October 14, 2005

MINNEAPOLIS – The monumental work of J.S. Bach – some 250 cantatas, 280 organ compositions, the great Passions, oratorios and masses, the Well-Tempered Clavier, the Brandenburg Concertos, the Art of the Fugue – stands as a high-water mark of Western civilization. Yet that work is understandable only in light of Bach's profound Christian faith, asserts Hans Conrad Fischer in the newly-released Johann Sebastian Bach: His Life in Pictures and Documents, with CD from Fortress Press.

This engrossing text, enhanced with dozens of portraits, photos of locales and artifacts, maps and manuscripts, brings Bach, his faith, and his achievements directly to the reader. So too, do 17 key musical selections on audio CD, sampling Bach's best-known pieces from each genre and period of his life.

This book conclusively presents J.S. Bach's genius as not only musical but also religious, one that still effectively presents Christian faith to today's largely secular public. "Those who want to approach the phenomenon of Johann Sebastian Bach must start from the strong faith of Bach's soul, whether or not the reader shares this faith. . . . We must be content with the old wisdom that there are things in heaven and earth that cannot be grasped by our intellect. . . . Three letters are written at the end of many of his manuscripts: ‘SDG'-Soli Deo Gloria: for God's glory alone." – from the Preface "An excellent and uncommonly thoughtful introduction to the older but not bygone world of Bach and his music. The many and marvelous illustrations, too, make this an indispensable reference work." – Michael Marissen, Professor of Music, Swarthmore College Hans Conrad Fischer is an internationally recognized biographer and filmmaker, as well as a radio, television, and theater producer. He lives in Marktschellenberg, Germany. Johann Sebastian Bach, Format: Hardcover with jacket, 8.5" x 11," 192 pp, 140 black & white and color photographs, w/ music CD, ISBN: 0-8006-3764-X, Price: $25.00. Publisher: Fortress Press.

To order Johann Sebastian Bach please call Fortress Press at 1-800-328-4648 or visit the Web site at http://www.fortresspress.com/.

Fortress Press