Michael Maul

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Maul in 2025 at the Leipzig book fair 2025-03-27 Event, Leipziger Buchmesse und Manga-Comic-Con 2025 STP 1608.jpg
Maul in 2025 at the Leipzig book fair

Michael Maul (born 1978) is a German musicologist noted for his work on Johann Sebastian Bach. Maul was born in Leipzig, and is still based in the city, although his work at the Bach Archive has involved travel to archives and libraries elsewhere to explore sources relating to Bach. He is also artistic director of Leipzig's annual Bach festival. [1]

Contents

Education

Maul was awarded a PhD by the University of Freiburg for a dissertation on Baroque opera. It formed the basis of his book Barockoper in Leipzig (1693–1720).

Bach discoveries

Maul's work attracted international attention with a discovery he made in 2005 in Weimar's Duchess Anna Amalia Library. This was a hitherto overlooked manuscript containing Alles mit Gott und nichts ohn' ihn, BWV 1127, the first previously unknown vocal work by Bach to be found in 70 years. [2] [3]

Organ tablature of a work by Reincken, apparently copied by Bach ReinckenAnWasser.jpg
Organ tablature of a work by Reincken, apparently copied by Bach

Further research in Weimar identified other previously unknown manuscripts in Bach's hand, this time of music by other composers, throwing light on his musical education. [4] Maul has suggested that there are probably still unidentified Bach manuscripts waiting to be discovered.

Bibliography

References

  1. "The 2025 Festival Edition: Transformation". Bachfest. 2024. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
  2. Child, Fred (9 June 2005). "Unknown Bach aria discovered in Germany". NPR. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
  3. "Dr. Michael Maul". Bach-Archiv Leipzig. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
  4. Associated Press (2006). Researchers find Bach’s oldest manuscripts.