Overview

Although we are acquainted with the music of J. S. Bach through countless performances and recordings, the composer himself continues to come across as the somewhat enigmatic figure depicted in a single, familiar portrait. Published in 2000 to mark the 250th anniversary of Bach's death, author and leading Bach scholar Christoph Wolff presents a new picture that brings to life this towering figure of the Baroque era. Now available in paperback, this engaging biography portrays Bach as the living, breathing--and sometimes imperfect--human being that he was, while bringing to bear all the advances gained in the last half-century of Bach scholarship. Wolff demonstrates the intimate connection between the composer's life and his music, showing how Bach's superb inventiveness pervaded his career as a musician, composer, performer, scholar, and teacher. And throughout, we see Bach in the broader context of his time: its institutions, traditions, and influences. With this highly readable book, Wolff sets a new standard in Bach biography.

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9780199248841

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Reviews

`Wolff's book is a magnificent summary of the predominant late-20the-century view of Bach, presented with the brilliance and clarity of an Orgelbewegung instrument.' Early Music, February 2001 `Taking head-on, without compromise, the learned aspect as the single most important one is the essential novelty in Wolff's contribution. He does so in terms that any intelligent reader can understand, with none of the obfuscation and obscurity that mars some current musicological writing.' Early Music, February 2001 `such is the grasp of the writer and the interest of the central figure that the narrative is never less than compelling. It brings us into the living reality of Bach's environment in a way that a more 'poetic' evocation never could. ... the book is ... studded with perceptive musical commentaries.' Early Music, February 2001 `This is the fruit of the amazingly comprehensive scope of Wolff's view, held with a strength and clarity of focus in which there are no fudged edges. He conveys his fascination with every detail of Bach's life' Early Music, February 2001 `Review from previous edition ... eminently readable, at times even colloquial. Wolff is one of the foremost Bach scholars today, and his comprehensive knowledge of the source materials equips him admirably to write such a book ... all sorts of interesting details emerge. ' John Kitchen, Early Music Today, Oct.-Nov. 2000 `There is always an illuminating fact or bit of evidence ... Wolff's mastery of the documents can not but help Those Desirous of Learning. ' Peter Williams, The Musical Times, Feb. 2001 `Drawing on a lifetime's involvement with Bach's music, Professor Wolff has written what is undoubtedly the most authorative and up-to-date survey of the composer's life and works in English, and probably in any language. ' Malcolm Boyd, The Gramophone, Aug. 2000 `Musical biographies don't come much better than this ... no-one seriously interested in Bach should pass it by.' Bettina Neumann, Piano, July-Aug 2000 `... this is a learned and satisfying account of Bach's work, temperament and milieu which will disappoint neither specialist nor general music lover. ' Nicholas Anderson, BBC Music Magazine, Aug. 2000 `... model demonstration of how to draw significant implications from the most prosaic-seeming facts. ' Noel Malcolm, The Sunday Telegraph, 23 Apr. 2000 `The ... description of this Harvard professor as 'the leading Bach scholar of our time' is no exaggeration, and this admirable book undoubtedly does 'set a new standard for Bach biography'. ... the author provides a remarkably comprehensive account of Bach's life. ... What a difference there is between informed conjecture and the idle specualtion which so often weakens biographical writing. ... Wolff has channelled his formidable scholarship into readable prose. ... this splendid, reasonably priced biography ... accommodates ample musical discussion, with the excellent coverage of topics. ' Philip Borg-Wheeler, Classical Music, 15 July 2000

eminently readable, at times even colloquial. Wolff is one of the foremost Bach scholars today, and his comprehensive knowledge of the source materials equips him admirably to write such a book ... all sorts of interesting details emerge. John Kitchen, Early Music Today, Oct.-Nov. 2000 Drawing on a lifetime's involvement with Bach's music, Professor Wolff has written what is undoubtedly the most authorative and up-to-date survey of the composer's life and works in English, and probably in any language. Malcolm Boyd, The Gramophone Musical biographies don't come much better than this ... no-one seriously interested in Bach should pass it by. Bettina Neumann, Piano, July-Aug 2000 this is a learned and satisfying account of Bach's work, temperament and milieu which will disappoint neither specialist nor general music lover. Nicholas Anderson, BBC Music Magazine

eminently readable, at times even colloquial. Wolff is one of the foremost Bach scholars today, and his comprehensive knowledge of the source materials equips him admirably to write such a book ... all sorts of interesting details emerge. John Kitchen, Early Music Today, Oct.-Nov. 2000 Drawing on a lifetime's involvement with Bach's music, Professor Wolff has written what is undoubtedly the most authorative and up-to-date survey of the composer's life and works in English, and probably in any language. Malcolm Boyd, The Gramophone Musical biographies don't come much better than this ... no-one seriously interested in Bach should pass it by. Bettina Neumann, Piano, July-Aug 2000 this is a learned and satisfying account of Bach's work, temperament and milieu which will disappoint neither specialist nor general music lover. Nicholas Anderson, BBC Music Magazine

Author Information

Christoph Wolff is William Powell Mason Professor of Music and dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University. He is co-author of the Bach Compendium, co-editor of the research journal Bach-Jahrbuch, and author of The New Grove Bach Family. Thirty-two of his numerous journal articles have been collected in his Bach: Essays on his Life and Music.

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