Bach and the Riddle of the Number Alphabet

by Ruth Tatlow

Book Overview

In 1947 the theologian and musicologist Friedrich Smend published a study which claimed that J. S. Bach regularly employed the natural-order number alphabet (A=1 to Z=24) in his works. Smend provided historical evidence and music examples to support his theory which demonstrated that by this means Bach incorporated significant words into his music, and provided himself with a symbolic compositional scheme. Since then many people have taken up Smend's...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0521028019
• ISBN13: 9780521028011
• Release Date: August 2008
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Length: 204 Pages
• Weight: 0.64 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.1" x 9.2"