The Musician in Literature in the Age of Bach

Analysing novels and autobiographies from Bach's Germany, this book presents new insights into the lives, mindset and status of musicians.

Stephen Rose (Author)

9781107004283, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 24 February 2011

248 pages, 6 b/w illus. 4 music examples
24.4 x 17 x 1.6 cm, 0.66 kg

'Rose uncovers the frequently subversive and always compelling rhetorical energy of storytelling by and about German musicians, making their texts accessible and appealing … [He] has made these virtually forgotten novels engaging and instructive. His central questions should influence scholarship on aesthetics in general and on the relationship between sound and text in particular. Perhaps most tellingly, the reader finishes this well-written volume with the strong desire to read the novels Rose discusses.' German Quarterly

Using novels and autobiographies from Bach's Germany, Stephen Rose suggests new ways of interpreting the lives and social status of musicians. This study focuses on satirical novels written by musicians that describe the lives of performers and composers, as well as the autobiographies of Bach's contemporaries. These narratives represent musicians variously as picaresque outcasts, honourable craft-workers, foolish bunglers and respected virtuosos. They probe the lives of musicians considered taboo or aberrant in the period, such as street entertainers and Italian castratos. The novels and autobiographies also reveal two major debates that shaped the mindset and social identity of musicians: was music a sensual or rational craft, and should musicians integrate within society or be regarded as outsiders? Quoting from an array of little-known novels, this book shows how an interdisciplinary approach can transform our understanding of Bach and his contemporaries.

Introduction
1. Literary contexts: the German Baroque novel
2. The musician as picaresque outcast
3. The musician as honourable craftsman
4. Musical fools versus virtuosos
5. From harmony to discord
6. The first German autobiographies of musicians
Bibliography.

Subject Areas: Literary theory [DSA], Classical music [c 1750 to c 1830 AVGC4]