The Sinusoid in J.S. Bach’s Handwriting and Printing of The Musical Offering (BWV 1079)

Authors

  • Anatoly P. Milka Author

Keywords:

J.S. Bach, J.F. Schübler, The Musical Offering, bifolio with canons and the Fuga canonica, handwriting, sinusoid, engraving copy

Abstract

The article focuses on certain elements of J.S. Bach’s handwritten musical notation, and in particular on his sinusoidal form of beaming in groups of eighths. Bach’s later manuscripts typically display an increasing use of descending sinusoids implemented by flexion movement of the wrist, indicating disturbance to the blood supply to the brain. This identifiable trait of Bach’s handwriting negates the traditional view that the engraver of the bifolio with canons and the Fuga canonica from the Musical Offering was Johann Heinrich Schübler, and instead enables attribution of the preparation of its engraving copy (Abklatschvorlage) to J.S. Bach himself. 

Author Biography

  • Anatoly P. Milka

    Anatoly P. Milka, Dr. Habil, is a Professor of Musicology at the St. Petersburg Conservatory and the St. Petersburg State University, Russia. He is the author of Rethinking J.S. Bach’s The Art of Fugue (Routledge, 2016), as well as publications in Bach-Jahrbuch and other journals. His publications in Russian include Theoretical Foundations of Functionality in Music (St. Petersburg, 1982); Bach’s Musical Offering: Toward Reconstruction and Interpretation (Moscow, 1999); Intriguing Bachiana (with Tatiana  Shabalina; St. Petersburg, 1997, 2001); a facsimile edition of L‘A.B.C. Musical von Gottfried  Kirchhoff (St.  Petersburg, 2004), Bach’s The Art of Fugue: Toward Reconstruction and Interpretation (St. Petersburg, 2009), Polyphony: a textbook for musical academies, 2 vols, (St. Petersburg, 2016). 

Downloads

Published

2024-01-07

Issue

Vol. 16 (2019)

Section

Articles