Authentic Bach Quote?

[Jeremy]

A few years ago I found this quote online that is supposedly one of Bach's but no one has been able to confirm if it was or wasn't Bach's.

Here it is:

"In the architecture of my music I want to demonstrate to the world of the architecture of a new and beautiful social commonwealth. The secret of my harmony? I alone know it. Each instrument in counterpoint, and as many contrapuntal parts as there are instruments. It is the enlightened self-discipline of the various parts, each voluntarily imposing on itself the limits of its individual freedom for the well-being of the community. That is my message. Not the autocracy of a single stubborn melody on the one hand, nor the anarchy of unchecked noise on the other. No, a delicate balance between the two; an enlightened freedom. The science of my art. The art of my science. The harmony of the stars in the heavens, the yearning for brotherhood in the heart of man. This is the secret of my music." – Johann Sebastian Bach

Has anyone ever heard of this quote before? What's your thought, do you think it's from Bach or not?

[SimenN]

Well, i dont know. When i think of Bach, i think of a very religious and humble man. If he wrote this i would say he thinks very high of himself, im not saying he should not. Its a great little text to tell about Bach music. But i dont belive he looked at it this way. Its typical to often give the music a more "interlectual" sense when the composer is dead. Like what did Mozart intend with piano concerto nr 20 what emoitions was there what drove him to write the piece etc. He was a composer, he had to write music to survive, i belive its sometimes a very simple reason to the philosophy behind a piece or and idea etc. I dont belive bach would demonstrate hes perfect music to the world. I dont even think he dreamed of it. He was not a popular composer in hes lifetime, and i dont belive he had ambitions of this kind. An to talk about the "secret of my harmony", When you are not popluar and people dont belive you are the best, who would make a statement like that? But if you was the best, then it mabye natural to say it. I belive this is written by another man, after bachs death, when hes music became known. mabye its Mendelssohn?

[Jeremy]

Well, i dont know. When i think of Bach, i think of a very religious and humble man. If he wrote this i would say he thinks very high of himself, im not saying he should not. Its a great little text to tell about Bach music. But i dont belive he looked at it this way. Its typical to often give the music a more "interlectual" sense when the composer is dead. Like what did Mozart intend with piano concerto nr 20 what emoitions was there what drove him to write the piece etc. He was a composer, he had to write music to survive, i belive its sometimes a very simple reason to the philosophy behind a piece or and idea etc. I dont belive bach would demonstrate hes perfect music to the world. I dont even think he dreamed of it. He was not a popular composer in hes lifetime, and i dont belive he had ambitions of this kind. An to talk about the "secret of my harmony", When you are not popluar and people dont belive you are the best, who would make a statement like that? But if you was the best, then it mabye natural to say it. I belive this is written by another man, after bachs death, when hes music became known. mabye its Mendelssohn?

I agree with you. It probably wasn't Bach, but I am curious as to who said that.

[JFischer84]

What a load of bull...

[moya]

This is the dawning of the age of Aquarius...

Bullshit. Pardon my French.

Let's just say I *hope* that quote isn't his.

Ugh.

:ox

[palestrina64]

Yeah... it sounds incredibly fake. Along the lines of the Mozart/Beethoven "way of composing" or getting inspiration. Probably a Romantic creation... There are ways of checking, though...

[Jeremy]

There are ways of checking, though...

Yeah, I should contact the man who has that quote on his site and see if he can provide a source.