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The Many Voices of Alfred Brendel
Alfred Brendel, the Czech-born Austrian pianist, essayist and poet, died peacefully at age 94 on June 17, 2025, in London. Celebrated for his deeply intellectual interpretations of Beethoven, Mozart, Schubert and Liszt, he reshaped classical performance with clarity, wit and literary flair. His legacy endures through recordings, writings and mentorship. Read more
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Topic: bach, mozart, and the 'musical midwife' article by m rasmussen  (Read 1772 times)

Offline pianistimo

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bach, mozart, and the 'musical midwife' article by m rasmussen
on: October 04, 2005, 11:09:50 AM
bernhard has prompted another look into my notes about how mozart obtained looks at bach manuscripts.  on the second page of this article

www.schillerinstitute.org/music/m_rasmus_801.html

mozart was seemingly first brought into contact with js bach (not through popular hearing) by baron van swieten.  he had scoured berlin earlier to find manuscripts of bach and handel (whose works were virtually unknown in vienna), and had brought them back with him.  he encouraged mozart to transcribe three and four voice fugues from js bach's well-tempered clavier.

of course, haydn had the same inclinations and this threesome , baron van swieten, mozart, haydn, and beethoven were able to learn so much from this 'old testament.'  the 'new testament' being  beethoven's piano sonatas.  i really liked this article.  maybe someone else will find it useful, too.

comments if anyone want to read it?
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