Jo Cobbaut
asked:
Could this book ALSO be a good introduction to Bach, the man, his music and his time? I am of course not expecting it to replace biographies of Bach.
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Evening in the Palace of Reason,
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Gary Chapin
I think this is an excellent introduction to both the time, his music, its values, and the man himself.
D M
Yes, there is plenty of Bach biography included, as well as insights into what drove him artistically, and musical examples beyond The Musical Offering that are linked to his biography. It is a decent introductory resource to his life and times, and also some of his music (focusing especially on his polyphonic music, ie the chorale preludes, cantatas, and so on, and less so on his concerti, for example).
The book alternates chapters between Bach and Frederick the Great, so if the personal history about Frederick doesn't interest you, then sure, I think you could just flip through the Bach chapters.
The book alternates chapters between Bach and Frederick the Great, so if the personal history about Frederick doesn't interest you, then sure, I think you could just flip through the Bach chapters.
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