Bach: The Mass in B Minor [Paperback]

Professor George B. Stauffer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 2003 | ISBN-10: 0300099665 | ISBN-13: 978-0300099669

George Stauffer explores the music and complex history of Bach's last and possibly greatest masterpiece. Stauffer demonstrates Bach's reliance on contemporary models from the Dresden mass repertory and his brilliantly innovative methods of unifying his immense composition. Musicians, music scholars, students and music lovers should find in this book a wealth of information about Bach's extraordinary choral work. Stauffer surveys the roots of the "Mass Ordinary" text and its treatment in settings known to Bach. He looks at the events that led to the writing of the B-Minor Mass and places the work within the context of the composer's late style. Three chapters consider the individual sections of the Mass - the Kyrie and Gloria, the Credo, and the Sanctus and Agnus Dei. The book also traces the history of the work after Bach's death, addresses specific issues of performance practice and investigates the qualities that give the B-Minor Mass its universal appeal.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Stauffer's greatest contribution to our knowledge and understanding of Bach's Mass lies in his extensive survey of the Dresden Mass repertory... He also provides an extensive examination of issues of scoring, particularly relevant for the Credo section onwards since Bach's original performing parts - which would have provided many details concerning both instrumental and vocal scoring - do not survive." John Butt, Early Music

From the Publisher

Yale Music Masterworks Series

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Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Yale University Press (December 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0300099665
• ISBN-13: 978-0300099669
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #399,984 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #88 in Books > Arts & Photography > Music > Theory, Composition & Performance > Sheet Music & Scores > Forms & Genres > Religious & Church Music

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Balance among scholarship, history and performance practice, March 6, 2001

By 

Ma, Tien Jui (Taipei Taiwan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bach: The Mass in B Minor (Monuments of Western Music) (Hardcover)

This book takes a balance view among music analysis, history as well as performance practice. For those who need only one definite study on Bach's greatest work could consider this as first choice!