James Runcie: The Story of Bach's Masterpiece
Bach’s St Matthew Passion is one of the greatest pieces of music ever written. But what was it like to play and sing it for the first time? James Runcie, bestselling author of The Grantchester Mysteries, talks about the research involved in writing his new novel, The Great Passion, tracking the work from composition to first performance. Today’s talk is interspersed with music from acclaimed violinist Huw Daniel of Dunedin Consort, performed on a violin from 1665.
Book Festival News
Our response to today's statement from Fossil Free BooksWednesday 15 May
Watch more
Jack Monroe: On Self-Care and Social Change
Elena Pala, John Retallack & Sandro Veronesi: The World of the Hummingbird
Roger Robinson: ‘Ordinary Poems Won’t Change the World’
How to book on the first day of sales
Douglas Stuart with Val McDermid: Knives, Doves and Forbidden Love
The Moth (2014 event)
Stories and Scran
Karl Ove Knausgaard (2014 event)
Irvine Welsh (2016 Event)
Kevin Barry: Looking Across a Bog to the Bluestack Mountains