Exhibition: Bach in Baroque Fulda

In the 18th century, music at the court of the Prince-Abbots or Prince-Bishops of Fulda enjoyed a glorious heyday. Alongside sacred music, concerts, festive music and chamber music were also an integral part of the musical world. The court chapel master Giovanni Baptista Pauli (d. 1773) held a special position during this period.

Apart from the information derived from his employment in Fulda, Pauli is known above all for having been a devoted admirer of Johann Sebastian Bach’s music. The partial print of the first edition of Bach’s ‘Musical Offering’ from 1747 – which was composed following his meeting with Frederick the Great, King of Prussia – is a tangible example of the interdenominational collection of musical knowledge that was fostered in Fulda during the 18th century. At the same time, however, Pauli also played a key role in passing this knowledge on to northern Italy. Throughout his life, he managed to maintain a lively correspondence with his homeland.

In cooperation with the Episcopal Institute of Church Music in Fulda, the HLSB will dedicate a special exhibition to this era of Fulda’s musical history in September 2026. This exhibition will shed light on Pauli’s role in the collection and transfer of musical knowledge in Baroque-era Fulda. Using the *Musical Offering* as an example, the exhibition will illustrate how the works of the Protestant Bach found their way to the Catholic court.

The exhibition will run until 9 October 2026 (Mon–Fri 9.30 am–3.00 pm).