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The Loss of Bachʼs and Telemannʼs Manuscripts
This site introduces unknown Emanuel Bach (C. P. E. Bach).
The Loss of Bachʼs and Telemannʼs Manuscripts
Asked ChatGPT4o: "I heard that Johann Sebastian Bachʼs scores were used as butcher paper. Is this true?"
The story that Johann Sebastian Bachʼs scores were used as butcher paper is partly based on fact. This anecdote symbolizes how Bachʼs works were undervalued and poorly preserved after his death. Below is a detailed explanation of the background and details of this story.
Background of the Anecdote
Description by Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach
- Bachʼs second son, Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (C.P.E. Bach), noted that his fatherʼs manuscripts were not properly preserved.
- In his memoirs and letters, C.P.E. Bach described how his fatherʼs manuscripts became scattered after his death. He mentioned that some of the manuscripts were used as wrapping paper by butchers and merchants.
Literary Testimony
Research by German Musicologists
- German musicologists have studied how Bachʼs manuscripts were scattered and rediscovered, including the story of their use as butcher paper.
- According to these studies, during the late 18th to early 19th centuries, Bachʼs music was temporarily undervalued, leading to many manuscripts being improperly stored and used for everyday purposes.
Actual Episodes
Use as Butcher Paper
- After Bachʼs death, some of his manuscripts became scattered, and it is said that some were used as wrapping paper by butchers and merchants. This story is often told as a symbolic episode of how Bachʼs music was rediscovered.
- For example, parts of Bachʼs cantatas and organ works were reportedly used in this way.
References and Additional Information
- Christoph Wolff: "Johann Sebastian Bach: The Learned Musician"
- This biography provides detailed information on the preservation status of Bachʼs manuscripts and related anecdotes.
- David Schulenberg: "The Keyboard Music of J.S. Bach"
- This book analyzes how Bachʼs works were scattered and later rediscovered.
Conclusion
The story of Johann Sebastian Bachʼs manuscripts being used as butcher paper symbolizes how his works were undervalued and scattered after his death. This anecdote provides important historical context for understanding the process by which Bachʼs music was re-evaluated.