BWB 1083 Stabat Mater 6 transcribed for guitar duo.
Score:
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Bach was buried in an unmarked grave. Bones attributed to him were excavated in 1894.
The substantiation of the attribution is rather shaky but with a few good stories this was overcome.
A 75-year-old man recalled that 60 years ago a 90-year-old gardener told him that Bach had been buried six steps from the south entrance of a church.
Evidence was seen that typical wear and tear for an organist was visible on the skeleton. What was also striking was an abnormality in the ears, according to the reasoning: great composer, so large ear bones.
An excellent artist made a beautiful sculpture of Bach's head based on his skull. Mission accomplished.
Based on modern facial reconstruction techniques and with the help of a computer, experts performed the exercise again in 2006.
The correct start would have been to determine with the help of DNA whether the skeleton indeed belonged to Johann Sebastian Bach. That was not allowed by the custodians of his supposed grave.
The 19th century observations on the skeleton could not be re-established, the assumptions about wear and tear and large inner ears are built on quicksand.
We can also make some observations ourselves.
In the new reconstruction, Bach has been given a mismatched cheap polyester wig.
He also got an enormous bull neck, I suspect as an unconscious continuation of the enormous lower jaw of the skull that was found. Big jaws, big neck.
The modern reconstruction was hailed as a success by some because it resembles the oil painting created through direct observation during Bach's lifetime. A circular argument, not so convincingly based on observation.
The most striking thing about the new reconstruction is the expression. Bach, the grand master of expressing emotions, looks weird. I think that's because, in addition to science, it also involves craftsmanship in terms of the expression of imagination. Science is not enough, art is needed to feel connected and to be convinced.
Finally, I would like to add that there are no sources that tell of an annoying but funny donkey hanging around Bach.
4 окт 2024
