J. S. Bach: A Life in Music

by Peter Williams

Peter Williams approaches afresh the life and music of arguably the most studied of all composers, interpreting both Bach's life by deconstructing his original obituary in the light of more recent information and his music by evaluating his priorities and irrepressible creative energy. How, even though belonging to musical families on both his parents' sides, did he come to possess so bewitching a sense of rhythm and melody and a mastery of harmony that established nothing less than a norm in Western culture? In considering that the works of a composer are his biography, the book's title A Life in Music means both a life spent making music and one revealed in the music as we know it. A distinguished scholar and performer, Williams re-examines Bach's life as an orphan and family man, as an extraordinarily gifted composer and player and as an ambitious artist who never suffered fools gladly.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, Biography, History

418 pages, Hardcover

First published June 28, 2006

About the author

Full name Peter F. Williams; publishes as Peter Williams

University of Edinburgh 1962-1985
Duke University 1985-1997
University of Cardiff 1996-