Evening star., 1950-07-23

Friday will be the 200th ami
versary Of the death Of Johann
Bach.
On July 28, 1850, the greatest
the world has known
died In Leipzig Of apoplexy said to
have been brought on by joy at
the prospect of regaining his eye
sight after an operation. A short
announcement of hi. death was
made from q pulpit and he was
buried in an unmarked grave
which remained undiscovered for
over a century. Today a tablet in
his memory declares that some
where in the cemetery the great
Bach Is inferred.
In this anniversary year, the
musical world has done honor to
the memory Of the composer whose
genius it was so slow to recognize.
European and American festivals
Of his music have been given and
hardly a recital has been pro-
without one or more of
his works. There will be, however,
no program at the Watergate or
elsewhere in this city featuring
his name on this special day.
MendelssOhn Began Mania"
The remembering Of these two
dates in musical history
was the elimination Of the Bach
mania" which swept the country
since the turn Of the century but
which started in Europe more
than a century ago when another
German composer, Felix Men
delssohn, aroused music circles to
the greatness of Bach. The per-
formances he directed Of the est
Matthew Passion" at the Sing
akademie In Berlin in 1829-the
first hearing of this work since
the composers death-was the
beginning.
Mendelssohn's interest in Bach
was presaged at his birth when
his mother, taking his tiny hand
in hers, said:
HE has Bach fugue fingers"
His teacher, Zelter, a jealous
custodian of Bach's works, initi-
ated his pupil gradually into their
beauties. AS a special favor, he
allowed q copy Of the score of
the Passion" to be made so that
Mendelssohn's grandmother might
present it to her grandson as a
Christmas present when he was
Il years old.
Bach Societies Formed.
In 1850. the Bach Gesellschaft
was formed for the publishing Of
the complete works Of Bach. It
was the direct outcome of Men.
delssohn's courageous presenta-
ton OF the Passion" At about
the same time, Bach society was
formed in London and sponsored
the English premiere of the "Pas-
sion." In 1900, thirty years after
the dissolution of the English
group. the Bach Festival in Beth
lehem, Pa. was established.
Bach was not without recog-
milton during his lifetime or in
the years following his death. But
1t was as an organist that fame
came to him while living when
he was known as 'The Prince of
Organists." So exceptional was
his virtuosity that when, in pass
ing. he would steal into a village
church to play awhile, those who
heard him said Immediately,
That must be Bach or the devil. -
His brushes with the church au-
thoritieS regarding his improvisa-
tions were many and responsible
to a certain degree in the changes
Of residence that occurred in his
life. They were almost always
dramatically impulsive. He was
imprisoned for a month for his
characterization when he asked
for a release from his contract
with the Duke Of Weimar.
Marvel Even to Modernists.
Today he is acknowledged an
unsurpassed composer. Through
all the visSisitudes and innovations
in music history since his time.
other famed composers have
learned their art by study Of his
writings-and all have exclaimed
in awe at the inexhaustible quail
ity of his technique and imagina-
ton. Even the modernists humbly
seek knowledge from him, and
many who have been most vigor-
Gus in discarding old forms, have
turned back to follow again in
his footsteps.
His music has been popularized
in various ways, notably by Alec
Templeton, who. however, so ven
crates Bach that he never altered
melody or tempo in any OF his
arrangements. Temple
ton has made such an intimate
study of Bach, the man and mu-
sician. that he is convinced Bach
would have enjoyed swing.
Only lately has the deep human
ism of Bach been discovered. For
many years. he was considered
mathematician in music and so
religious minded as to be above
earthly pleasantries. Yet the
record makes known the yearly
reunions of the large and gifted
Bach clan which amused itself
with all kinds Of jolly musical
after opening their
meeting with a hymn. Study OF