The musicologist and lawyer Dr. Meinolf Brüser offers insights into Bach’s enigmatic masterpiece The Art of Fugue, illustrating its unique features with selected musical excerpts.

Over the past two years, Dr. Brüser has re-examined key Bach enigmas through a method shaped by his legal analytical approach. He is the author of two books addressing major questions in Bach research. His analysis of the funeral motets proved particularly influential: for example, his study of the motet Singet dem Herrn provided convincing evidence that Bach composed the work in memory of a deceased alumnus of the St. Thomas School. His research revealed how Bach used musical and textual means to respond to the occasion of mourning.

His second book deals with one of the greatest mysteries surrounding Bach. The sudden break-off of the final Contrapunctus from The Art of Fugue raises a fundamental question: did the work truly remain unfinished, or was the interruption a deliberate compositional decision? Did Bach plan his farewell? Published posthumously in 1751, this masterpiece continues to fascinate through its blend of intellectual depth, emotional intensity, and contrapuntal mastery.

Brüser’s interdisciplinary approach — combining legal analysis with musicological research — opens up new perspectives on this centuries-old scholarly puzzle.