The date and circumstances of his removal from Lüneburg to Weimar are not precisely known.(64) He certainly became Court Musician there in 1703, when he was just over eighteen years of age.(65) But in the following year he gave up the post on his appointment as Organist to the new Church at Arnstadt, probably desiring to develop his taste for the Organ and realising that he would have better opportunities to do so at Arnstadt than at Weimar, where he was engaged simply to play the Violin.(66) At Arnstadt he set himself assiduously to study the works of the celebrated organists of the period, so far as his modest means permitted him, and in order to improve himself in composition(67) and Organ playing,(68) walked the whole way to Lübeck to hear Dietrich Buxtehude, Organist of St. Mary’s Church in that city, with whose compositions he was acquainted already. He remained there about three months,(69) listening to the celebrated Organist, but without making himself known to him, and returned to Arnstadt with his experience much increased. Bach’s zeal and persevering diligence had already drawn attention to him, as is evident from the fact that he received in succession several offers of vacant organistships, one of which, at the Church of St. Blasius, Mühlhausen, he accepted in 1707.(70) Barely a year after he entered upon his duties there(71) he again visited Weimar and played to the Duke, who was so pleased with his performance that he offered him the post of Court Organist, which he accepted.(72) Weimar promised him a particularly agreeable atmosphere in which to cultivate his genius.(73) He applied himself closely to his work, and probably at this period achieved the mastery of the Organ that he ever afterwards possessed. At Weimar also he wrote his great compositions for that instrument.(74) In 1717(75) the Duke appointed him Concertmeister, a post which gave him further opportunity to develop his art, since it required him to compose and direct Church music. It was about this time that Zachau, Handel’s master, died at Halle, where he was Organist.(76) Bach, who by now had acquired a great reputation, was invited to succeed him.(77) He visited Halle and composed a work as a specimen of his skill But for some reason unknown he did not obtain the post. It was given to a clever pupil of Zachau, named Kirchhoff.(78)