‘13 ways of looking at J.S. Bach’

On the occasion of the Bach Heritage Festival, BOZAR LITERATURE invited poets to write a piece about the celebrated composer. In addition, some poems were selected from among the best of recent works inspired by his music. The publication, Thirteen Ways of Looking at J.S. Bach, brings together thirteen different voices to reveal the various aspects of the composer’s work: whether cheerful or solemn, dramatic or contemplative, sensitive, exuberant or spiritual. Although music is made to be listened to, in reality it transcends all the senses, and the thirteen poets who have contributed to this volume prove that it is also possible to understand Bach through images and metaphors.

Contributors: Hubert Antoine, Asmaa Azaizeh, Bei Dao, Koenraad Goudeseune, Lars Gustafsson, Stefan Hertmans, K. Michel, Fiston Mwanza Mujila, Charline Lambert, Shuntaro Tanikawa, Maud Vanhauwaert et Mia You.