AllMovie

It's not easy being a musical genius, particularly in an age when artists depend on nobility for their bread and butter. Part of HBO's composer series, Bach's Fight for Freedom is the story of Johann Sebastian Bach and his relationship with Frederick, a young servant in the house of Duke Wilhelm, for whom they both work. Bach wants the freedom to compose many different kinds of music, but the duke only wants traditional organ music. Frederick wants to be a stone mason, but his family members have been servants to the duke for generations. Through their friendship, Frederick and Bach find the strength to break traditions and achieve their dreams. The story is based on the true incident when Duke Wilhelm Ernst of Sachsen-Weimer imprisoned Bach for wanting to resign his position and work for another nobleman. This video won the Oppenheim Golden Seal Award for Best Children's Videos and the Kids First Award for Best Children's Video. Recommended for ages six to 12.