Johann Sebastian was now thirty-two years old. He had made good use of his opportunities, had studied hard as a player and composer, and by tireless enthusiasm had so completely mastered every branch of his art, that he towered like a giant above his contemporaries. Both amateurs and professional musicians already regarded him with admiration when, in 1717, Marchand, the French virtuoso, a celebrated Clavier and Organ player, visited Dresden. He played before the King-Elector(79) and won such approbation that he was offered a large salary to enter His Majesty’s service.(80) Marchand’s chief merit was his finished technique. Like Couperin,(81) his musical ideas were weak to the point of banality, as we may judge from his compositions.(82) Bach was an equally finished player, and so rich in ideas that Marchand’s head would have swollen had he been equally gifted. Volumier, Concertmeister at Dresden,(83) was aware of these circumstances, and knowing that the young German had his instrument and his imagination under the fullest control, determined to arrange a contest between the two men in order to give his sovereign the satisfaction of judging their merits. With the King’s approbation, a message was dispatched to Bach at Weimar(84) inviting him to a contest with Marchand. Bach accepted the invitation and set out at once on his journey. Upon his arrival at Dresden Volumier procured him an opportunity to hear Marchand secretly. Far from being discouraged by what he heard, Bach wrote a polite note to the French artist challenging him to a trial of skill, and offering to play at sight anything Marchand put before him, provided the Frenchman submitted himself to a similar test. Marchand accepted the challenge, a time and place for the contest were fixed, and the King gave his approval. At the appointed hour a large and distinguished company assembled in the house of Marshal Count Flemming.(85) Bach arrived punctually; Marchand did not appear. After considerable delay he was sought at his lodging, when it was discovered, to the astonishment of all, that he had left Dresden that morning without taking leave of anybody. Bach therefore performed alone, and excited the admiration of all who heard him, though Volumier was cheated of his intention to exhibit the inferiority of French to German art. Bach was overwhelmed with congratulations; but the dishonesty of a Court official is said to have intercepted a present of one hundred louis d’or sent to him by the King.(86)