The Chronicle of Anna Magdalena Bach
Encyclopedia
The Chronicle of Anna Magdalena Bach is a 1968 film
by the French filmmaking duo of Jean-Marie Straub
and Danièle Huillet. It was their first full-length feature film
, and reportedly took a decade to finance. The film stars renowned harpsichordist
Gustav Leonhardt
as Johann Sebastian Bach
and Christiane Lang as Anna Magdalena Bach
. It is the first of several Straub-Huillet films to be based on works of classical music
. The film was entered into the 18th Berlin International Film Festival
.
Though, as on all of their films, Straub and Huillet contributed to the film equally, Straub is the officially credited director
. Despite its austere, rigorous style, it is considered to be Straub and Huillet's most "mainstream" film. , it is the only one available on DVD
in the United States
.
. Each work is typically presented in a single, often immobile take, with the musicians performing in the locations where many of the works were premiered, dressed in period costumes.
1968 in film
The year 1968 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* October 30 - The film The Lion in Winter, starring Katharine Hepburn, debuts.* November 1 - The MPAA's film rating system is introduced.-Top grossing films :- Awards :...
by the French filmmaking duo of Jean-Marie Straub
Jean-Marie Straub
Jean-Marie Straub and Danièle Huillet were a duo of filmmakers who made two dozen films between 1963 and 2006...
and Danièle Huillet. It was their first full-length feature film
Feature film
In the film industry, a feature film is a film production made for initial distribution in theaters and being the main attraction of the screening, rather than a short film screened before it; a full length movie...
, and reportedly took a decade to finance. The film stars renowned harpsichordist
Harpsichordist
A harpsichordist is a person who plays the harpsichord.Many baroque composers played the harpsichord, including Johann Sebastian Bach, Domenico Scarlatti, George Frideric Handel, François Couperin and Jean-Philippe Rameau...
Gustav Leonhardt
Gustav Leonhardt
Gustav Leonhardt is a highly renowned Dutch keyboard player, conductor, musicologist, teacher and editor. Leonhardt has been a leading figure in the movement to perform music on period instruments...
as Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity...
and Christiane Lang as Anna Magdalena Bach
Anna Magdalena Bach
Anna Magdalena Bach was the second wife of Johann Sebastian Bach.-Biography:...
. It is the first of several Straub-Huillet films to be based on works of classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
. The film was entered into the 18th Berlin International Film Festival
18th Berlin International Film Festival
The 18th annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from June 21 to July 2, 1968.-Jury:* Luis García Berlanga * Peter Schamoni* Alex Viany* Georges de Beauregard* Alexander Walker* Domenico Meccoli* Carl-Eric Nordberg...
.
Though, as on all of their films, Straub and Huillet contributed to the film equally, Straub is the officially credited director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
. Despite its austere, rigorous style, it is considered to be Straub and Huillet's most "mainstream" film. , it is the only one available on DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Cast
- Gustav LeonhardtGustav LeonhardtGustav Leonhardt is a highly renowned Dutch keyboard player, conductor, musicologist, teacher and editor. Leonhardt has been a leading figure in the movement to perform music on period instruments...
- Johann Sebastian Bach - Christiane Lang - Anna Magdalena Bach
- Paolo CarliniPaolo CarliniPaolo Carlini was an Italian film actor. He appeared in 45 films between 1940 and 1979.-Selected filmography:* La Grande strada * The Mute of Portici * It Started in Naples...
- Hölzel - Ernst Castelli - Steger
- Hans-Peter Boye - Born
- Joachim Wolff - Rector
- Rainer Kirchner - Superintendent
- Eckart Bruntjen - Prefect Kittler
- Walter Peters - Prefect Krause
- Kathrien Leonhard - Catherina Dorothea Bach
- Anja Fahrmann - Regine Susanna Bach
- Katja Drewanz - Christine Sophie Henrietta Bach
- Bob van AsperenBob van AsperenBob van Asperen is a harpsichordist, organist, conductor, clavichordist and early music-specialist.After completing a conventional music course at university, in 1967 he studied under the harpsichord master Gustav Leonhardt. In 1968 he joined the group Quadro Hotteterre, of which he was a member...
- Johann Elias Bach - Andreas Pangritz - Wilhelm Friedemann Bach
- Bernd WeiklBernd WeiklBernd Weikl is an Austrian operatic baritone, best known for his performances in the operas of Richard Wagner.- Early career :...
