Bach's Lost Organ Works: Uncovering the Author Behind a 300-Year-Old Mystery
For Peter Wollny, a musicologist and director of Leipzig's Bach archive, the quest to authenticate two previously unknown organ works by Johann Sebastian Bach was a 35-year odyssey. In 1992, while studying at Harvard University, Wollny stumbled upon two intriguing scores in a dusty library in Brussels that would change the course of his life.
Initially, he didn't think these works were written by Bach, but rather an unknown composer. However, after pouring over the handwriting and musical notation, Wollny became convinced that the pieces were indeed by the famous composer. The breakthrough came when he recognized distinctive features in the scoring, such as a unique way of drawing the C clef.
Despite his growing confidence, Wollny knew that he needed more evidence to prove his theory. He spent years studying Bach's handwriting, comparing it to other works and searching for any inconsistencies. It wasn't until 2023, when a court document written by the composer Salomon Günther John matched the handwriting of the Brussels scores with absolute certainty.
The two organ chaconnes – Chaconne in D minor BWV 1178 and Chaconne in G minor BWV 1179 – revealed bold and unconventional techniques that deviated from the norms of the time. By stretching a traditional six-bar ostinato bass motif to eight, 12, and 16 bars, the composer had created a truly unique work.
Wollny's journey highlights the challenges of authentication in musicology. While technology has improved over the years, the complexity of Bach's music often means that even experts can make mistakes. Nevertheless, Wollny's perseverance and attention to detail have uncovered an extraordinary piece of musical history.
As for Günther John, he was a young organist who studied under Bach. The discovery raises questions about the extent to which students may have contributed to their famous teacher's works. While some might see this as a cop-out or lack of originality, others will appreciate the innovative spirit and creative experimentation that defined Bach's compositional style.
Ultimately, Wollny's achievement demonstrates the power of dedication, persistence, and expertise in uncovering hidden treasures from history. The legacy of Johann Sebastian Bach continues to captivate audiences around the world, inspiring new generations of music lovers and scholars alike.
For Peter Wollny, a musicologist and director of Leipzig's Bach archive, the quest to authenticate two previously unknown organ works by Johann Sebastian Bach was a 35-year odyssey. In 1992, while studying at Harvard University, Wollny stumbled upon two intriguing scores in a dusty library in Brussels that would change the course of his life.
Initially, he didn't think these works were written by Bach, but rather an unknown composer. However, after pouring over the handwriting and musical notation, Wollny became convinced that the pieces were indeed by the famous composer. The breakthrough came when he recognized distinctive features in the scoring, such as a unique way of drawing the C clef.
Despite his growing confidence, Wollny knew that he needed more evidence to prove his theory. He spent years studying Bach's handwriting, comparing it to other works and searching for any inconsistencies. It wasn't until 2023, when a court document written by the composer Salomon Günther John matched the handwriting of the Brussels scores with absolute certainty.
The two organ chaconnes – Chaconne in D minor BWV 1178 and Chaconne in G minor BWV 1179 – revealed bold and unconventional techniques that deviated from the norms of the time. By stretching a traditional six-bar ostinato bass motif to eight, 12, and 16 bars, the composer had created a truly unique work.
Wollny's journey highlights the challenges of authentication in musicology. While technology has improved over the years, the complexity of Bach's music often means that even experts can make mistakes. Nevertheless, Wollny's perseverance and attention to detail have uncovered an extraordinary piece of musical history.
As for Günther John, he was a young organist who studied under Bach. The discovery raises questions about the extent to which students may have contributed to their famous teacher's works. While some might see this as a cop-out or lack of originality, others will appreciate the innovative spirit and creative experimentation that defined Bach's compositional style.
Ultimately, Wollny's achievement demonstrates the power of dedication, persistence, and expertise in uncovering hidden treasures from history. The legacy of Johann Sebastian Bach continues to captivate audiences around the world, inspiring new generations of music lovers and scholars alike.
I mean can you even imagine someone stumbling upon these two 300-year-old organ works in a dusty library and thinking "wait a minute this might actually be Bach"?! 
Peter Wollny is literally the ultimate detective when it comes to music history. His dedication and attention to detail are truly inspiring. And I love how this discovery highlights the importance of perseverance in uncovering hidden gems from the past. It's also really interesting to think about the possibility that Bach's students might have contributed to some of his famous works - it just goes to show how collaborative and innovative he was as a composer. 
! It's mind-blowing to think that there were two more pieces written by him that we didn't know existed for 300 years 
. It's amazing how Wollny stuck with it all these years and finally got his hands on the proof he needed 
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. I think it's awesome that we get to learn more about his innovative spirit and creative experimentation 
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! Bach's legacy lives on, and we're all the better for it 
. I get why people would want to prove this stuff, but isn't it just common sense at this point? All these court documents and whatnot... just add more red tape to the process 
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. I'm not saying it's bad that people are enthusiastic about finding new music by him, but can't they just let us enjoy the stuff we have instead of constantly trying to uncover more 
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. That C clef drawing is so distinctive - I can see why Wollny was stoked when he figured it out 
. But overall, it just feels like we're still scratching the surface with this guy's life and work 
. I love how he didn't give up, even when people thought his theory was crazy at first 
. And then that court document showing the handwriting match... game over 
), but also someone who experimented with music and tried new things. I mean, who else could make organ chaconnes sound so bold and unconventional? 
It's like he was ahead of his time, you know?
. It raises all these interesting questions about how students can contribute to their teacher's works. Like, did Günther just take Bach's ideas and run with them? Or was it more like a collaboration? 
. And the fact that Wollny spent 35 years solving this mystery is just... wow 
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. It's crazy to think about how much music history is still waiting to be uncovered, and this discovery just shows us that there's always more to learn and discover about the masters 
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, his dedication is an inspiration to anyone who's ever been passionate about something.
But for real though, I'm so hyped that they finally got confirmation on the handwriting and now we get to hear these amazing pieces. It's crazy to think that Salomon Günther John was a young organist who studied under Bach and might've even contributed to some of his works. It's like, you gotta respect the student's skills too, right? 
The fact that Wollny spent so much time studying Bach's handwriting and comparing it to other works is just insane. I'm all about dedication and expertise, and this guy's got it in spades. Now we get to enjoy some new music that's been hiding in plain sight for centuries... talk about a game-changer! 
omg can u believe it?! Peter Wollny is literally a genius! 35 years of searching for those organ works and finally, he's got proof that they're by Bach 
? i mean, bach's style is so unique, how many other people could've written these exact pieces? and now they're saying it was johnson, the young organist... what does that even say about bach himself? 
It just goes to show that even in musicology, where experts are experts, there's still room for surprise and excitement. And the fact that these works were written by someone who studied under Bach raises so many interesting questions about the creative process and how knowledge is passed down through generations. 
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. Salomon Günther John was a young organist who studied under Bach, but how do we know he wasn't just a patsy for Wollny? I mean, think about it – two court documents written by Günther John that match the handwriting of the Brussels scores exactly... what are the chances? 
It's almost like they wanted us to believe this was the real deal. And those organ chaconnes? They sound way too unique and bold for Bach to have come up with on his own. Maybe Wollny just discovered something that wasn't meant to be seen. 
You can take my word for it, this whole thing is a cover-up 
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