Geburtshaus Johann Christian Kittel Plaque

Had Johann Christian Kittel known a plaque would mark his birthplace, what would he have thought? Here at Marktstraße 26, near Erfurt’s Domplatz, the Geburtshaus Johann Christian Kittel plaque commemorates this significant musician. The plaque graces a renovated half-timbered building. It serves as a quiet reminder of Kittel’s contribution to music. Born in Erfurt in 1732, Kittel, a son of a stocking maker, received a robust education. He attended the Predigerschule and then the Evangelisches Ratsgymnasium. His musical journey likely began under the tutelage of Jakob Adlung, an organist at the Predigerkirche and a teacher at the Ratsgymnasium and university. A pivotal moment in young Kittel’s life came in 1748. At just 16, he became a student of the renowned Johann Sebastian Bach in Leipzig. A dedicated pupil, Kittel even accompanied Bach in several performances. After Bach’s death in 1750, Kittel became a teacher and organist in Langensalza. He returned to his beloved Erfurt in 1756. Starting at the Barfüßerkirche, he soon ascended to become the esteemed organist at Erfurt’s Rats- and Predigerkirche. He followed in the footsteps of renowned musicians like Johann Pachelbel and Johann Heinrich Buttstedt. Kittel’s reputation spread beyond Erfurt. Even luminaries like Goethe, Herder, and Wieland admired his concerts. Students from across Germany flocked to learn from “Bach’s last pupil.” Kittel emphasized organ playing and its importance in worship. He even drew inspiration from his contemporaries, Joseph Haydn and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Among Kittel’s notable students was Johann Wilhelm Häßler, his nephew. Häßler began his career in Erfurt, but his path led him to international acclaim. After extensive concert tours in Europe, including performances with Haydn in London, Häßler settled in Russia. Catherine the Great appointed him Kapellmeister in 1793. He died in Moscow in 1822. Today, both teacher and student are commemorated in the south of Erfurt. The Häßlerstraße and Christian-Kittel-Straße branch off from Melchendorfer Straße, a fitting tribute to an important chapter in Erfurt’s musical history. The Geburtshaus Johann Christian Kittel plaque is more than just a marker; it’s a melody etched in stone, echoing the life and legacy of a remarkable musician.