I. The Bach-Lover's Basic Library
The New Bach Reader: A Life of J. S. Bach in Documents and Letters
(1998, Norton, ISBN: 0-393-31956-3 pbk.)
A fascinating and invaluable anthology of Bach's letters, documents, and other source material from Bach's time, as well as some insightful essays by modern authors. This volume should be on every Bach-lover's bookshelf.
Johann Sebastian Bach: The Learned Musician
(2000, Norton, ISBN: 0-393-04825-X )
This monumental and clearly written biography of JS Bach was a Pulitzer Prize Finalist in 2000. Another must-have book for every music lover interested in the details of Bach's life, family, music, and everyday working conditions. Read it from cover to cover or use it as a reference book.
The True Life of J. S. Bach
Klaus Eidam (1999, Basic Books / Piper Verlag, ISBN: 0-465-01861-0)
Eidam examines many preconceptions, myths, and assumptions about Bach, his life, and his personality. A very fascinating and thought-provoking book.
The Bach Family
(New Grove Series) (1983, W. W. Norton ISBN: 0393-30354-3 pbk.)
From the monumental New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, this is a collection of all the Grove articles on the various musical members of the Bach Family. Definitive essays - scholarly, thorough, and concise - in a bargain-priced little volume. Great reference book for the average Bach-lover. Valuable for professionals.
The Cambridge Companion to Bach
John Butt (Editor) (1997, Cambridge University Press (pbk) ISBN: 0521587808)
A new and important collection of musicological articles, edited by a world-renowned Bach scholar.
The World of the Bach Cantatas
Christoph Wolff (Editor) (1997, W.W. Norton (hdbk) ISBN: 0393041069)
A collection of 14 essays focussing on the wider and deeper contexts of Bach's cantatas, written by Bach scholars but not aimed at a strictly scholarly audience. The best cantata reference book for general readers to date.
ALSO:
Two classic biographies of JS Bach, by Philipp Spitta (1894) and Albert Schweitzer (1911) are still in print in budget paperback editions from Dover Press. Some details of their chronology, event datings, and historical details have been superceded by subsequent researchers, and the writing style can be somewhat Victorian, but both books are wonderful and highly respected resources. If you order these onine, be SURE you are getting all volumes. Spitta is usually published in three volumes, and Schweizer in two volumes.
II. Music and Musicians in History
Frederick the Great
Nancy Mitford (1995, Penguin USA (pbk) ISBN: 0140036539)
An important figure in 18th Century German culture and music, Frederick was the musician-king, the flute player. His court harpsichordist was Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, one of J.S. Bach's sons. "Old Bach" made a well-documented visit to the king in the 1740s, and wrote "A Musical Offering" for him. This is an excellent general info book on Frederick, his court and followers. Great pics and graphics.
Vivaldi: Voice of the Baroque
H.C. Robbins Landon (1996, University of Chicago ISBN: 0226468429 pbk.)
An entertaining book full of theatrical notices, correspondence, and history. The Italian musical world was quite different from that of Bach's northern Germany.
Letters of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Hans Mersman, M. M. Bozman (Editors) (1972, Dover Press (pbk) ISBN: 0486228592)
Wonderful insight into Mozart's mind and private life. ("P.S. Do not forget about my black suit; I must have it or I shall be laughed at, which is never very pleasant.)" [Mozart to his father, 1780]
III. Music, Psyche, and Soma
The Mozart Effect
Don Campbell (1997, Avon Books ISBN: 0060937203 pbk)
Campbell, an authority on the use of music and sound for emotional and physical health, outlines the latest research into the power of music to heal the body, strengthen the mind and unlock the creative spirit. Carmel Bach Festival Education Director David Gordon has worked extensively with Don Campbell for the past decade, designing and co-leading workshops exploring the powers of music on the mind and body.
Music and the Mind
Anthony Storr (1993, Ballantine Books, (pbk) ISBN: 0345383184)
Why do we listen to music at all? What is it about music which draws us back again and again to the same, well-known works? Storr examines our innate love of musical form and structure. Beautifully and compellingly written.
Music, the Brain, and Ecstasy: How Music Captures our Imaginations
Robert Jourdain (1997, William Morrow ISBN: 038078209X pbk)
A fascinating effort to explain the inexplicable. Jourdain offers the layman insight into the scientific, psychological, philosophical, and even physiological responses to music.
IV. Musings and Philosophy
The Listening Book - discovering your own music
W. A. Mathieu (1991, Shambala Publications (pbk) ISBN: 0877736103)
A wise little book of essays about rediscovering your powers of listening to the 'music' of everyday life.
The Dyer's Hand and Other Essays
W. H. Auden (1989, Vintage Books (pbk) ISBN: 0679724842)
Auden's discussion of musical and literary matters is second to none. Witty, stylish writing, gems of wisdom. An engrossing and humbling book.
A Dictionary of Musical Quotations
Ian Crofton and Donald Fraser, compilers (1985, Schirmer Books ISBN: 0825671752 phk.)
A perfect bedtime or rainy-day companion. Amusing, enlightening, surprising.
IV. SpiritSound Booklist
A bibliography about the powers of music to influence mind, body and spirit