For over three decades, musicologist Peter Wollny had been driven by an "inner duty" to uncover the truth about two enigmatic organ compositions attributed to Johann Sebastian Bach. His obsession began in 1992, when he stumbled upon the scores while researching at a dusty library in Brussels.
Wollny's hunch was initially dismissed as mere speculation, but he couldn't shake off the feeling that these pieces were indeed by Bach. He devoted himself to studying the handwriting, pouring over minute details of the notation. The task became an all-consuming passion, with Wollny spending countless hours poring over the scores, comparing them to Bach's known works.
The breakthrough came in 2012 when a colleague, Bernd Koska, discovered a letter from Salomon Günther John, which matched the handwriting of the Brussels compositions. However, the identification was far from certain. Wollny and Koska wrestled with doubts, questioning whether John, who had apprenticed under Bach, might have written the works himself.
The final piece of the puzzle fell into place in 2023 when a court document dated 1716, lost during World War II, was rediscovered. The handwriting matched that of the Brussels compositions with absolute certainty, finally bringing closure to Wollny's long quest.
Wollny acknowledges that advances in artificial intelligence might make this kind of work possible for others in the future. However, he remains committed to his craft, saying, "Perhaps artificial intelligence means that what I spent 35 years on will in the future be done in a couple of days or hours."
Wollny's hunch was initially dismissed as mere speculation, but he couldn't shake off the feeling that these pieces were indeed by Bach. He devoted himself to studying the handwriting, pouring over minute details of the notation. The task became an all-consuming passion, with Wollny spending countless hours poring over the scores, comparing them to Bach's known works.
The breakthrough came in 2012 when a colleague, Bernd Koska, discovered a letter from Salomon Günther John, which matched the handwriting of the Brussels compositions. However, the identification was far from certain. Wollny and Koska wrestled with doubts, questioning whether John, who had apprenticed under Bach, might have written the works himself.
The final piece of the puzzle fell into place in 2023 when a court document dated 1716, lost during World War II, was rediscovered. The handwriting matched that of the Brussels compositions with absolute certainty, finally bringing closure to Wollny's long quest.
Wollny acknowledges that advances in artificial intelligence might make this kind of work possible for others in the future. However, he remains committed to his craft, saying, "Perhaps artificial intelligence means that what I spent 35 years on will in the future be done in a couple of days or hours."
Peter Wollny's dedication to uncovering the truth about those Bach organ compositions is insane! 
He's been on this wild goose chase for THREE DECADES and finally got his breakthrough in 2023! 
I mean, who has that kind of passion and perseverance? 
It's amazing to see how his work has shed new light on Bach's life and legacy.
. He's saying that while tech might make it easier for others, he still wants to put in the hard yards himself. I love his attitude - there's nothing quite like putting in the work to prove yourself! 
. The serendipitous discovery of that court document in 2023 must have been a moment of unadulterated joy for Wollny 
. One can only imagine the weight of doubt and skepticism he had to navigate throughout his career, only to emerge victorious in the end.
I'm already invested in this guy's story and now he just got the final proof from an old court document 
and it's literally amazing I mean who needs AI when u have determination right? 
. It's amazing how much passion and perseverance can drive you to uncover hidden truths. The fact that he spent over three decades researching these organ compositions is a testament to his commitment to musicology and Bach's legacy.
. But hey, I think there's still value in the human touch and the dedication that Wollny showed – it's not just about finding answers quickly, but also about understanding the context and nuances behind the music.
I'm tellin' ya, there's gotta be more to this story than meets the eye. I mean, think about it - some musicologist comes along and starts digging into these mystery compositions, spends 30 years on it, and suddenly BAM! A letter from a guy who apprenticed under Bach shows up, and that's the smoking gun? 
It's like they're tryin' to convince us this is the real deal. And what about that court document from '16? How did it end up lost during WWII? That sounds like some government cover-up stuff to me... 
i guess with AI getting better, maybe someone'll be able to crack another super tough mystery in half the time tho 
btw did u know Wollny's findings were first met w/ skepticism back in 1992? that's when he knew he was onto something 
I mean, I get it, Bach was like a master of organ music and all, but come on! Thirty-five years of searching for answers just to confirm what everyone already knew? It's like trying to find the last Pokémon in the wild, you know? 
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#BachRevealed #MusicologistMastery #DedicationPaysoff
! I mean, think about it - this guy was on a mission to uncover the truth behind two organ compositions for over three decades. Thirty-five years! That's like, an eternity of searching for answers 
.
Wollny's dedication is real... but who needs AI when you've got 35 years of sleep deprivation? 
OMG, can you even believe it?! Peter Wollny's dedication to uncovering the truth about those mysterious Bach organ compositions is truly inspiring 
! 35 years of pouring over scores and handwriting details - that's commitment 