Bach in Cambridge

Abstract

Now an established biennial summer event, the Eighth Dialogue Meeting of the Bach Network (formerly Bach Network UK) was held in the beautiful surroundings of Madingley Hall, Cambridge, from 10 to 15 July 2017. Once again, it proved to be an inspiring and memorable event that fostered connections between a diverse range of international delegates, from veteran scholars to early career researchers, performers and others with related specialisms, all united by a common interest in J. S. Bach and his music. In the true spirit of ‘dialogue’, the meeting focused upon several discussion sessions, led by expert scholars but inviting participation from all attendees. The first of these was on the theme of ‘Bach and God’, inspired by Michael Marissen’s recently published book of the same title (Oxford University Press, 2016). Marissen, in discussion with Bettina Varwig and Jeremy Begbie, explained how he sought to challenge a still-prevalent view of Bach’s music as pure, autonomous and socially liberal, somehow removed from historical context. In fact, as Marissen showed, some of Bach’s works reveal deliberate choices on his part to set versions of texts that insult particular groups of people (a striking example being the cantata Erhalt uns, Herr, bei deinem Wort, bwv126, which expresses both anti-Muslim and anti-Catholic sentiments). A particularly contentious area of debate in the session concerned perceptions of anti-Judiasm, especially in John’s gospel and Bach’s settings of it.