Wilhelm Friedemann Bach

Martin Falck's definitive study on Wilhelm Friedemann Bach, originally published in 1913, remains a foundational text in musicological literature. It was authored to address the relative obscurity of the eldest son of Johann Sebastian Bach, meticulously cataloging his works and life during the transition between the Baroque and Classical eras. By documenting the personal and professional struggles of a musician often overshadowed by his father and brother, Carl Philipp Emanuel, Falck provided a critical framework for subsequent Bach scholarship.

The 1956 iteration, later reprinted by Wentworth Press, serves to keep this essential research accessible to modern libraries and scholars. Falck’s design was straightforward and academic, prioritizing the chronological presentation of musical manuscripts and biographical letters over narrative flourish. While the book was primarily received within professional circles as an indispensable reference tool, its enduring legacy lies in how it successfully rehabilitated the reputation of a complex, underappreciated composer.