Versuch über die wahre Art das Clavier zu spielen. Zweyter Theil, in welchem die Lehre von dem Accompagnement und der freyen Fantasie abgehandelt wird
Berlin: In Verlegung des Auctoris ... Gedruckt bey George Ludewig Winter, 1762.
Quarto. Marbled boards with dark green leather title label gilt to spine. 1f. (recto title, verso blank), 3ff. (preface), 1f. (contents), 341, [i] (errata) pp. + 1 folding leaf of engraved music. With typeset musical examples, some extensive, throughout; elaborate woodcut headpiece to first page of preface and introduction.
Slightly browned; first and last leaves slightly soiled; very light staining to margins of first 9 and last 23 leaves; occasional annotations and underlining in lead and blue pencil; Several leaves mispaginated; small circular owner's handstamp "Carl Help ... Wien" to lower margin of title.
Binding very slightly worn, rubbed, and bumped.
Quite a good copy overall.
First Edition of Part II of Bach's Versuch (Part I was published in 1753). Wotquenne 255. Helm 870. Gregory-Bartlett, p. 20. Cortot p. 10. Hirsch I, 42. RISM BVI1 p. 106.
"With his Essay on the True Art of Playing Keyboard Instruments Emanuel Bach provided what was to be the leading keyboard tutor for a long period. Together with Quantz’s flute tutor of 1752, Leopold Mozart’s violin tutor of 1756, and J.F. Agricola’s singing manual of 1757 (after P.F. Tosi), it was the most important work of practical musical instruction of the second half of the 18th century. The first (self-contained) part, which appeared in 1753, sets out the basics of keyboard performance... The Essay was complemented in 1762 by a second part containing mainly instruction in continuo playing and correct accompaniment... The Essay held an undisputed position in the 18th century, and its influence was not confined to north Germany; Haydn bought and studied it as a young man and Christian Gottlieb Neefe introduced Beethoven to it. Both composers continued into the 19th century to use the Essay in their own teaching." Ulrich Leisinger in Grove Music Online.
Item #39955
Price: $1,650.00 other currencies