The Musician in Literature in the Age of Bach

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Introduction
1. Literary contexts: the German Baroque novel
2. The musician as picaresque outcast
3. The musician as honourable craftsman
4. Musical fools versus virtuosos
5. From harmony to discord
6. The first German autobiographies of musicians
Bibliography.

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Using novels and autobiographies from Bach's Germany, Stephen Rose suggests new ways of interpreting the lives and social status of musicians. This study focuses on satirical novels written by musicians that describe the lives of performers and composers, as well as the autobiographies of Bach's contemporaries. These narratives represent musicians variously as picaresque outcasts, honourable craft-workers, foolish bunglers and respected virtuosos. They probe the lives of musicians considered taboo or aberrant in the period, such as street entertainers and Italian castratos. The novels and autobiographies also reveal two major debates that shaped the mindset and social identity of musicians: was music a sensual or rational craft, and should musicians integrate within society or be regarded as outsiders? Quoting from an array of little-known novels, this book shows how an interdisciplinary approach can transform our understanding of Bach and his contemporaries.

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a useful and original summary of the satirical novels circulating in the period ... The selection is well made and the translations well done: sound professional work on a defined, under familiar and often surprisingly funny genre ... Alert research and generous quotation remind one of many a musician's biography of the time and thus creates a useful context for them

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