Description
Book SynopsisIn 1947 Friedrich Smend published a study claiming that J. S. Bach used a natural-order alphabet (A = 1 to Z = 24) in his works. He demonstrated that Bach incorporated significant words into his music, and provided himself with a symbolic compositional theme. Here, Dr Tatlow investigates the plausibility of Smend's claims with new evidence, challenging Smend's conclusions.
Trade Review'A miracle has come to pass: a book concerning Bach and number symbolism which is sensible, perceptive and scholarly.' John Butt, Music and Letters
'Ruth Tatlow's book is not only one of the very few scientifically serious investigations into this overexploited subject area, but also the first ever critical analysis of Smend's number symbolical works and their premises.' Christoph Wolff, Bach-Jahrbuch
'Tatlow shows with devastating clarity that from Luther's time to Bach's, the use of such numerical interpretation for Christian theological purposes was considered misguided at best, and heretical at worst.' Daniel Melamed, Journal of the American Musicological Society
'… it is refreshing to see a scholar who is ready to remove Bach from the vacuum in which he is too often studied.' Jeanne Swack, Notes
'Thanks to Dr Tatlow's researches, we now have a solid basis of fact for speculations as to the role of numerology, and in particular the number alphabet, in the music of Bach and his contemporaries.' Malcolm Boyd, The Times Literary Supplement
Table of ContentsList of illustrations; Acknowledgements; Introduction; 1. Friedrich Smend; 2. Number alphabets; 3. The poetical paragram; 4. A musical paragram?; 5. Links to Bach; Appendixes; Bibliography; Index.
