Introduction

The author of this study does not assume to have discovered Bach, of whom the world has already heard; but of such men there is always something to be learned; many new facts of interest concerning the great Cantor of Leipzig will be brought out by others after us. What we here wish to consider is the compositions of Bach for the organ.

If, perhaps, we have confined ourselves to æsthetic considerations of a nature which may appear general, we trust that we may be pardoned; a perusal of this little book will demonstrate that it is not the fault of the man who suddenly surpassed all that had been done before him, while at the same time anticipating all that was to be written in the future.

Bach was not without predecessors; we may not ascribe to him the honor of having invented an alphabet, but it must be recognized that he was the author of a grammar. This conclusion is apparent upon a study of "Johann Sebastian Bach, the Organist"; it would undoubtedly be no less convincing upon the consideration of all his works as a whole.

Since we must confine ourselves to observation from a particular point of view, we shall indeed be happy if our labor, based entirely upon recognized authorities, shall make easier to the student the task of playing Bach "in the Bach spirit."

A. Pirro.

Wüstweiler, September 27, 1894.