books on baroque music

[doowlehc]

Can anyone recommend books that discuss on following topics:

1) what are origins of the dance suites that Bach wrote - what exactly is a courante, for example, and what is the difference between Patita, French Suite, English Suite

2) how do you judge the beauty of a fugue - not talking about the form of fugue, but more about aesthetics

3) keyboard practises of baroque music on a modern piano - norms on ornaments, dynamics, phrasing, voicing etc.. that are considered acceptable on modern piano

[Lisa]

I strongly recommend "Dance and the Music of J. S. Bach," by Meredith Little and Natalie Jenne (Indiana U Press).  I think there's a paperpack edition now.  It's an excellent book on the dance rhythm in Bach's works.  Part I covers the social elements of dance during Bach's lifetime, and II covers all the traditional dances.

For ornamentation, the classic is Frederick Neumann's "Ornamentation in Baroque and Post-Baroque Music."  He focusses on Bach, which may be what you are looking for. 

Try also "Baroque Music, Style and Performance" by Robert Donington.

Have you read "Bach and the Dance of God" by Wilfrid Mellers?  Fantastic book on theology in Bach's music. 

My, I'm beginning to sound like a librarian.....

[BoliverAllmon]

c.p.e. bach's essay is a great book also.

boliver

[bernhard]

Can anyone recommend books that discuss on following topics:

1) what are origins of the dance suites that Bach wrote - what exactly is a courante, for example, and what is the difference between Patita, French Suite, English Suite

For old dances, one of the best references is

Thoineaut Arbeau – “Orchesography” (Dover). This is a wonderful book written in the 1600s in the form of a dialogue between a dance master and his pupil.

[bernhard]

Can anyone recommend books that discuss on following topics:


2) how do you judge the beauty of a fugue - not talking about the form of fugue, but more about aesthetics

Beauty is in the ear of the beholder.

Best wishes,
Bernhard.