In 2007, the great Bach scholar Anne Leahy died at the age of 46. She
was a leading light in Bach studies and lecturer at the Dublin Institute
of Technology (DIT) Conservatory of Music and Drama. Posthumously edited
by renowned Bach scholar Robin A. Leaver, Leahy's dissertation research
forms the basis for this original study of the preludes to Bach's
Leipzig chorales. Originally composed in Weimar and later revised in
Leipzig, Bach's compositions have been a source of some puzzlement. As
Leahy notes, "the original intentions of Bach and the possible purpose
of this collection might be regarded as speculative." Working from
available sources, however, she argues that through the careful
examination of the links among the music, hymn texts, and theological
sources some answers may be had. From Bach's personal and deep interest
in Lutheran theology to his enormous musical passion, Leahy considers
closely a series of critical questions: does the original manuscript for
the chorales simply reflect a random gathering of compositions or is
there a common theme in setting? How critical is the order of the
chorales and what is the theological significance of that order? Were
the chorales a unified collection, and if so, which parts were to be
included and which not? Indeed, were the chorales themselves part of a
possibly larger corpus? As Leahy makes evident, there are no simple
answers, which is why she considers critical the relationship the texts
of the hymns to the chorales and to one another, outlining a theological
pattern that is vital to fully grasping the guiding philosophy of these
compositions. J. S. Bach's "Leipzig" Chorale Preludes: Music, Text,
Theology is ideally suited for Bach scholars and those with a general
interest in the intricate connections between text and music in the
composition of religious music.
