Johann Sebastian Bach

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June 29, 2026

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Philipp Spitta was a German scholar and a key figure in 19th-century musicology. He is renowned for authoring the first comprehensive work on Johann Sebastian Bach, published in two volumes between 1873 and 1880. This monumental study delved into Bach's life, as well as the religious and technical aspects of his musical compositions. Spitta's scholarly contributions extended to editing the works of other composers and co-founding significant musicological publications and editions.1

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) was a composer of the Baroque era and is widely considered one of history's greatest composers. While recognized in his time as an exceptional harpsichordist and organist, his enduring legacy lies in masterpieces like the Brandenburg Concertos and the Mass in B Minor. After his death, Bach's music experienced a revival in the 19th century, with Spitta's work being a cornerstone of this rediscovery.23

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Philipp Spitta
His Johann Sebastian Bach, 2 vol. (1873–80), dealt with Bach’s life and with religious and technical aspects of his work. His editions of the works of Heinrich Schütz and Dietrich Buxtehude established a high standard of scholarship. With Johannes Brahms, K.F.F. Chrysander, and others, he was…
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His Johann Sebastian Bach, 2 vol. (1873–80), dealt with Bach’s life and with religious and technical aspects of his work. His editions of the works of Heinrich Schütz and Dietrich Buxtehude established a high standard of scholarship. With Johannes Brahms, K.F.F. Chrysander, and others, he was…
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Johann Sebastian Bach
Revival of music
…important was the monumental study Johann Sebastian Bach, 2 vol. (1873–80), by the German musicologist Philipp Spitta, covering not only Bach’s life and works but also a good deal of the historical background. Although wrong in many details, the book is still indispensable to the Bach student.
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…important was the monumental study Johann Sebastian Bach, 2 vol. (1873–80), by the German musicologist Philipp Spitta, covering not only Bach’s life and works but also a good deal of the historical background. Although wrong in many details, the book is still indispensable to the Bach student.
Read More