Bach's World by Jan Chiapusso.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Chiapusso, Jan.

Series:

Book collections on Project MUSE.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Bach, Johann Sebastian.

Bach, Johann Sebastian, 1685-1750.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (x, 338 pages) illustrations, music, portraits

Place of Publication:

Indiana University Press 1969

Bloomington, Indiana University Press [1968]

Language Note:

English

Summary:

The author achieves a dual purpose in this volume: "To portray the mind of the master, his peculiarly anachronistic culture in an epoch of change," and "to trace Bach's application of venerable philosophies—musical as well as theological—to a musical equipment technically so much in advance of his time." Mr. Chiapusso accordingly explores Bach's Lutheran education, the philosophers and writers available to him, and the influence of scientific thought on his faith and work. He finds that at the dawn of the Enlightenment, when traditional culture was giving way to new ideas, Bach retained an essentially medieval world view, exercising his art "for the glory of God." An understanding of this world view is essential, Mr. Chiapusso demonstrates, to the full appreciation of Bach's music, its spiritual foundations, and its impressive technical innovations. In this context the author goes on to examine such problems as Bach's attitude toward instrumentation, his ornamentation, his use of symbolism, his use of secular music in the church, and his borrowing of ecclesiastical music for secular purposes. A valuable addition to the history of music and ideas.

Contents:

Introduction : A world without change : Luther to Bach

Nuture of the spiritual man

Early years (1684-1703)

Theology in the classroom

A Lutheran sense of history

Music in the schools

The education of an organist

Growth of a master of music

Beginning a music career (1703-1706)

Bach and Buxtehude

Ornamentation

The organ

Bach in Mühlhausen : encounter with pietism

The Weimar years (1708-1717)

Music speculation : Kircher and Werckmeister

Bach in Köthen (1717-1723)

Worldly music of the spirit

Compositions for the keyboard

Call to Leipzig

Bach's liturgical art work

Fulfillment of Lutheran reform

The chorale

The contata

The passions and oratorios

The culmination of a dying age

Signs of change

Enlightenment darkens Bach's horizon

Wolffian philosophy

Conflict with an "enlightened" rector

Musical discipline : And act of worship

Epilogue.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 318-331).

Description based on print version record.

Other Format:

Print version: Chiapusso, Jan. Bach's world.

ISBN:

0-253-04900-8

OCLC:

948457039

Access Restriction:

Open access Unrestricted online access