply referring to general teaching that Bach gave his choirboys and instrumentalists. It would seem unlikely that he attended private lessons, but this cannot be ruled out. After Bach’s death, Penzel became a prefect at the school under Bach’s successor Gottlob Harrer. The position involved him directing the boys’ choir (Thomanerchor) on occasion. Harrer needed the services of a deput