ISSN:
1400-5123
Content:
Argues that the word numerology should never be used in association with Bach. Had he practiced numerology, he could not have taken the religious oath required of all pastors and teachers and would not have been appointed cantor at the Thomaskirche. The importance of numbers in Bach's world is briefly considered, including anagrams, chronograms, and acrostics, as well as the now-forgotten paragram, which used number alphabets to substitute for letters. In 1947, a paragram by Bach's librettist Picander (Christian Friedrich Henrici), using the number alphabet A=1-Z=300, was printed by Friedrich Smend. Smend then claimed that Bach had used the alphabet A=1-Z=24 to embed spiritual terminology in his compositions. Some of the reasons for Smend's confusion are discussed. There is no documentary evidence to show that Bach used number alphabets. (RILM)
In:
Tidig musik, Stockholm, 1995, 3(2007), Seite 18-19, 1400-5123
In:
volume:3
In:
year:2007
In:
pages:18-19
Language:
Swedish
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