Bach, like Shakespeare, is known largely by his works, exceptional in quantity as well as quality, and only a few original documents convey any idea of his life and character. Peter Williams's 2003 look at Bach's biography asks many questions about the so-called evidence. What was he like as a young man, as a father, as an ageing church servant? What were his preoccupations? What music did he know and how did he compose and perform such an amazing amount of music? Was he a disappointed man? Reading the available documentation critically, especially from the viewpoint of a performer, and going back to the first substantial 'biography' of Bach, namely his Obituary, Williams suggests new interpretations of the composer's life and his work. In addition, he asks if our understanding of Bach has been hindered by the unremitting deference displayed towards him since his death.
| ISBN: | 9780521826365 |
| Publication date: | 18th December 2003 |
| Author: | Peter University of Edinburgh and Duke University, North Carolina Williams |
| Publisher: | Cambridge University Press |
| Format: | Hardback |
| Pagination: | 228 pages |
| Series: | Musical Lives |
| Genres: |
Composers and songwriters Art music, orchestral and formal music |
Bach, like Shakespeare, is known largely by his works, exceptional in quantity as well as quality, and only a few original documents convey any idea of his life and character. Peter Williams's 2003 look at Bach's biography asks many questions about the so-called evidence. What was he like as a young man, as a father, as an ageing church servant? What were his preoccupations? What music did he know and how did he compose and perform such an amazing amount of music? Was he a disappointed man? Reading the available documentation critically, especially from the viewpoint of a performer, and going back to the first substantial 'biography' of Bach, namely his Obituary, Williams suggests new interpretations of the composer's life and his work. In addition, he asks if our understanding of Bach has been hindered by the unremitting deference displayed towards him since his death.
The Life of Bach features in the following genres: Composers and songwriters, Art music, orchestral and formal music
The Life of Bach is available in Hardback, Paperback
The Life of Bach was written by Peter University of Edinburgh and Duke University, North Carolina Williams and published by Cambridge University Press
The Life of Bach has 228 pages
Yes it is part of Musical Lives series
£54.90