Manuscripts Don't Burn, and Other Lies

The hunt for lost Bach compositions and the allure of the disappeared

Absence Stimulates Fantasy

Within the oeuvre of the great composers, there must be works that went missing. Their compositions bring meaning to our lives, so the idea that there could be more excites us. For some composers, works that were burned, destroyed, or lost may gain even a legendary aura. 

Turning our focus to Bach, we imagine that, because of such consistent quality, any missing works must be equally brilliant. A missing scrap of Bach probably contains more genius than an accomplished work from a lesser master, so we will forever be on the lookout for anything that slipped through the cracks.