Boyd Malcolm. Bach

3rd Edition. — Oxford University Press, 2000. — 312 p. — (Master Musicians).The year 2000 has been declared a "Bach Year," marking the 250th anniversary of the great composer's death. Around the world, there will be major celebrations in honor of his astonishing body of work. This major biography of Bach, now completely revised and boasting 25% more material, is published to coincide with these events.
In the new edition of this widely acclaimed study, biographical chapters alternate with commentary on the works, to demonstrate how the circumstances of Bach's life helped to shape the music he wrote at various periods. We follow 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, Malcolm Boyd 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) have been thoroughly revised to take account of the research undertaken by Bach scholars, including the gold mine of new information recently uncovered in the former USSR.
An authoritative account of the life and work of Johann Sebastian Bach, this volume will be essential reading for everyone interested in the classical composers.List of Illustrations
List of Bibliographical References
A Note on Currency
Background and Early Years (1685-1703)
Arnstadt, Mülhausen (1703-8)
Early Works
Weimar (1708-17)
Organ Music
Chorale Settings
Preludes and Fugues
Miscellaneous Organ Work
Cöthen (1717-23)
Orchestral, Instrumental, and Keyboard Music
Concertos
Orchestral Suites
Instrumental Works
Keyboard Works
Leipzig (1723-30)
Music for the Leipzig Liturgy
Cantatas
Motets and Magnificat
Passions
Leipzig (1730-41)
Parodies and Publications
Oratorios and Masses
Harpsichord Concertos
The Clavier-Übung
Leipzig (1742-50)
Canons and Counterpoints
The Bach Heritage
Appendices
Calendar
List of Works
Personalia
Select Bibliography