AP: Previously unknown Bach work discovered

[Eugene]

Previously unknown Bach work discovered

By Stephen Graham, Associated Press Writer | August 31, 2006

BERLIN --A previously unknown work by Johann Sebastian Bach has turned
up in a crate of 18th-century birthday cards removed from a German
library shortly before it was devastated by fire last year, researchers
said Wednesday.

Experts say the work for soprano and string or keyboard accompaniment,
composed for a German duke's birthday, is the first new music from the
renowned composer to surface in 30 years.

Researcher Michael Maul from the Bach Archiv foundation found the
composition, dated October 1713, in May in the eastern city of Weimar.
The Leipzig-based foundation said there was no doubt about the
authenticity of the handwritten, two-page score.

"It is no major composition but an occasional work in the form of an
exquisite and highly refined strophic aria, Bach's only contribution
to a musical genre popular in late 17th-century Germany," said
Christoph Wolff, the foundation's director and a professor at Harvard
University.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/entertainment/gossip/15406749.htm

[flyingfysh]

1. Bach's work was sold as scrap paper

He produced masterpieces weekly, but people at the time didn't realize it. When he died, his accumulated music was sold as scrap paper to places like butcher shops and orchards (to wrap tree trunks). Most of what he produced has been lost.

[maseman]

2. I'm an organist

Not professional, just a hobby. I play quite a bit of Back's work and have no idea how he wrote the thousands of pieces he created. It sometimes takes me a year to learn one piece and to think he wrote it in probably a few days. Amazing mind.

[brentspeak]

12. He wasn't the kind of composer who agonized over works

Like Mozart, Bach just sort of wrote down what he had in mind and went immediately on to the next piece. Beethoven, on the other hand, pondered and fretted over each and every little note of his works. Somehow, he still produced a lot of music.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

24. That's what people did in the year 250 BTV

(Before TV)

[Javaman]

3. Ah Bach. nt

[KansDem]

17. I love that M*A*S*H episode!

"Ahhhh, Bach" indeed! :D

[Javaman]

23. "I'm partial to the fuge" LOL nt

[flowomo]

4. I hear they're making a new movie bio of him.....

When they sent out the casting call, Arnold Schwartenegger showed up and announced, "I'll be Bach."

(wince)

[Javaman]

6. I think things should be thrown at you for that pun...

;)

[xchrom]

9. maybe a boomerang?

[Javaman]

16. Right back atcha! LOL nt

[Benhurst]

11. ...

:spank:

[Lisa]

25. please stop! I can't Handel it! (n/t)

[flowomo]

27. this is a free country!

You can't TELEMANN what to do.

[Lisa]

29. you're just trying to Lully us into a false sense of security!

And hearing that the piece was found in a bunch of old mail hints that there could be other shocks to come. What next -- the "Scarlatti Letter"?

[Javaman]

5. "is the first new music from the

renowned composer to surface in 30 years."

He was on a "Lou Reed" type of sabbatical for a while, losing his creative juice for a bit. But he's back, baby! He's pissed off at todays music, he's ready to kick ass and take names!

Bach was quoted recently saying, "some say that a 300+ year old musician won't attract todays young people, I say bullocks to them! I will blow they away, BLOW THEM AWAY".

Mr. Bach, promptly smashed our cameras, hurled insults at us, then spat on an old lady.

It's been rumored years ago that both Sid Vicious and Johnny Rotten took their queues from Bach, the original bad boy of music.

Ancient transcripts of the time show that after a few of his recitals Bach would smash his organ to pieces, then insult various heads of state and royal families. He was a fan of the then trend of vomiting in public, rumored to be started by him.

From this reporters point of view, Bach is one nasty SOB, but he has spirit. Look out world, Bach is Back!

[Drum]

7. Kick for the old Master!

:kick:
Bach's the bomb...his influence cannot be overstated (heck, even in Eddie Van Halen's scorching "Eruption"...seriously, give it a listen.) JSBach is the forebear of so much of what we hear and enjoy, it's just amazing. His output musically could only be approached by, mmm, Mozart (methinks) and his fertility was also familial...he fathered 20 children.
see also: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Sebastian_Bach

[Fierce]

8. Very cool.

I love stories like this.

[xchrom]

10. delightful! nothing better than bach!

[Sparkly]

13. Amazing!! nt

[Jacobin]

14. Awesome. Can't wait to hear it

His point, counterpoint completely absorbs me like no other music in the world.

[Akoto]

15. Glad to hear that he's Bach in business.

:hide:

[librechik]

21. tee hee

one hee

[lynne]

28. Hey, quit HAYDN -

- I see you peeking there! :)

[KansDem]

18. I once had a professor say that if he were stranded on a desert island...

...and could only have the works of one composer with him, he would choose Bach, because he composed in just about every genre at the time, with perhaps the exception of opera, but that his oratorios could substitute for that genre.

It is no major composition but an occasional work in the form of an
exquisite and highly refined strophic aria, Bach's only contribution
to a musical genre popular in late 17th-century Germany

Yet one more genre Bach no doubt excelled at...

[KansDem]

19. Musicologist Willy Apel wrote that all Western music development

...ceased after JS Bach; everything having been composed after him being merely replication (or something to that effect).

Sorry I don't have the exact quote...

[flyingfysh]

31. he even did an opera, of sorts

Have you heard of the "Coffee Catata" (or something like that). It has a very silly plot involving a man's daughter who absolutely loved coffee. It was composed to be sung at - where else? - a coffee house!

[cliss]

20. Thanks for the update, Eugene.

Bach.....the best. Every once in a while, they do find some new stuff from Bach.

I listen to his stuff all the time. Can't wait to hear this new piece.

[kineneb]

22. good news in a sad world

JS Bach was a genius, and yet was considered an "old-fashioned" composer during his lifetime. Glad to learn of another of his compositions has been found.

I always encourage my keyboard students to study his works. And I love playing them on the organ and harpsichord.

[truthisfreedom]

26. "Maul said the foundation would exhibit the score once copyright issued

have been cleared up.""

somebody needs a new editor.

[rupturedlumbar]

30. bone -players

...I am a semi pro bone player.  To me, Bach is just Bach.  I
was  fortunate enough though, to spend some time with Bill
Watrous, the Michael Jordan of bop trombone players, and most
of his 'listening" is done with the classical masters.

[mac56]

32. Anyone else besides me thinking of P.D.Q. Bach?

[Karenina]

33. What's THAT?

FRENCH HORNS!!! :rofl:

[Cayden4k]

34. Nice

This is most interesting news, I have always liked the works of Bach.