University thesis:
Erlangen-Nürnberg, Univ., Diss., 1973
Footnote:
Description:
The classification of words according to meaning provides the basis for a comparison of musical settings in the 247 extant cantatas. An examination of Bach's relationship to the rhetorical tradition yields the finding that Bach, contrary to the views of many scholars, developed his recitative style freely, giving priority to musical considerations in a way that sets him apart from his contemporaries such as Händel and Telemann. Moreover, the compilation of settings of particular words reveals very frequent instances of unique treatments within a given meaning class, a result contrary to the generalizations of the Bach literature, e.g., Schweitzer and E. Diehl. The word family Freude (main word and its synonyms) and its settings serve as an example.