The Reception of Bach's Organ Works from Mendelssohn to Brahms

In this penetrating study, Russell Stinson explores how four of the greatest composers of the nineteenth century--Felix Mendelssohn, Robert Schumann, Franz Liszt, and Johannes Brahms--responded to the model of Bach's organ music. The author shows that this quadrumvirate not only borrowed from Bach's organ works in creating their own masterpieces, whether for keyboard, voice, orchestra, or chamber ensemble, but that they also reacted significantly to the music as performers, editors, theorists, and teachers. Furthermore, the book reveals how these four titans influenced one another as "receptors" of this repertory and how their mutual acquaintances--especially Clara Schumann--contributed as well. As the first comprehensive discussion of this topic ever attempted, Stinson's book represents a major step forward in the literature on the so-called Bach revival. He considers biographical as well as musical evidence to arrive at a host of new and sometimes startling conclusions. Filled with fascinating anecdotes, the study also includes detailed observations on how these composers annotated their personal copies of Bach's organ works. Stinson's book is entirely up-to-date and offers much material previously unavailable in English. It is meticulously annotated and indexed, and it features numerous musical examples and facsimile plates as well as an exhaustive bibliography. Included in an appendix is Brahms's hitherto unpublished study score of the Fantasy in G Major, BWV 572. Engagingly written, this study should be read by anyone at all interested in the music of Bach or the music of the nineteenth century. Bach's Music Has Made An Indelible Mark On All Those Who Compose For The Organ, And In The Nineteenth Century, Bach's Music Was Revived, Revered, And Brought To Life For A Musical Public. In This Fascinating Study, Bach Scholar And Organist Russell Stinson Examines How Four Major Composers Of The Nineteenth Century--felix Mendelssohn, Robert Schumann, Franz Liszt, And Johannes Brahms--responded To The Model Of Bach's Organ Music. Whether For Keyboard, Voice, Orchestra, Or Chamber Ensemble, These Composers Not Only Borrowed From Bach's Organ Works In Creating Their Own Masterpieces, But Also Reacted Significantly To The Music As Performers, Editors, Theorists, And Teachers. The Book Reveals How These Four Titans Influenced One Another As Receptors Of This Repertory And How Their Mutual Acquaintances--especially Clara Schumann--contributed As Well. A Uniquely Comprehensive Discussion Of This Topic, The Reception Of Bach's Organ Works From Mendelssohn To Brahms Represents A Significant Contribution To The Literature On The So-called Bach Revival. Stinson Considers Biographical Research As Well As Musical Evidence To Arrive At A Host Of New And Often Startling Conclusions About Precisely Which Pieces Served As Compositional Exemplars And Which Ones Were Especially Valued As Study And Performance Repertoire. Replete With Intriguing Anecdotes, His Study Includes Detailed Observations On How These Composers Annotated Their Personal Copies Of Bach's Organ Works. Featuring A Wealth Of Material Previously Unavailable In English, Stinson's Up-to-date Examination Fills A Gap In Our Understanding Of How Bach's Works Were Rediscovered By The Musical Public In The 19th Century. Meticulously Annotated And Indexed, The Book Features Numerous Musical Examples And Facsimile Plates As Well As An Exhaustive Bibliography. Included In An Appendix Is Brahms's Hitherto Unpublished Study Score Of The Fantasy In G Major, Bwv 572. Engagingly Written, This Study Should Be Read By Anyone Interested In The Organ, The Music Of Bach, Or The Musical Culture Of The Nineteenth Century. [publisher Description] Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy. Youth ; The Grand Tour ; Young Adulthood ; The Leipzig Bach Recital ; The Final Years -- Robert Schumann. Leipzig ; Dresden And Beyond -- Franz Liszt. The Traveling Virtuoso ; Weimar -- Johannes Brahms. An Overview ; Brahms As A Scholar Of Bach's Organ Works -- Appendix : Johannes Brahms's Study Score Of The Fantasy In G Major, Bwv 572 -- Notes -- Works Cited. Russell Stinson. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 207-219) And Index. Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy. Youth ; The grand tour ; Young adulthood ; The Leipzig Bach recital ; The final years Robert Schumann. Leipzig ; Dresden and beyond Franz Liszt. The traveling virtuoso ; Weimar ; Transcriptions ; Relationship with A. W. Gottschalg ; The master teacher Johannes Brahms. An overview ; Brahms as a scholar of Bach's organ works ; Theoretical sources ; The influence of Spitta's Bach biography ; Brahms's inscriptions in the organ-music volumes of the Bachgesellschaft edition ; The marking of themes and motives ; The marking of musical form ; The marking of rhythmic, harmonic, melodic, and contrapuntal irregularities ; Comparative readings, suggested readings, and corrections ; The marking of ornamentation ; Fingerings ; Miscellaneous annotations ; Brahms as scholar-composer : the Eleven chorale preludes, op. 122 Appendix : Johannes Brahms's study score of the Fantasy in G major, BWV 572 Notes Literature cited. Contents......Page 8 INTRODUCTION......Page 12 Youth......Page 16 The Grand Tour......Page 26 Young Adulthood......Page 39 The Leipzig Bach Recital......Page 63 The Final Years......Page 69 Leipzig......Page 85 Dresden and Beyond......Page 98 THREE: FRANZ LISZT......Page 111 The Traveling Virtuoso......Page 112 Weimar......Page 116 An Overview......Page 135 Brahms as a Scholar of Bach's Organ Works......Page 150 APPENDIX: JOHANNES BRAHM'S S STUDY SCORE OF THE FANTASY IN G MAJOR, BWV 572......Page 186 NOTES......Page 192 WORKS CITED......Page 216 B......Page 230 C......Page 234 G......Page 235 K......Page 236 L......Page 237 N......Page 238 S......Page 239 T......Page 240 Z......Page 241 Stinson offers a study considering how four of the greatest composers of the 19th century: Mendelssohn, Schumann, Liszt and Brahms responded to the model of Bach's organ music. This book represents the so-called Bach revival