Letters of Samuel Wesley to Mr. Jacobs, Organist of Surrey Chapel, relating to the introduction into this country of the works of John Sebastian Bach. (Now first published.). Edited by his daughter ... Second Edition
London: William Reeves, 1878.
Octavo. Original publisher's light green printed wrappers with titling within decorative ruled border; Reeves overpaste to foot of upper. 1f. (recto title, verso blank), 60 pp. With occasional musical examples in text and a catalogue of "The Musical Works of Samuel Wesley" to pp. 51-60.
Wrappers worn, soiled, slightly creased; margins foxed; short printed note to foot crossed out in black; spine partially split, with minor loss. Minor internal wear and browning; upper corner of title slightly creased and stained.
An English composer and organist, "Wesley [1766-1837] was also a leading member of the English Bach movement. According to his own account in his manuscript Reminiscences, he had first been introduced to Bach’s music by the violinist and composer George Frederick Pinto, who lent him a copy of Das wohltemperirte Clavier. This was probably in 1804 or 1805. Wesley’s wholehearted ‘conversion’ to the Bach cause (to adopt the religious language he himself habitually used) seems to have occurred sometime later, probably in the spring or early summer of 1807. From then on, in conjunction with Karl Friedrich Horn, Vincent Novello, Benjamin Jacob, and others, he did everything he could to promote Bach’s music.
His enthusiasm for Bach also led to the blossoming of his friendship with Charles Burney from late 1807 until Burney’s death in 1814, and to Burney’s own involvement with the English Bach movement in the final years of his life." Philip Olleson and Stanley C. Pelkey in Grove Music Online.
Item #39120
Price: $85.00 other currencies