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Are the alleged remains of Johann Sebastian Bach authentic?
Author(s) -
Zegers Richard H C,
Maas Mario,
Koopman A Ton G,
Maat George J R
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2009.tb02354.x
Subject(s) - skeleton (computer programming) , face (sociological concept) , art , history , art history , philosophy , medicine , anatomy , linguistics
A skeleton alleged to be that of Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750) was exhumed from a graveyard in Leipzig, Germany, in 1894, but its authenticity is not established. In 1895, anatomist Wilhelm His concluded from his examination of the skeleton and reconstruction of the face that it most likely belonged to Bach. In 1949, surgeon Wolfgang Rosenthal noticed exostoses on the skeleton and on x‐rays of 11 living organists and proposed a condition, Organistenkrankheit , which he interpreted as evidence that the skeleton was Bach's. However, our critical assessment of the remains analysis raises doubts: the localisation of the grave was dubious, and the methods used by His to reconstruct the face are controversial. Also, our study of the pelvic x‐rays of 12 living professional organists failed to find evidence for the existence of Organistenkrankheit . We believe it is unlikely that the skeleton is that of Bach; techniques such as DNA analysis might help resolve the question but, to date, church authorities have not approved their use on the skeleton.