Previously unknown documents relating to 18th century Leipzig church music have been discovered in the Leipziger Stadtarchiv (Leipzig City Archives). The finds include manuscripts by Johann Sebastian Bach, Johann Christoph Gottsched, and Georg Philipp Telemann.
The discovery was made by research associate Dr. Bernd Koska as part of the “BACH Research Portal” project of the Saxon Academy of Sciences and Humanities in Leipzig, which is based at the Leipzig Bach Archive in Leipzig.
The documents include letters and applications by students who lived in Leipzig at the time. One very remarkable find is a previously unknown letter of recommendation which Johann Sebastian Bach wrote for his favourite bass singer Gottlob Friedrich Türsch. The finds reveal that the local authorities specifically supported church music in Leipzig under Johann Sebastian Bach.
Further documents include a letter of reference Johann Christoph Gottsched wrote for Johann Friedrich Doles as well as the oldest surviving application letter by Georg Philipp Telemann.
The new finds are at display at the Leipziger Stadtarchiv until 23 April 2026.
