In this book, biographical chapters alternate with commentary on the works of Bach, to demonstrate how the circumstances of Bach's life helped to shape the music he wrote during various periods. The book follows Bach as he travels from Arnstadt and Muhlhausen to Weimar, Cothen, and finally Leipzig. These journeys alternating with insightful discussions of the great composer's organ and orchestral compositions. As well as presenting a rounded picture of Bach, his music, and his posthumous reputation and influence, this book considers the sometimes controversial topics of “parody” and arrangemen ... More

In this book, biographical chapters alternate with commentary on the works of Bach, to demonstrate how the circumstances of Bach's life helped to shape the music he wrote during various periods. The book follows Bach as he travels from Arnstadt and Muhlhausen to Weimar, Cothen, and finally Leipzig. These journeys alternating with insightful discussions of the great composer's organ and orchestral compositions. As well as presenting a rounded picture of Bach, his music, and his posthumous reputation and influence, this book considers the sometimes controversial topics of “parody” and arrangement, number symbolism, and the style and meaning of Bach's late works. Recent theories on the constitution of Bach's performing forces at Leipzig are also present. The text and the appendixes (which include a chronology, personalia, bibliography, and a complete catalogue of Bach's works) are revised in this edition to take account of more recent research undertaken by Bach scholars, including the gold mine of new information uncovered in the former USSR.