In his comfortable Weimar home the musician had the quiet and leisure that he needed to perfect his art on all sides, not only in composition but in organ and harpsichord playing.  He felt that he had conquered all difficulties of both instruments, and one day boasted to a friend that he could play any piece, no matter how difficult, at sight, without a mistake.  In order to test this statement the friend invited him to breakfast shortly after.  On the harpsichord were several pieces of music, one of which, though apparently simple, was really very difficult.  His host left the room to prepare the breakfast, while Bach began to try over the music.  All went well until he came to the difficult piece which he began quite boldly but stuck in the middle.  It went no better after several attempts.  As his friend entered, bringing the breakfast, Bach exclaimed:—­“You are right.  One cannot play everything perfectly at sight,—­it is impossible!”

Duke Wilhelm Ernst, in 1714, raised him to the position of Head-Concert Master, a position which offered added privileges.  Every autumn he used his annual vacation in traveling to the principal towns to give performances on organ and clavier.  By such means he gained a great reputation both as player and composer.

On one of these tours he arrived in Dresden in time to learn of a French player who had just come to town.  Jean Marchand had won a great reputation in France, where he was organist to the King at Versailles, and regarded as the most fashionable musician of the day.  All this had made him very conceited and overbearing.  Every one was discussing the Frenchman’s wonderful playing and it was whispered he had been offered an appointment in Dresden.

The friends of Bach proposed that he should engage Marchand in a contest, to defend the musical honor of the German nation.  Both musicians were willing; the King promised to attend.

The day fixed for the trial arrived; a brilliant company assembled.  Bach made his appearance, and all was ready, but the adversary failed to come.  After a considerable delay it was learned that Marchand had fled the city.

In 1717, on his return from Dresden, Bach was appointed Capellmeister to the young Prince Leopold of Anhalt-Coethen.  The Prince was an enthusiastic lover of music, and at Coethen Bach led a happy, busy life.  The Prince often journeyed to different towns to gratify his taste for music, and always took Bach with him.  On one of these trips he was unable to receive the news that his wife had suddenly passed away, and was buried before he could return to Coethen.  This was a severe blow to the whole family.

Four years afterward, Bach married again, Anna Magdalena Wuelkens was in every way suited for a musician’s wife, and for her he composed many of the delightful dances which we now so greatly enjoy.  He also wrote a number of books of studies for his wife and his sons, several of whom later became good musicians and composers.