Johann Sebastian Bach: His Life, Art, and Work is an early 19th-century biography of Johann Sebastian Bach, written in German by Johann Nikolaus Forkel, and later translated by, among others, Charles Sanford Terry.When Forkel published his Ueber Johann Sebastian Bachs Leben, Kunst und Kunstwerke: Für patriotische Verehrer echter musikalischer Kunst in 1802 it was the first biography on the composer published as a separate book. Forkel dedicated the work to Gottfried van Swieten. Van Swieten was an early Bach adept, for instance making Mozart familiar with the baroque composer.

Johann Sebastian Bach: His Life, Art, and Work is an early 19th-century biography of Johann Sebastian Bach, written in German by Johann Nikolaus Forkel, and later translated by, among others, Charles Sanford Terry.When Forkel published his Ueber Johann Sebastian Bachs Leben, Kunst und Kunstwerke: Für patriotische Verehrer echter musikalischer Kunst in 1802 it was the first biography on the composer published as a separate book. Forkel dedicated the work to Gottfried van Swieten. Van Swieten was an early Bach adept, for instance making Mozart familiar with the baroque composer.

Publisher Description

Book Excerpt: scuss the first English version of Forkel's monograph, published in 1820, with the following title-page:LIFE OF JOHN SEBASTIAN BACH; with a Critical View of his Compositions. By J. N. Forkel, Author of The Complete History of Music, etc., etc. Translated from the German. London: Printed for T. Boosey and Co., Holles-Street, Cavendish-Square. 1820.The book was published in February 1820; it was announced, with a slightly differently worded title-page, in the New Monthly Magazine and Universal Register for March 1820 (p. 341), and the Scots Magazine for the same month ( vol. lxxxv. p. 263). The New Monthly states the price as 5s., the Quarterly Review (vol. xxiii. p. 281) as 6s. The book contains xi+116+3 pages of Music Figures, crown octavo, bound in dark unlettered cloth. It has neither Introduction, notes (other than Forkel's), nor indication of the translator's identity. Much of the translation is so bad as to suggest grave doubts of the translator's comprRead More

Johann Sebastian Bach: His Life, Art, and Work is an early 19th-century biography of Johann Sebastian Bach, written in German by Johann Nikolaus Forkel, and later translated by, among others, Charles Sanford Terry.When Forkel published his Ueber Johann Sebastian Bachs Leben, Kunst und Kunstwerke: Für patriotische Verehrer echter musikalischer Kunst in 1802 it was the first biography on the composer published as a separate book. Forkel dedicated the work to Gottfried van Swieten. Van Swieten was an early Bach adept, for instance making Mozart familiar with the baroque composer.

Johann Nikolaus Forkel's 'Johann Sebastian Bach: His Life, Art, and Work' is an in-depth exploration of the life and music of one of the greatest composers in history. Forkel delves into Bach's compositions, highlighting his groundbreaking innovations in music theory and the profound emotional depth of his work. The book not only provides a close analysis of Bach's musical style but also offers a comprehensive look at his personal life and the historical context in which he lived and worked. Forkel's writing is both scholarly and accessible, making it a valuable resource for music enthusiasts and scholars alike. With detailed discussions of Bach's most famous works and insightful commentary on his legacy, this book serves as a definitive study of the composer's lasting impact on music history. Johann Nikolaus Forkel, a respected musicologist and biographer, was uniquely positioned to write about Bach, having been a contemporary of many of Bach's students and colleagues. As the first biographer of Bach, Forkel's work laid the foundation for future scholars to explore the life and music of the renowned composer. His passion for music and meticulous research shine through in this seminal work. For anyone interested in delving deeper into the life and music of Johann Sebastian Bach, Johann Nikolaus Forkel's 'Johann Sebastian Bach: His Life, Art, and Work' is an essential read. This comprehensive study offers a rich exploration of Bach's genius, providing valuable insights into the mind of a musical master.