Bach's wife wrote some of his works?

[rojo]

This associate professor seems to think so.

http://www.scena.org/brand/brand.as....html?id=4d36e73e-8661-4065-85b4-13c73ac98f97

Hmmm. Just who was this mysterious Anna Magdalena?

Well, it wouldn't be the first time that works have falsely been attributed to him. Hopefully that's it though.

 

[marval]

There seems to be very little written about Anna Magdalena. Martin Javis seems possitive she wrote some of the musical works, and he has evidence. I suippose if you like the music, who wrote it isn't relevant, but it does seem strange that if she did write them she would give the credit to her husband.

I agree with you lets hope this is the end of it.


Margaret

 

[Contratrombone64]

It's an interesting thought, Robin and Margaret. I've listened to the Bach 'cello suites recently and honestly, they didn't sound non-Bachian to me ... I'm no musicologist but I do know my Bach. Not sure however, it's has opened my ears to possibilities.

 

[Corno Dolce]

I am willing to venture that Anna Magdalena Bach knew enough about music to help JSBach make copies of music. Maybe she even tried her hand at completing some scores when JSbach was either too busy with teaching, rehearsals, practising or just plain dead tired at the end of the day. Whether that makes her qualified as a composer of rank or not I don't know. But I'll entertain the notion until peer-reviewed and qualified settled research can unequivocally prove or disprove what AMB did or did not do. All else is just riding coat-tails of the Master.

 

[Contratrombone64]

I can't honestly entertain the idea that Bach would have married the villiage idiot, and, women in those days, if they had talent that was allowed to emerge, unfortunately had to hide it.

 

[Corno Dolce]

Blessed CT64,

I believe you are very correct in your assumption about JSBach not marrying an *unstable* woman. From the books penned by the eminent musicological/historical scholar Dr. Christoph Wolff one will find that AMB was quite a remarkable lady - very industrious, astute, and with a business-like acumen for taking care of the family finances. I'd say that JSBach was quite fortunate to have shared a life with AMB.

Regards,

CD

 

[Tûrwethiel]

It's an interesting concept. In the "olden days" women were often not given credit or opportunities. Think of Nannerle Mozart, Clara Schumman and Fanny Mendelssohn - http://cnx.org/content/m13247/latest/ . All may have "made the big time" had they been born men and not been subject to the social conventions of the day. Perhaps Mrs Bach did compose and passed it off as her husband's work so it would be played and have some credibility.

Here endeth the feminist (actually I'm a people-ist) sermon.

 

[Corno Dolce]

Aloha Tûrwethiel,

Clara Schumann? She was quite the artist who played second fiddle to no-one. Her pianistic abilities even got Johannes Brahms attention; and he was certainly no slouch at the keyboard.

Cheerio,

CD

 

[Contratrombone64]

Bad choice of women there as they are all, ipso facto, well known but yes, I agree.

 

[Tûrwethiel]

Oops. I sort of meant to point out that we know about them, but there must have been others.

Corno, I remember getting marked down in a music assignment at school for casting aspertions about the relationship of Clara and Mr Brahms.

 

[Corno Dolce]

Aloha Tûrwethiel,

In regards to Brahms and Clara's acquaintanceship, only enough is known to write a luridly piquant *trash novella*. Anyway, AMB certainly had qualities that a man like JSBach undoubtedly sought out. I believe the fellow was very lucky to find a woman with such strength of conviction and character. Imagine running the Bachian household with all the parties, kids, housekeeping and the like. The Swedish word *flitig* and the German word *fleißig* (industriously productive) come to mind when I think about AMB.

Cheerio,

CD

 

[Contratrombone64]

Interesting, in Danish it's almost the same (no surprises) though has an extra 't': flittig

 

[rojo]

'Nother article about the topic, bit more in depth. Seems to reiterate what you all are saying about female composers of the past.

http://www.scena.org/brand/brand.as...ws/2243/forensic-study-casts-doubt-music-bach

 

[Contratrombone64]

fascinating, Rojo, thanks

 

[marval]

Thank you for that Rojo.

An interesting article that does seem to say a lot about female composers not being fully recognised.


Margaret

 

[Conservationist]

It's an interesting concept. In the "olden days" women were often not given credit or opportunities. Think of Nannerle Mozart, Clara Schumman and Fanny Mendelssohn - http://cnx.org/content/m13247/latest/ . All may have "made the big time" had they been born men and not been subject to the social conventions of the day. Perhaps Mrs Bach did compose and passed it off as her husband's work so it would be played and have some credibility.

Here endeth the feminist (actually I'm a people-ist) sermon.

I think this is a really simplistic view of history, which was actually more complex.

 

[Contratrombone64]

I think this is a really simplistic view of history, which was actually more complex.

Indeed, please elaborate, I'd love to know how you came to that conclusion.

 

[Corno Dolce]

Aloha Conservationist,

I echo my esteemed colleague CT64's sentiment - Please do elaborate on how you reached your position on this issue.

Cheers,

CD

 

[Tûrwethiel]

Yes, not recognising women as full participants in society is a fairly simplistic thing. Used to happen all the time and still does in some places so it must be easy to do.

 

[musicalis]

I do not think that with so many children Bach's wife had time to write music. with only 3 daughters, my own wife doesn't help me for making a photocopy .