Upon Bach's next post, it is important to realize that here he nothing to do with a choir, whereas, in his recent appointments much time was spent around choir work. This new endeaver entailed being the Court organist and chamber musician for the Duke Wilhelm Ernst. Here in Weimar, where Bach managed to settle for 9 years, he gained a good friendship with Johann Gottfried Walther who played organ in the town church.

Bach's initial payment was 156 gulden.In 1713 it increased to 225.In 1714 Bach received the position of Konzertmeister( concertmaster) and it can be assumed that his pay was increased once again. The Kapellmeister at the time was Johann Samuel Drese, who was deep into his sixties. It is believed that not much personal developement was made between the two, as when Drese died, the position was passed over Bach. Telemann was first asked, and after his decline, they appointed Drese's son, who no real claim to fame except that he always acted for his father in the more recent years. This obviously sent Bach's mind screaming, and the first thing he wanted to do was leave Weimar.

It seems quite understandable that Bach grabbed the offer for him to be Kapellmeister at Anhalt-Cöthen immediately after it was offered from Prince Leopold. Had circumstances been otherwise, he wouldn't have gone, as Cöthen was not very attractive. The Court belonged to the Reformed Church, which meant that there would be no music in church. The castle's church was of inferior quality too. So all Bach really was, was his master's director of Chamber music.

Bach once again let his lack of discipline get the better of him. On this occasion he demanded immediate release, the Duke however, did not take kindly to this act, and had Bach arrested until the 2nd of December 1917.Once released, he immediately left for Cöthen.