The Music of Bach

📖 The Scoop

After the brief introductory chapter on Bach's life and career, the book is divided into sections on the twin mainstreams of his work: instrumental music and vocal music. Chapter by chapter, the author surveys the organ music, the clavier and cembalo music, the chamber music, and "The Musical Offering" and "The Art of the Fugue." In the vocal music section, he covers both church and secular cantatas, church oratorios, the passion music, the funeral music, and the Latin music. Definitions of forms, discussions of Bach's innovations and the musical traditions and social mores that influenced him, analyses of musical themes and developments--all this is woven through a fascinating narrative that brings to life both Bach and his age. The author's persistent aim is not to provide complex accounts of form and technique, but to relate Bach's music to the circumstances and experiences of his life. Despite its brevity, this is no over-simplification. Music lovers will find their understanding and appreciation of the man and his music immeasurably deepened by this book. It is a superb introduction, too, and music students preparing for more detailed study of theory and practice would do well to read through this book as preparation and background.

Genre: Music / Genres & Styles / Classical (fancy, right?)