The True Life of J.S. Bach

 The True Life of J.S. Bach by Klaus Eidam

A detailed look at the life and accomplishments of Johann Sebastian Bach. Like the other Bach biography I read this year, it deals mainly with his music and his work life - the positions he held as Court Composer to the King of Poland, Court Music Director to the Prince of Anhalt-Cothen, and School Choirmaster of The St. Thomas School at Leipzig. There is little about his personal life in either book so perhaps that information has not been preserved.

Many times throughout this book I felt far out of my depth, but at the same time it gave me a sense of who Bach was and how he worked, and that has made his music all the more interesting to me. I've listened to classical music knowing only what I liked and didn't like. This book has helped me appreciate it a bit differently, to not just listen but to hear it. I'm paying attention now, trying to see what the composer has done with it. All of this is on a very elementary level of course, but it's added enjoyment to my life and I'm grateful for it. 

Though the content dives deeply into Bach's music it remains readable, even for novices like me. One curious aspect of it is how determined the author is to correct previous biographers, who in his view drew too many inaccurate conclusions about Bach. He is out to correct them all, using phrases like "certain scholars would have us believe", "a lot of nonsense has been scribbled that..." and "they are utterly mistaken". He says some "have exhibited not only simple ignorance on occasion but an absolute dearth of musical expertise" and that some "specialists set out not to demonstrate Bach's learing but chielfly their own. They were not interpreting Bach but indirectly proclaiming their own importance via Bach." Ouch. Strong words from a man who obviously has enormous respect and admiration for the composer and is determined to defend him. That he wants the world to understand the "stunningly magnificent musical architect" as he does is not a bad thing, but his intensity is almost comical at times.  

This book was a bit of a challenge, but worth it - even the bits I had to wade through - for the sheer exhilaration of learning, of beginning to understand things I didn't before. That never gets old.  

One last thing I'm taking away from it is a soul-searching quote by a writer named Jean Paul (1763-1825) who said "daring judgements often spare us the effort of deeper insights." Again - ouch. I wonder how much music, how many books, how many people I've dismissed in judgement to spare myself the effort of deeper insight. Too many, I think.