Andrew Schulman
2005-12-17 19:58:58 UTC
When I was a college student in the early '70's (Stony Brook
University) one of my music professors, Issac Nemiroff who was a
student of Stefan Wolpe, told us an anecdote he said had been handed
down through the generations from one musician to another. I haven't
been able to find this story anywhere in print. Here it is in a short
version; anyone ever hear this or know anything about this story?
When WF Bach was about 20 (about 1730), the Bach family was visited by
2 friends who were two of the leading lute players of the day, Sylvius
Weiss and Johann Kropfgans. One evening after dinner the two Bach's on
keyboard and the two lutanists decided to have a music contest. One
team would give the other a theme which would be imrovised on until
they could go no further. They would be on the honor system to decide
at the end of the contest which was the better team.
To add to the enjoyment Bach brought up from his wine cellar a barrel
of the best German Rhine wine. The winning team would get the barrel
(magnanimous offer as he already owned it).
They played until dawn and, exhausted, could not go on. They all
agreed that the playing all around was so magnificent that a winner
could not be chosen. Anyway, a moot point because shortly after they
started they all agreed that if they opened the barrel of wine and
partook of some of its contents the music would...flow better. And, at
dawn, there was no wine left in the barrel!
Andrew Schulman
http://www.abacaproductions.com/
University) one of my music professors, Issac Nemiroff who was a
student of Stefan Wolpe, told us an anecdote he said had been handed
down through the generations from one musician to another. I haven't
been able to find this story anywhere in print. Here it is in a short
version; anyone ever hear this or know anything about this story?
When WF Bach was about 20 (about 1730), the Bach family was visited by
2 friends who were two of the leading lute players of the day, Sylvius
Weiss and Johann Kropfgans. One evening after dinner the two Bach's on
keyboard and the two lutanists decided to have a music contest. One
team would give the other a theme which would be imrovised on until
they could go no further. They would be on the honor system to decide
at the end of the contest which was the better team.
To add to the enjoyment Bach brought up from his wine cellar a barrel
of the best German Rhine wine. The winning team would get the barrel
(magnanimous offer as he already owned it).
They played until dawn and, exhausted, could not go on. They all
agreed that the playing all around was so magnificent that a winner
could not be chosen. Anyway, a moot point because shortly after they
started they all agreed that if they opened the barrel of wine and
partook of some of its contents the music would...flow better. And, at
dawn, there was no wine left in the barrel!
Andrew Schulman
http://www.abacaproductions.com/