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Title:

Chronik der Anna Magdalena Bach
Chronicle of Anna Magdalena Bach

Category:

Movie about J.S. Bach's Life

Produced:

1968 (filmed 1967)

Country:

West German / Italy

Released:

Film: Nov 1968 (France)
DVD: Dec 2005

Director:

Danièle Huillet, Jean-Marie Straub

Writer:

Danièle Huillet, Jean-Marie Straub

Actors:

Gustav Leonhardt (J.S. Bach); Christiane Lang (Anna Magdalena Bach); Paolo Carlini (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 Asperen (Johann Elias Bach); Andreas Pangritz (Wilhelm Friedemann Bach); Bernd Weikl (Singer in BWV 205); Wolfgang Schöne (Singer in BWV 82); Karl-Heinz Lampe (Singer in BWV 42); Bernhard Wehle (Treble Voice in BWV 140); Christa Degler (Anna Magdalena Bach in BWV 244); Karl-Heinz Klein (Bass Voice in BWV 140); Nikolaus Harnoncourt (Prince of Anhalt-Cöthen)

Description:

The widow of Bach reminisces in this biography. Her life with the great composer was not easy. He seldom spoke to her. When he did, it was only to read letters of complaint. A chronicle of J.S. Bach's life, eschewing drama to focus almost entirely on his music. Narrated by his wife Anna in voiceover, it consists largely of static scenes of Bach conducting and/or playing his brilliant compositions.

Language:

German

TT:

94 min

J.S. Bach's Music:

Excerpts from:
Brandenburg Concerto No. 5
Prelude 6 from the "Little Clavier Book for W.F. Bach
Minuet 2 of the Suite in D Minor from the "Little Clavier Book for A.M. Bach
Sonata No. 2 in D Major for Viola and Harpsichord
Partita in E Minor from the "Little Clavier Book for A.M. Bach
Trio-sonata No. 2 in C Minor, BWV 526
Magnificat in D Major, BWV 243
Matthäus-Passion BWV 244
Prelude in B Minor for Organ
Mass in B Minor BWV 232
Ascension Oratorio BWV 11
Clavier-Übung Italian Concerto
Goldberg Variations BWV 988
Musical Offering BWV 1079
Art of the Fugue BWV 1080
Chorale for Organ
Cantatas BWV 205, BWV 198, BWV 42, BWV 215, BWV 140, BWV 82

Format:

Film: B&W movie
DVD

Company:

Film: Franz Seitz Filmproduktion, Hessischer Rundfunk (HR), IDI Cinematografica, Kuratorium Junger Deutscher Film, Radiotelevisione Italiana, Straub-Huillet, Telepool
Distributor: Neue Filmkunst Walter Kirchner (1968, West Germany, theatrical)
DVD: Kinokuniya (2002, Japan) [DVD] | New Yorker Films (2005, USA)

Comments:

Nomination for Golden Berlin Bear by Berlin International Film Festival (1068)
Won Golden Berlin Bear by British Film Institute Awards (1968)
See: Bach Movie - Chronik der Anna Magdalena Bach - Discussions

Buy movie at:

Amazon.com [DVD]

DVD>

Watch selections:

Chronicle of Anna Magdalena Bach (1968) GERMAN (YouTube): Part 1 [9:59] | Part 2 [10:00] | Part 3 [9:59] | Part 4 [10:01] | Part 5 [9:57] | Part 6 [9:54] | Part 7 [10:04] | Part 8 [10:05 | Part 9 [10:03] | Part 10 [4:06]

Source: IMDB, Amazon.com & others | Landscapes of Resistance - The German Films of Danièle Huillet and Jean-Marie Straub | Lacrimae Rerum Materialized (Senses of Cinema) | Chronik Der Anna Magdalena Bach (Film Reference) | New DVD: The Chronicle of Anna Magdalena Bach (NY Times)
Contributor: Aryeh Oron (October 2007 - January 2008)

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

Part 8

Part 9

Part 10

Pictures from the movie:

Bach's employers on the Town Council
(Ernst Castelli, Paolo Carlini, Hans-Peter Boye).
Courtesy New Yorker Films. [11]

J.S. Bach (Gustav Leonhardt) and Anna Magdalena Bach (Christiane Lang-Drewanz).
Courtesy New Yorker Films. [12]

Christiane Lang-Drewanz as Anna Magdalena Bach.
Courtesy New Yorker Films. [13]

Gustav Leonhardt as J.S. Bach.
Courtesy New Yorker Films. [14]

Gustav Leonhardt as J.S. Bach.
Contributed by Dr. Graziano Fronzuto (February 2002) [10]

[17]