The Little Bach Book: An eclectic Omnibus of Notable Details about the Life and Times of the esteemed and highly respected Johann Sebastian Bach

by David J. Gordon

After decades of singing Bach's music and lecturing about Bach and the world of the early 18th century, David Gordon has compiled his favorite material into one volume. The Little Bach Book is a light-hearted scholarly look at Bach and the world around him, with a special focus on Leipzig, the city where he lived for 27 years and wrote most of his great masterworks.

Assembled and written by a master lecturer and story teller, this is an eclectic selection of historical anecdotes, scholarly explanations, gee-whiz factoids, vintage illustrations, time lines, bits of pathos, facts about daily life, and true stories about Bach and his world in the 1700s.

In the 18th century, what did people drink instead of water? How did Bach light his home, and how did he write his music? Which concert killed Bach's principal trumpeter? How many of Bach's 20 children lived to be adults? What happened to Anna Magdalena after Bach died? What is the puzzle inside Bach's monogram? What did people eat and drink in Bach's time? What was the job application Bach sent to Dresden? What did everyone do just before getting into bed? How many church services did Bach oversee each week? What happened at the organ duel in Dresden? Why did Bach tell his cousin not to send him any more free wine? What was Bach's actual job description in Leipzig? How often did people do the laundry?

The Little Bach Book is filled with fascinating and sometimes unexpected answers to these and many other questions. The scholarship is serious, and the stories are fun, surprising, and heartwarming!

164 pages, richly ilustrated, even a recipe for beer soup...

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Music

160 pages, Paperback

Published June 14, 2017

About the author

Described by the Washington Post as “a model of style and charm, and an irresistible performer,” tenor David Gordon has forged a versatile international career as singer, author, lecturer, teacher, and recording artist.
He is especially known for his vivid performances of the music of Bach in hundreds of concerts throughout North America, Europe, and Japan. In 2016 the St. Louis Post-Dispatch called him “one of the great interpreters of the Evangelist of our time.”
In a wide range of other music David has appeared as tenor soloist with virtually every major North American symphony and opera company, and with prestigious orchestras, operas, and music festivals on four continents. He can be heard on 15 CDs for Decca, London, RCA, Telarc, and other major labels.

Reviews

[E.A. Luetkemeyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

One need not be a time-traveler to visit the era of Johann Sebastian Bach. One need only read The Little Bach Book, by renowned Bach tenor David Gordon, to become immersed in the minutiae of the life and times of the famous composer.

Though a slight volume, The Little Bach Book is brim-filled with facts that reconstruct the trappings of life in Leipzig, circa 18th century, where Bach made music for 27 years that continues to enthrall classical music lovers today. But one need not be a fan of Bach, or even an aficionado of classical music, to enjoy this book, a history buff’s delight. Though whimsical and witty, its scholarship is thorough and meticulous. Between the opening prologue, which presents the chronology of the settlement of the Leipzig Basin, and the detailed appendix, which presents a chronology of Bach’s life and suggestions for further reading, the reader learns of the beer-drinking habits of the denizens of Leipzig: that there was a tavern for every 75 citizens; that Bach’s salary included 30 buckets of beer per year. We are treated to recipes of the cuisine of the day, which the author and his editor and wife, Ginna, have sampled to their delight. We learn that open fires in the kitchen, and greasy spoons, and sputtering fat, were major causes of accidental death. And how mounds of garbage that accrued daily were disposed of. How the city stank of sewage that made its lugubrious way from chamber pots to gutters, to the river, to the sea. How the stink of Leipzig was only rivaled by the bad breath of its inhabitants, who chose rotten teeth to the nastiness wrought by the primitive extraction tools of inept, itinerant “dentists.”

Through an abundance of such surprising and delightful details, the reader gains an appreciation for the life of Bach that is tangible.

Interspersed throughout are copies of the contracts of the composer with his employers, the city-fathers of Leipzig; original music scores; the title page of the manuscript The Well-tempered Clavier, and ample photos and reproductions of engravings of the city’s architecture and statuary, past and present.

Mr. Gordon is uniquely qualified to write The Little Bach Book, having performed as a Bach Soloist on the international operatic stage and lectured to appreciative audiences for nearly half a century. His enthusiasm for his subject is contagious. He can be reached through his website: www.spiritsound.com.

[Matt Redmond · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read about 8 books about Bach and this is the only one that is perfect for a lay reader and gets him right in his historical context *and* handles his faith well. My wife never reads books like this and loved it also because of how much it delves into what life was like between 1685 and 1750. Strongly recommend for those who have even a passing interest in the JSB.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book that makes me so very glad that I did not live during those times. I don't think I could have tolerated the smells. It was so interesting to read all of the little know facts about the times that Bach lived in. If you're a classical music buff, Bach fan or a historian you would enjoy this book.

[Georgia Dentel · Rating 4 out of 5]

An in depth look at the world in which Bach lived and performed and wrote. Gives an even greater appreciation for his amazing music, knowing how difficult everything was in the 1700's.
A sweet gift from my friend.

[David Mcnaughton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining, and provides insights into the daily life of Bach (e.g., meals, lighting, clothing and laundry) not typically included in biographies...

[Donna Syler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Informative, entertaining& witty. A totally enjoyable quick read

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely quick read!

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not your typical biography. Entertaining and informative. Life in Leipzig in the 1700s was not for sissies!

[chicagoplante · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read little gem

[Sipra Agrawal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charming and engrossing