Sacher Foundation sells Bach manuscript
The Paul Sacher Foundation in Basel wants to sell the important manuscript of Bach's cantata BWV 20, "O Ewigkeit, du Donnerwort", to the Bach Archive in Leipzig. It is offering the document exclusively to the archive for 1.98 million euros until the end of 2016.
After Bach's death, the original part material of the cantata passed into the possession of the Thomasschule, according to the Bach Archive in Leipzig. It is now kept in the Bach Archive in Leipzig. The score, on the other hand, turned up in Berlin in the early 19th century and was acquired by Henri Hinrichsen for the Peters Music Library in 1917.
After Hinrichsen was murdered in Auschwitz, his son Walter took the score in 1945 and brought it to New York. In 1982, Paul Sacher acquired it at a Sotheby's auction for his collection in Basel. The unusually large score of twelve leaves documents Bach's creative process in a particularly instructive and detailed manner. It is therefore extremely valuable for the study of his creative style and revision activities, write the Leipzig-based company.
With the help of public funding bodies and private supporters, the Bach Archive Foundation has already been able to raise around 1.5 million euros for the acquisition of the "many times more valuable manuscript". The archive is asking for donations to finance the remaining 500,000 euros.
