Bach Bio

[duke-one]

Hello: I want to read a bio of J.S.Bach, any recommendations? I have access to Albert Schweitzer's 1905 bio but some say it is not up to date scholarship, that much of Bach's history has come to light since then.

Thanks, KDM

[Ruben Meijerink]

These are all authorative and from the 00s

Christoph Wolff - Johann Sebastian Bach: The Learned Musician
Malcolm Boyd - Bach, 3rd ed.
Peter F. Williams - The Life of Bach

Kind regards

[duke-one]

Thanks Rubin for the suggestions. Just started the A. Schweitzer's Bach bio, seems full of bits of history, both of the man and his times, also what led Bach to be Bach. I hope much of it has not been disproved by later historical research. Now that I've been looking around at books on Bach there are so many, a basic problem for anyone wanting to read any area of history, there is just so much of it, even an overview can be complex.
Duke

[Ruben Meijerink]

You might want to look up The New Bach Reader: A Life of Johann Sebastian Bach in Letters and Documents

I think that one would be perfect for you

[Seasider]

"Music in the Castle of Heaven" by John Eliot Gardiner. A well received bio of Bach by a an expert conductor and interpreter.

[duke-one]

Just finished the first volume of Schweitzer's. It was satisfying for the most part although a fair bit of it is in musical notation and not any use to non-musicians. The historical bits were just what I wanted and will pick up volume two after a break for something else. Also picked up a copy of "Hearing Bach's Passions" by Melamed, should also be a good read as I lean lately to choral works. Duke