- Singer in Cantata No. 205
Style and Content
The Chronicle of Anna Magdalena Bach consists of excerpts from Johann Sebastian Bach's works, presented in chronological order and linked by a fictional journal written by his second wife, Anna Magdalena BachAnna Magdalena Bach
Anna Magdalena Bach was the second wife of Johann Sebastian Bach.-Biography:...
. Each work is typically presented in a single, often immobile take, with the musicians performing in the locations where many of the works were premiered, dressed in period costumes.
Works Featured
Works excerpted in the film, in order of appearance, are:- Brandenburg Concerto No. 5, BWV 1050: Allegro 1 (First Movement), bars 147-227
- Prelude 6 in E Major from the Klavierbüchlein für Wilhelm Friedemann BachKlavierbüchlein für Wilhelm Friedemann BachKlavierbüchlein für Wilhelm Friedemann Bach is a collection of keyboard music compiled by the German Baroque composer Johann Sebastian Bach for his eldest son Wilhelm Friedemann...
, BWV 854 - (French) Suite #1 in D Minor from the Notebook for Anna Magdalena BachNotebook for Anna Magdalena BachThe title Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach refers to either of two manuscript notebooks that the German Baroque composer Johann Sebastian Bach presented to his second wife Anna Magdalena...
, BWV 812: Minuet 2 - Sonata No. 2 in D Major for viola da gamba and obbligato harsichord, BWV 1028: Adagio
- Trio-sonata No. 2 in C Minor for Organ, BWV 526: Largo
- MagnificatMagnificat (Bach)The Magnificat in D major, BWV 243, is a major vocal work of Johann Sebastian Bach. It was composed for orchestra, a five-part choir and four or five soloists. The text is the canticle of Mary, mother of Jesus, as told by Luke the Evangelist .Bach composed an initial version in E flat major in 1723...
in D Major, BWV 243: Sicut locutus est; Gloria (first part) - Partita #6 in E Minor from the Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach, BWV 830: Gavotte
- Cantata BWV 205 ("Aeolus placated"): Bass recitative ("Ja! Ja! Die Stunden sind nunmehro nah") and Aria ("Wie will ich lustig lachen")
- Cantata BWV 198 (Funeral Ode for Queen Christiane Eberhardine): Final chorus ("Doch, Königin! du stirbest nicht")
- Cantata BWV 244a (Funeral music for Leopold, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen): Aria, "Mit Freuden sei die Welt verlassen" (music lost, reconstructed from St Matthew Passion, BWV 244, "Aus Liebe will mein Heiland sterben")
- St Matthew Passion, BWV 244: Opening chorus ("Kommt, ihr Töchter, helft mir klagen")
- Cantata BWV 42: Sinfonia (Da capo: bars 1-53) and tenor recitative ("Am Abend aber desselbigen Sabbats")
- Prelude in B Minor for Organ, BWV 544, bars 1-17
- Mass in B Minor, BWV 232: Opening (start of the first Kyrie, bars 1-29)
- Cantata BWV 215 (for the coronation of August III): Opening chorus ("Preise dein Glücke, gesegnetes Sachsen"), bars 1-181
- Ascension Oratorio, BWV 11: final chorale, 2nd part
- Conventional Sunday motet (11th after Trinity) by Leo Leonius from the Florilegium Portense
- Clavier-Uebung, BWV 671: Organ-chorale from the 3rd part ("Kyrie, God Holy Spirit")
- Italian Concerto, BWV 971: Andante
- Cantata Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, BWV 140 ("Awake, the voice calls to us"): 1st duet, bars 1-36
- Goldberg VariationsGoldberg VariationsThe Goldberg Variations, BWV 988, is a work for harpsichord by Johann Sebastian Bach, consisting of an aria and a set of 30 variations. First published in 1741, the work is considered to be one of the most important examples of variation form...
, BWV 988: Variation 25 - Cantata BWV 82 ("I am content"), last recitative
- Musical Offering, BWV 1079: Ricercar a 6, harpsichord, bars 1-139
- The Art of FugueThe Art of FugueThe Art of Fugue , BWV 1080, is an incomplete work by Johann Sebastian Bach . It was most likely started at the beginning of the 1740s, if not earlier. The first known surviving version, which contained 12 fugues and 2 canons, was copied by the composer in 1745...
, BWV 1080: Contrapunctus XIX, bars 193-239 (harpsichord), last part - Chorale for Organ, BWB 668 ("Before thy throne, I tread"), bars 1-11