Chronicle of Anna Magdalena Bach
Picture: C
Sound: C Extras: C+ Film: B-
What exactly is the relationship between picture and
sound? The answer to that has somewhat
evolved a bit over time, but in it’s deepest root they are simply married together
whether we realize it or not. Pictures
and sounds are the framework of life in and of itself. We are constantly absorbing both
simultaneously and they both exist individually, yet they both work
harmoniously together. Chronicle of Anna Magdalena Bach is
another fine example of the exploration of just that. Shot in 1967, the film explores various Bach compositions with
various musicians, while harpsichordist Gustav Leonhardt stands in as the
composer and Christiane Lang portrays Anna Magdalena (Bach’s second wife)
delivering the voice-over telling the story of his life.
There is a certain level of fusion that is occurring here
as we take in the performances, we hear the narrator, we also sense the music
in a different way, but also we are experiencing the film, which is almost like
a re-enactment of the times in which Bach lived. Therefore we are given perhaps a glimpse into what it would have
been like to stand before J.S. Bach and experience the music firsthand, but the
film medium separates this making it impossible, yet possible at the same
time. The only thing that separates the
reality is the fact that in our own mind we realize that time has distanced us
from the reality of being able to be right where Bach was during his
lifetime. Indeed we are given something
quite unique in this presentation, something rarely seen and certainly
something worthy of appreciation.
This is the type of special interest material that we
seldom see coming out today, but would certainly be much appreciated
again. New Yorker has issued this work
to DVD with a 1.33 X 1 windowboxed transfer in black & white. There is some minor softness that occurs,
but the print is relatively clean overall and demonstrates some great
composition for something that is clearly a unique narrative
interpretation. The audio is in German
and is Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono with some serious problems. Given that this is a music program it would
have been great to see a 5.1 reworking happen.
Especially since there is both music and at times voice-over there is
just too much happening for 1-2 channels.
I would have remixed for 5.1 with the majority of the solid music going
through the front left and right speakers, while the voice-over is directed
through the center channel for better clarity and separation.
Extras are particularly light as most might expect with
the only nugget being a ‘making of’ feature that is quite interesting for
something off the wall like this particular title. While some people might find the subject boring or perhaps
lackluster in parts, the musical presentation is really the highlight, but
without a better audio remix it makes it a challenge to recommend this title,
unless you are a die-hard Bach fan.
- Nate Goss
