J. S. Bach A Life in Music [Hardcover]

J. S. Bach: A Life in Music is a fresh approach to the life of the extraordinarily gifted composer.Peter Williams' fresh approach to the life of J. S. Bach explores the composer's life as an orphan and family man, extraordinarily gifted composer and player and as an energetic and ambitious artist, whose mastery of harmony established nothing less than a norm in Western culture.Peter Williams' fresh approach to the life of J. S. Bach explores the composer's life as an orphan and family man, extraordinarily gifted composer and player and as an energetic and ambitious artist, whose mastery of harmony established nothing less than a norm in Western culture.Peter Williams approaches afresh the life and music of arguably the most studied of all composers, interpreting both Bach's life by deconstructing his original obituary in the light of more recent information and his music by evaluating his priorities and irrepressible creative energy. How, even though belonging to musical families on both his parents' sides, did he come to possess so bewitching a sense of rhythm and melody and a mastery of harmony that established nothing less than a norm in Western culture? In considering that the works of a composer are his biography, the book's title A Life in Music means both a life spent making music and one revealed in the music as we know it. A distinguished scholar and performer, Williams re-examines Bach's life as an orphan and family man, as an extraordinarily gifted composer and player and as an ambitious artist who never suffered fools gladly.1. Early years, 16851703; 2. First appointments, 17038; 3. Weimar, 170817; 4. C?then, 171723; 5. Leipzig, the first years; 6. Leipzig, the middle years; 7. Leipzig, the final years; 8. Observations, descriptions, criticisms; Epilogue; Postscript.2007 Outstanding Academic Title-- Choice Magazine & its freshness of approach and practical knowledge of the music are enthralling.
--The Herald Peter Williams' obsl38