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Expert: - 9/29/2009


Question
Some time ago you provided information about the Minuet in G from the Anna Magdalena Notebook -- specifically that it was actually composed by Petzold, and that the notebook was actually a sort of guest register.  I would love to know sources for this information -- NOT because I'm questioning your answer, but because I am intrigued by how we came to know so much about the AMB Notebook in general, and about the Petzold minuet in particular.  Would you be willling to share more about this?  Thank you!

Answer
There are two "notebooks": 1722 and 1725; the Petzold is in the latter.  The latter is commonly referred to as the "Anna Magdalena Notebook."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notebook_for_Anna_Magdalena_Bach
article about the AMN

http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Lib/Petzold-Christian.htm
modern provenance based on the work (c. 1970) of H-J Schulze, a well-respected Bach scholar; he was (and may still be) director of the Bach archive in Leipzig and has access to the various mss.  I do not know the particulars of his research, however.

I don't think of it as a "guest register" so much as a "family album" of blank staff paper.  Musical guests of adequate stature were invited to write a tune, but CPE Bach also got his hands on the precious staff paper, and there is a piece (two, maybe; I don't recall) in AM's hand, as well as a bunch in Bach's.  
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I have a PhD in musicology, with expertise in medieval - Renaissance - Baroque - Classical periods, but I'll try to help you with any period.

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