J.S. Bach, Vol 1

by Albert Schweitzer

The Playboy of the Western World and Riders to the Sea (Dover Thrift Plays) The plays of John Millington Synge (1871–1909) are filled with the humors, sorrows, and dreams of the country folk of the Aran Islands and the western Irish coastlands, where, in Synge's works, "we have a popular imagination that is fiery and magnificent, and tender." The Playboy of the Western World, his most famous play, is sweetly funny and ironic as it follows its young hero's progress, in the eyes of others, from timid weakling to paragon of bravery.
The shorter one-act play, Riders to the Sea, is a dark elegy to the fragile existence of those who live at the mercy of the sea. Both are beautifully crafted dramas that celebrate Irish gifts for lyrical language. They are reprinted here from authoritative editions, complete with Synge's preface to The Playboy of the Western World.

Genres: Music, Biography, Nonfiction, Biography Memoir

464 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1905

About the author

Albert Schweitzer, M.D., OM, was an Alsatian theologian, musician, philosopher, and physician. He was born in Kaisersberg in Alsace-Lorraine, a Germanophone region which the German Empire returned to France after World War I. Schweitzer challenged both the secular view of historical Jesus current at his time and the traditional Christian view, depicting a Jesus who expected the imminent end of the world. He received the 1952 Nobel Peace Prize in 1953 for his philosophy of "reverence for life", expressed in many ways, but most famously in founding and sustaining the Lambaréné Hospital in Gabon, west central Africa.

Reviews

[Mac · Rating 5 out of 5]

Albert Schweitzer's two volumes about J.S. Bach are not primarily a biography, though he does cover the main events in Bach's life. Instead Schweitzer is out to decode Bach's musical language. In the introduction to this first volume, the great organist Charles-Marie Widor recounts how a young Albert Schweitzer came to him for some organ masterclasses. Widor admired Schweitzer's playing and asked why he played a Bach chorale prelude in a certain way. Schweitzer explained that Bach's figuration was illustrating the words at that part of the chorale. Widor was dumbfounded, and encouraged Schweitzer to write down what he knew so that others could benefit from his understanding. Hence this book.

Schweitzer was uniquely qualified for this task, being not only an outstanding musician but also a theologian (and eventually a medical doctor, as well!). He begins this volume with several chapters on the history of the Lutheran chorale. This was fascinating, and all new information for me. Then we learn about the history of the Bach family, culminating in Johann Sebastian and his children. In later chapters, Schweitzer details the characteristics of Bach's organ and keyboard music.

Though some aspects of this book are dated—it is now relatively easy to hear all of Bach's music played on historically accurate instruments—most of it is timeless. I highly recommend it to any musicians, theologians, or Bach fans.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fine historical document for Bach enthusiasts—some overlooked translations of passages of german lyrics and letters, as well as a typo or two.

The structure requires some recalibrating for the modern reader, but Schweitzer is bee-like in his frenetic gathering of facts and arguments about numerous things pertaining to Bach.

[Douglas Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

really interesting to read something on Bach from a time before HIP, arguing with then-current standards of performance and interpretation. Also interesting as it is from a period when recordings were barely known, when to hear a piece meant to play it or attend a concert. Also interesting is Schweitzer's incredible learning, often arrogant, but jaw-dropping nonetheless

[Bryan King · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant man, Schweitzer held earned doctorate degrees in Theology, Medicine and Philosophy and an honorary doctorate in Music. An in depth look into the life and music of J. S. Bach. Fascinating.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic little book about Bach and the musical climate before and during his life, with a look at his continuing influence in music. As I am not an organist or a clavichord player, I struggled through two and a half chapters on Schweitzer's ideas of how best to play Bach, but aside from that, I enjoyed it thoroughly. I am several thousand miles away from my copy of Volume II, but when it is within reach again, I am looking forward to going through it.

[Ari]

I studied both volumes and this book by Albert Scheitzer has been the only study that added new material and insight-since the Great work of Philipp Spitta-Bach' first Biographer! Starting with the choral, and sacred cantattas. Albert Scheitzer brings to his work profound knowledge of Bach as a Great performer of the masters work on the organ and harpsichord as well as the clavichord.