Table of Contents

List of Illustrations
Preface
Prologue: Bach and the Notion of "Musical Science"
1: Springs of Musical Talent and Lifelong Influences: Eisenach, 1685-1695
2: Laying the Foundation: Ohrdruff, 1695-1700
3: Bypassing a Musical Apprenticeship: From Lüneberg to Weimar, 1700-1703
4: Building a Reputation: Organist in Arnstadt and Mühlhausen, 1703-1708
5: Exploring "Every Possible Artistry": Court Organist and Cammer Musicus in Weimar, 1708-1714
6: Expanding Musical Horizons: Concertmaster in Weimar, 1714-1717
7: Pursuing "the Musical Contest for Superiority": Capellmeister in Cöthen, 1717-1723
8: Redefining a Venerable Office: Cantor and Music Director in Leipzig---The 1720s
9: Musician and Scholar: Counterpoint of Practice and Theory
10: Traversing Conventional Boundaries: Special Engagements---The 1730s
11: A Singing Bird and Carnations for the Lady of the House: Domestic and Professional Life
12: Contemplating Past, Present, and Future: The Final Decade---The 1740s
Epilogue: Bach and the idea of "Musical Perfection"
Notes
Music Examples
Appendices:1: Chronology
2: Places of Bach's Activities
3: Money and Living Costs in Bach's Time
4: The Lutheran Church Calendar
Bibliography
Genre Index of Bach's Works
Title Index of Bach's Works
General Index

About the Author

Christoph Wolff is William Powell Mason Professor of Music and dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University. He is co-author of the Bach Compendium, co-editor of the research journal Bach-Jahrbuch, and author of The New Grove Bach Family. Thirty-two of his numerous journal articles have been collected in his Bach: Essays on his Life and Music.

Reviews

eminently readable, at times even colloquial. Wolff is one of the foremost Bach scholars today, and his comprehensive knowledge of the source materials equips him admirably to write such a book ... all sorts of interesting details emerge. John Kitchen, Early Music Today, Oct.-Nov. 2000 Drawing on a lifetime's involvement with Bach's music, Professor Wolff has written what is undoubtedly the most authorative and up-to-date survey of the composer's life and works in English, and probably in any language. Malcolm Boyd, The Gramophone Musical biographies don't come much better than this ... no-one seriously interested in Bach should pass it by. Bettina Neumann, Piano, July-Aug 2000 this is a learned and satisfying account of Bach's work, temperament and milieu which will disappoint neither specialist nor general music lover. Nicholas Anderson, BBC Music Magazine

eminently readable, at times even colloquial. Wolff is one of the foremost Bach scholars today, and his comprehensive knowledge of the source materials equips him admirably to write such a book ... all sorts of interesting details emerge. John Kitchen, Early Music Today, Oct.-Nov. 2000 Drawing on a lifetime's involvement with Bach's music, Professor Wolff has written what is undoubtedly the most authorative and up-to-date survey of the composer's life and works in English, and probably in any language. Malcolm Boyd, The Gramophone Musical biographies don't come much better than this ... no-one seriously interested in Bach should pass it by. Bettina Neumann, Piano, July-Aug 2000 this is a learned and satisfying account of Bach's work, temperament and milieu which will disappoint neither specialist nor general music lover. Nicholas Anderson, BBC Music Magazine

A leading Bach scholar, dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Harvard, offers a comprehensive biography in time for the 250th anniversary of Bach's death. Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.