Extrait du livre Bach
Bach by Ann Rachlin and Susan Hellard Flowerpot Children's press
Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach’s father and mother died in 1694, when he was almost ten. He went to live in his big brother’s house. His brother Christophe took good care of him. He sent him to school and each day when Johann Sebastian came home, he would give him a lesson on the clavier. The house was filled with music and Johann Sebastian loved that more than anything. Christophe was a composer and played the organ at Ohrduff, where they lived. He was very strict and would only allow Johann Sebastian to practice for one hour every day. The little boy hated to hear the words, “That’s enough for today, Johann. Now go and do your sums and the rest of your homework!” “Boring! Boring!” Johann Sebastian grumbled to himself as he went off.
When he left the music room each day, Johann Sebastian would look up at Christophe’s music in the cabinet, which was always locked. The tall cabinet had lattice bars covering the shelves. Through the bars Johann could see that very special book. Oh! How he longed to hold it in his hands! Johann Sebastian knew that the book was full of exciting music. The pieces Christophe gave him to play were easy and he knew them by heart. He begged Christophe for new music, but the reply was always the same. It wasn’t fair. He would be especially careful with that book. So why was Christophe so worried? “Oh please, Christophe, don’t say no! I won’t hurt it! I promise!” Little Johann’s face would crinkle in disappointment as his big brother sternly shook his head. “Not yet! You’re not old enough! And I don’t want your grubby fingermarks all over my best music book!”
