J.S.Bach (Oxford Composer Companions) - Hardcover

Boyd, Malcolm

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0198662084 ISBN 13: 9780198662082

Publisher: Oxford University Press, 1999

Synopsis

As well as being an authoritative resource for scholars, students and performers, this volume provides the ordinary Bach/Baroque music enthusiast with information not usually found in programme or sleeve notes, exploring the life and works of Bach and the historical context in which he lived. Topics covered include: genres (for example chorales), structures (such as fugue), individual works (like St John Passion), compositional practices and techniques, people and places, institutions, instruments, performing practice, festivals and performers, reception of Bach's music, stylistic influence and parodies, and Bach scholarship. The main alphabetical text is supplemented by useful endmatter, including a family tree, chronology, list of works, openings of vocal works and a glossary of specialist terms.

About this title

Review:

"[O]rients readers well to current issues in Bach scholarship...[O]ffers many fascinating insights."--Books & Culture "This is an excellent first volume of a new series of extensive composer-based reference books from Oxford."--Library Journal "Black-and-white illustrations of Bach, his sons, places important in his life, a family tree, manuscripts of his works, and a map of his Germany enhance the text.... A significant resource on one of the most amazing performers who ever lived."--Booklist "A vast storehouse of information on almost everything you could want to know about this most universally revered of composers. Up to date with recent scholarship and research, it deals very readably with an immense field of subjects--Bach's life, family, friends, pupils and contemporaries, places connected with him, sources of his works, instruments (with specifications of organs he played), musical forms, publishers, scholars, and much more. Every single one of the cantatas is examined in considerable detail, as well as the Passions and many other works, such as the Brandenburg Concertos, the Art of the Fugue or the Clavier-Ubung."--Gramophone "[O]rients readers well to current issues in Bach scholarship...[O]ffers many fascinating insights."--Books & Culture "This is an excellent first volume of a new series of extensive composer-based reference books from Oxford."--Library Journal "Black-and-white illustrations of Bach, his sons, places important in his life, a family tree, manuscripts of his works, and a map of his Germany enhance the text.... A significant resource on one of the most amazing performers who ever lived."--Booklist "A vast storehouse of information on almost everything you could want to know about this most universally revered of composers. Up to date with recent scholarship and research, it deals very readably with an immense field of subjects--Bach's life, family, friends, pupils and contemporaries, places connected with him, sources of his works, instruments (with specifications of organs he played), musical forms, publishers, scholars, and much more. Every single one of the cantatas is examined in considerable detail, as well as the Passions and many other works, such as the Brandenburg Concertos, the Art of the Fugue or the Clavier-Ubung."--Gramophone "[O]rients readers well to current issues in Bach scholarship...[O]ffers many fascinating insights."--Books & Culture "This is an excellent first volume of a new series of extensive composer-based reference books from Oxford."--Library Journal "Black-and-white illustrations of Bach, his sons, places important in his life, a family tree, manuscripts of his works, and a map of his Germany enhance the text.... A significant resource on one of the most amazing performers who ever lived."--Booklist "A vast storehouse of information on almost everything you could want to know about this most universally revered of composers. Up to date with recent scholarship and research, it deals very readably with an immense field of subjects--Bach's life, family, friends, pupils and contemporaries, places connected with him, sources of his works, instruments (with specifications of organs he played), musical forms, publishers, scholars, and much more. Every single one of the cantatas is examined in considerable detail, as well as the Passions and many other works, such as the Brandenburg Concertos, the Art of the Fugue or the Clavier-Ubung."--Gramophone "[O]rients readers well to current issues in Bach scholarship...[O]ffers many fascinating insights."--Books & Culture "This is an excellent first volume of a new series of extensive composer-based reference books from Oxford."--Library Journal "Black-and-white illustrations of Bach, his sons, places important in his life, a family tree, manuscripts of his works, and a map of his Germany enhance the text.... A significant resource on one of the most amazing performers who ever lived."--Booklist "A vast storehouse of information on almost everything you could want to know about this most universally revered of composers. Up to date with recent scholarship and research, it deals very readably with an immense field of subjects--Bach's life, family, friends, pupils and contemporaries, places connected with him, sources of his works, instruments (with specifications of organs he played), musical forms, publishers, scholars, and much more. Every single one of the cantatas is examined in considerable detail, as well as the Passions and many other works, such as the Brandenburg Concertos, the Art of the Fugue or the Clavier-Ubung."--Gramophone " O rients readers well to current issues in Bach scholarship... O ffers many fascinating insights."--Books & Culture "This is an excellent first volume of a new series of extensive composer-based reference books from Oxford."--Library Journal "Black-and-white illustrations of Bach, his sons, places important in his life, a family tree, manuscripts of his works, and a map of his Germany enhance the text.... A significant resource on one of the most amazing performers who ever lived."--Booklist "A vast storehouse of information on almost everything you could want to know about this most universally revered of composers. Up to date with recent scholarship and research, it deals very readably with an immense field of subjects--Bach's life, family, friends, pupils and contemporaries, places connected with him, sources of his works, instruments (with specifications of organs he played), musical forms, publishers, scholars, and much more. Every single one of the cantatas is examined in considerable detail, as well as the Passions and many other works, such as the Brandenburg Concertos, the Art of the Fugue or the Clavier-Ubung."--Gramophone

About the Author:

Malcolm Boyd is the author of numerous books on music, particularly on Bach. He was a member of the editorial team for The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians and is a frequent contributor to periodicals and reviews. He lives in the United Kingdom.

About this edition

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0198662084
• ISBN 13: 9780198662082
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 652