LDV38.1

24 BACH_THEWELL-TEMPERED CLAVIER Isn’t it fascinating, too, that Bach realised a synthesis of the various Europeanaesthetics of his time,even thoughhe never left Germany? His ‘dream’ Italy and his indirect borrowings from French music testify to his insatiable curiosity. We know that he studied mathematics and that he owned a prodigious collection of musical instruments. His encyclopaedic character had nothing had nothing to fear from comparison with the thinkers of the Renaissance. By sometimes surrounding his works with a ‘sacred’ aura, have we not forgotten the pedagogical, almost utilitarian, dimension you alluded to earlier? Yes, Bach composed – and this was definitely the purpose of the First Book of TheWell-Tempered Clavier – for his students and, even more, for his sons. This incredible generosity also tells us something of his personality. Which other composer has left so many high-quality pieces designed for teaching? I’m a teacher myself, and Bach gives us a lesson in humanity. He makes us realise that transmission is as essential and noble as performing on the concert platform. The Well-Tempered Clavier offers a perfect balance from the point of view of musical education: the prelude warms up the fingers and opens the door to improvisation, then the fugue structures the player’s thoughts. Even more remarkable is the fact that although Bach composed with this didactic intention, he never simplified his musical philosophy.