The Chronicle of Anna Magdalena Bach (German: Chronik der Anna Magdalena Bach) is a 1968 film by the French filmmaking duo of Jean-Marie Straub and Danièle Huillet. It was their first full-length feature film, and reportedly took a decade to finance. The film stars renowned harpsichordist Gustav Leonhardt as Johann Sebastian Bach and Christiane Lang as Anna Magdalena Bach. The orchestral music was performed by Concentus Musicus and conducted by Nikolaus Harnoncourt. It is the first of several Straub-Huillet films to be based on works of classical music. The film was entered in the 18th Berlin International Film Festival.
Though, as on all of their films, Straub and Huillet contributed to the film equally, Straub is the officially credited director.
Contents
Cast
Gustav Leonhardt – Johann Sebastian 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 Cantata No. 205
Nikolaus Harnoncourt – Prince of Anhalt-Köthen
Style and content
The Chronicle of Anna Magdalena Bach consists of excerpts from Johann Sebastian Bach's works, presented in chronological order and linked by a fictional journal written by his second wife, Anna Magdalena Bach. Each work is typically presented in a single, often immobile take, with the musicians performing in the locations where many of the works were premiered, dressed in period costumes.
Works featured
Works excerpted in the film, in order of appearance, are:
Brandenburg Concerto No. 5, BWV 1050: Allegro 1 (First Movement), bars 147–227
Prelude 6 in E major from the Klavierbüchlein für Wilhelm Friedemann Bach, BWV 854
(French) Suite #1 in D Minor from the Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach, BWV 812: Minuet 2
Sonata No. 2 in D major for viola da gamba and obbligato harpsichord, BWV 1028: Adagio
Trio-sonata No. 2 in C Minor for Organ, BWV 526: Largo
Magnificat in D major, BWV 243: Sicut locutus est; Gloria (first part)
Partita #6 in E minor from the Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach, BWV 830: Gavotte
Cantata BWV 205 ("Aeolus placated"): Bass recitative ("Ja! Ja! Die Stunden sind nunmehro nah") and Aria ("Wie will ich lustig lachen")
Cantata BWV 198 (Funeral Ode for Queen Christiane Eberhardine): Final chorus ("Doch, Königin! du stirbest nicht")
Cantata BWV 244a (Funeral music for Leopold, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen): Aria, "Mit Freuden sei die Welt verlassen" (music lost, reconstructed from St Matthew Passion, BWV 244, "Aus Liebe will mein Heiland sterben")
St Matthew Passion, BWV 244: Opening chorus ("Kommt, ihr Töchter, helft mir klagen")
Cantata BWV 42: Sinfonia (Da capo: bars 1–53) and tenor recitative ("Am Abend aber desselbigen Sabbats")