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- Title
Who wrote BWV565, the Toccata and Fugue in D minor? And why?
- Authors
Neame, Stuart
- Abstract
Some experts doubt that J.S. Bach composed BWV565. It is untypical of his organ works, and computer analysis has queried whether Bach is the author. Peter Williams believed that it may have been written by another organist after Bach's death, or could have been based on an earlier toccata for solo violin. However, clues in the music suggest that Bach may have written BWV565 at the astonishingly young age of 18, and that its improvisational style could have been a subterfuge to help achieve his first appointment as an organist. BWV565 has many unusual features, but these are exactly what would be expected if Bach wrote it in 1703, to show how he had tested the new organ at Arnstadt. It is not as unique among Bach's works as some think, as it has similarities with BWV572, Bach's other (unrecognised) North German Toccata. Properly interpreted, statistical analysis confirms that Bach was undoubtedly the composer of BWV565, so Williams' hypotheses cannot be correct. This study should resolve a 50-year debate, provide new insight for interpretations of BWV565, and revolutionise our understanding of BWV572.
- Subjects
ORGAN music; TOCCATA; FUGUE (Musical form); BACH, Johann Christian, 1735-1782; ORGANISTS
- Publication
Organists' Review, 2017, p30
- ISSN
0048-2161
- Publication type
Article