Theme
“Does that satisfy you?”
Bach bowed respectfully, seated himself at the instrument, and began extemporizing a prelude of the same character as the theme, and as only he could do it. For some time he developed it beautifully, and then with graceful facility worked up the theme itself, in three parts, with such depth of feeling, richness of conception and harmonic color, and above all with such an absolute mastery of technic, that the musicians held their breath, and the King, standing behind Bach, was transfixed with astonishment.
“Marvellous!” he whispered more than once, and when Bach closed with a contrapuntal masterpiece, the so-called stretto,[47] he exclaimed enthusiastically: “Truly, there is but one Bach!” and embraced the deeply moved master with the affectionate familiarity of a fellow-artist. After this, he said he would retire to enjoy the impression made upon him, but would see Bach again the next day, as he wished to show him the organs in the Potsdam churches and hear him play on them. Bach cheerfully consented, and after making his adieus passed a quiet evening in his own family circle.
The next day, at the appointed hour, the royal carriage stopped at Emanuel’s door, and at the King’s request Friedemann accompanied his father. They were soon at the Church of the Holy Spirit, where the organ was in readiness and the King was awaited. In the meantime the church rapidly filled up with persons of high social standing and Court attendants, and soon the King’s carriage was heard at the door. With a quick step the sovereign entered, hastily greeting those in attendance, and making his way to the organ-loft, where he warmly greeted the master.
“Dear Bach, yesterday you served me a magnificent musical feast, which I greatly enjoyed; but you know the old saying: ‘The appetite grows by what it feeds upon,’ and I am free to say that to-day I am longing to hear a performance such as only you can give us.”
“And what might that be, Your Majesty?”
“A fugue in six parts.”
“Yes, but our theme of yesterday, as Your Majesty well knows, is not adapted to that style of polyphonic treatment. If Your Majesty will graciously choose one that is—”