Peter Williams (1937–2016) held the first Chair in Performance Practice in Britain at the University of Edinburgh, where he was first Director of the Russell Collection of Harpsichords and latterly Dean of Music. He was also the first Arts and Sciences Distinguished Chair at Duke University, North Carolina. His first book on Bach was for the BBC in 1970. After then, he focused chiefly on music for the organ (with the three-volume Organ Music of J. S. Bach, Cambridge, 1980–84); on music for the harpsichord (with Art of Fugue, 1986, and Bach: The Goldberg Variations, Cambridge, 2001); and on music for ensemble (with Musical Offering, 1986). In more recent years, he focused on biography, with The Life of Bach (Cambridge, 2003) and J. S. Bach: A Life in Music (Cambridge, 2007).

'A big read, stimulatingly rigorous, and an excellent follow-up from Williams's concise Life of Bach (2004).' Five stars, BBC Music Magazine

• Part I. Life and Works: 1. Early years, 1685–1703: background, family, studies; 2. First appointments, 1703–1708: a young musician's activities and early works; 3. Weimar, 1708–1717: the gifted player at a ducal court; 4. Cöthen, 1717–1723: other opportunities for the maturing composer; 5. Leipzig, the first years: a cantor's life, his duties, cantatas, Passions, publications; 6. Leipzig, the middle years: other activities; 7. Leipzig, the final years: a concentration on the language of music; Part II. Observations on the Life and Works: 8. What was said, what can be inferred; 9. An epilogue.

Peter Williams (1937–2016) held the first Chair in Performance Practice in Britain at the University of Edinburgh, where he was first Director of the Russell Collection of Harpsichords and latterly Dean of Music. He was also the first Arts and Sciences Distinguished Chair at Duke University, North Carolina. His first book on Bach was for the BBC in 1970. After then, he focused chiefly on music for the organ (with the three-volume Organ Music of J. S. Bach, Cambridge, 1980–84); on music for the harpsichord (with Art of Fugue, 1986, and Bach: The Goldberg Variations, Cambridge, 2001); and on music for ensemble (with Musical Offering, 1986). In more recent years, he focused on biography, with The Life of Bach (Cambridge, 2003) and J. S. Bach: A Life in Music (Cambridge, 2007).

'A big read, stimulatingly rigorous, and an excellent follow-up from Williams's concise Life of Bach (2004).' Five stars, BBC Music Magazine

• Part I. Life and Works: 1. Early years, 1685–1703: background, family, studies; 2. First appointments, 1703–1708: a young musician's activities and early works; 3. Weimar, 1708–1717: the gifted player at a ducal court; 4. Cöthen, 1717–1723: other opportunities for the maturing composer; 5. Leipzig, the first years: a cantor's life, his duties, cantatas, Passions, publications; 6. Leipzig, the middle years: other activities; 7. Leipzig, the final years: a concentration on the language of music; Part II. Observations on the Life and Works: 8. What was said, what can be inferred; 9. An epilogue.

Peter Williams (1937–2016) held the first Chair in Performance Practice in Britain at the University of Edinburgh, where he was first Director of the Russell Collection of Harpsichords and latterly Dean of Music. He was also the first Arts and Sciences Distinguished Chair at Duke University, North Carolina. His first book on Bach was for the BBC in 1970. After then, he focused chiefly on music for the organ (with the three-volume Organ Music of J. S. Bach, Cambridge, 1980–84); on music for the harpsichord (with Art of Fugue, 1986, and Bach: The Goldberg Variations, Cambridge, 2001); and on music for ensemble (with Musical Offering, 1986). In more recent years, he focused on biography, with The Life of Bach (Cambridge, 2003) and J. S. Bach: A Life in Music (Cambridge, 2007).

'A big read, stimulatingly rigorous, and an excellent follow-up from Williams's concise Life of Bach (2004).' Five stars, BBC Music Magazine

• Part I. Life and Works: 1. Early years, 1685–1703: background, family, studies; 2. First appointments, 1703–1708: a young musician's activities and early works; 3. Weimar, 1708–1717: the gifted player at a ducal court; 4. Cöthen, 1717–1723: other opportunities for the maturing composer; 5. Leipzig, the first years: a cantor's life, his duties, cantatas, Passions, publications; 6. Leipzig, the middle years: other activities; 7. Leipzig, the final years: a concentration on the language of music; Part II. Observations on the Life and Works: 8. What was said, what can be inferred; 9. An epilogue.