I. The Bach-Lover's Basic Library

The New Bach Reader: A Life of J. S. Bach in Documents

and Letters.
(1998, Norton, ISBN: 0-393-31956-3 paperback)

 A fascinating and invaluable anthology of Bach's letters, documents, and other source material from Bach's time, as well as some insightful essays by modern authors. This volume should be on every Bach-lover's bookshelf.

 

Johann Sebastian Bach: The Learned Musician

(2000, Norton, ISBN: 0-393-04825-X)

 This monumental and clearly written biography of J.S. Bach was a Pulitzer Prize Finalist in 2000. Another must-have book for every music lover interested in the details of Bach's life, family, music, and everyday working conditions. Read it from cover to cover or use it as a reference book.

 

The True Life of J. S. Bach

Klaus Eidam (1999, Basic Books / Piper Verlag, ISBN: 0-465-01861-0)

Eidam examines many preconceptions, myths, and assumptions about Bach, his life, and his personality. A very fascinating and thought-provoking book.

 

The Bach Family

(New Grove Series) (1983, W. W. Norton ISBN: 0393-30354-3 paperback)

 From the monumental New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, this is a collection of all the Grove articles on the various musical members of the Bach Family. Definitive essays - scholarly, thorough, and concise - in a bargain-priced little volume. Great reference book for the average Bach-lover and valuable for professionals.

 

The Cambridge Companion to Bach

John Butt (Editor) (1997, Cambridge University Press (paperback) ISBN: 0521587808)

A new and important collection of musicological articles, edited by a world-renowned Bach scholar.

 

The World of the Bach Cantatas

Christoph Wolff (Editor) (1997, W.W. Norton (hard cover) ISBN: 0393041069)

A collection of 14 essays focusing on the wider and deeper contexts of Bach's cantatas, written by Bach scholars but not aimed at a strictly scholarly audience. The best cantata reference book for general readers to date.

 

II. Music and Musicians in History

Frederick the Great

Nancy Mitford (1995, Penguin USA (paperback) ISBN: 0140036539)

An important figure in 18th Century German culture and music, Frederick was the musician-king, the flute player. His court harpsichordist was Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, one of J.S. Bach's sons. "Old Bach" made a well-documented visit to the king in the 1740s, and wrote "A Musical Offering" for him. This is an excellent general info book on Frederick, his court and followers. Great pictures and graphics.

 

Vivaldi: Voice of the Baroque

H.C. Robbins Landon (1996, University of Chicago ISBN: 0226468429 paperback)

 An entertaining book full of theatrical notices, correspondence, and history. The Italian musical world was quite different from that of Bach's northern Germany.

 

Letters of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Hans Mersman, M. M. Bozman (Editors) (1972, Dover Press (paperback) ISBN: 0486228592)

Wonderful insight into Mozart's mind and private life. ("P.S. Do not forget about my black suit; I must have it or I shall be laughed at, which is never very pleasant.)" [Mozart to his father, 1780]

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