Oxford Composer Companion: J.S. Bach

Rating:
Summary: Essential for Bach lovers
Review: The title and the alphabetical format of this book seems uninspiring, but actually it is a veritable treasure. It has an excellent article or entry on almost anything you might wonder about Bach, and the format lets you just to look up the issue alphabetically. The appendices also ease the effort-- there is a thematic list of all entries, a BWV list with years, a text list of the first lines of all arias/choruses, first performance dates of cantatas... The tone of the book is scholarly but very readable.

So if you have ever wondered what was the trumpet like in Bach's day, the real meaning of well-tempered, who P.D.Q. Bach is, what did Christian Ludwig of Brandenburg do with the concertos, you need to get this book. Indispensable for anyone who has been bitten by the Bach bug; it will appeal to the starter and the expert alike.