One of the great organists of the time was Johann Adam Reinken.  When Sebastian learned that this master played the organ in St. Katharine’s Church in Hamburg, he determined to walk the whole distance thither to hear him.  Now Hamburg was called in those days the “Paradise of German music,” and was twenty-five good English miles from the little town of Lueneburg, but what did that matter to the eager lad?  Obstacles only fired him to strive the harder for what he desired to attain.

The great joy of listening to such a master made him forget the long tramp and all the weariness, and spurred him on to repeat the journey whenever he had saved a few shillings to pay for food and lodging.  On one occasion he lingered a little longer in Hamburg than usual, until his funds were well-nigh exhausted, and before him was the long walk without any food.  As he trudged along he came upon a small inn, from the open door of which came a delightful savory odor.  He could not resist looking in through the window.  At that instant a window above was thrown open and a couple of herrings’ heads were tossed into the road.  The herring is a favorite article of food in Germany and poor Sebastian was glad to pick up these bits to satisfy the cravings of hunger.  What was his surprise on pulling the heads to pieces to find each one contained a Danish ducat.  When he recovered from his astonishment, he entered the inn and made a good meal with part of the money; the rest ensured another visit to Hamburg.

After remaining three years in Lueneburg, Bach secured a post as violinist in the private band of Prince Johann Ernst of Saxe-Weimar; but this was only to fill the time till he could find a place to play the instrument he so loved.  An opportunity soon came.  The old Thuringian town Arnstadt had a new church and a fine new organ.  The consistory of the church were looking for a capable organist and Bach’s request to be allowed to try the instrument was readily granted.

As soon as they heard him play they offered him the post, with promise of increasing the salary by a contribution from the town funds.  Bach thus found himself at the age of eighteen installed as organist at a salary of fifty florins, with thirty thalers in addition for board and lodging, equal, all in all, to less than fifty dollars.  In those days this amount was considered a fair sum for a young player.  On August 14, 1703, the young organist entered upon his duties, promising solemnly to be diligent and faithful to all requirements.

The requirements of the post fortunately left him plenty of leisure to study.  Up to this time he had done very little composing, but now he set about teaching himself the art of composition.

The first thing he did was to take a number of concertos written for the violin by Vivaldi, and set them for the harpsichord.  In this way he learned to express himself and to attain facility in putting his thoughts on paper without first playing them on an instrument.  He worked alone in this way with no assistance from any one, and often studied till far into the night to perfect himself in this branch of his art.