The Cello Suites : J.S. Bach, Pablo Casals, and the Search for a Baroque Masterpiece

One evening, journalist Eric Siblin attended a recital of Johann Sebastian Bach's __Cello Suites__ and began an epic quest that would unravel three centuries of intrigue, politics, and passion. Winner of the Mavis Gallant Prize for Nonfiction and the McAuslan First Book Prize, __The Cello Suites__ weaves together three dramatic narratives: the disappearance of Bach's manuscript in the eighteenth century; Pablo Casals's discovery and popularization of the music in Spain in the late-nineteenth century; and Siblin's infatuation with the suites in the present day. The search led Siblin to Barcelona, where Casals, just thirteen and in possession of his first cello, roamed the backstreets with his father in search of sheet music and found Bach's lost suites tucked in a dark corner of a store. Casals played them every day for twelve years before finally performing them in public. Siblin pursues the mysteries that continue to haunt this music more than 250 years after its composer's death: Why did Bach compose the suites for the cello, then considered a lowly instrument? What happened to the original manuscript? A seamless blend of biography and music history, __The Cello Suites__ is a true-life journey of discovery, fueled by the power of these musical masterpieces. One Autumn Evening, Shortly After Ending A Ten-year Stint As A Pop-music Columnist For The Montreal Gazette, Eric Siblin Attended A Concert At Toronto's Royal Conservatory Of Music. There, Something Unlikely Happened: He Fell In Love With A Piece Of Classical Music -- Bach's Cello Suites. Part Biography, Part Music History, And Part Literary Mystery, The Cello Suites Weaves Together Three Dramatic Stories: The First Features Johann Sebastian Bach And The Missing Manuscript Of His Suites From The Eighteenth Century; The Second Is That Of Pablo Casals And His Incredible Discovery Of The Manuscript In Spain In The Early Twentieth Century; And The Third Is Eric Siblin's Own Infatuation With The Suites In The Twenty-first Century. This Love Affair Leads Siblin To The Back Streets Of Barcelona, A Belgian Mansion, And A Bombed Out German Palace; To Interviews With Cellists Mischa Maisky, Anner Bylsma, And Pieter Wispelwey; To Archives, Festivals, Conferences, And Cemeteries; And Even To Cello Lessons -- All In Pursuit Of Answers To The Mysteries That Continue To Haunt This Piece Of Music More Than 250 Years After Its Composer's Death. The Cello Suites Is An Incomparable, Beautifully Written, True-life Journey Of Passion, Imagination, And Discovery, Fuelled By The Transcendent Power Of A Musical Masterpiece. "Part biography, part music history, and part literary mystery, The Cello Suites weaves together three dramatic narratives: The first features Johann Sebastian Bach and the missing manuscript of his suites from the eighteenth century; the second follows Pablo Casals and the historic discovery of the music in Spain in the late nineteenth century; and the third is Eric Siblin's own infatuation with the suites in the twenty-first century. This love affair leads Siblin to the back streets of Barcelona and a Belgian mansion; to interviews with cellists Mischa Maisky, Anner Bylsma, and Pieter Wispelwey; to archives, festivals, and conferences; and even to cello lessons - all in pursuit of answers to the mysteries that continue to haunt this piece of music more than 250 years after its composer's death."--pub. desc The #1 national bestselling work about Johann Sebastian Bach, Pablo Casals, and the incredible story of one of the world's most beloved and haunting pieces of music. MUS020000 Eric Siblin. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 296-301), Discography (p. 302-303) And Index.