Calvin alum, Michael Marissen, an internationally famous Bach expert, was mentored by Calvin Professor (emeritus) Cal Stapert when he was an undergrad in the early 80s. Marissen has authored many books about J.S. Bach, and his latest, a compilation of essays, is titled Bach and God. While he was working on this book project, his wife, Lauren Belfer, was working on a novel about Bach and a newly discovered music manuscript - a church cantata. Husband and wife talked about their similar and simultaneous projects in a New York Times interview. Both books highlight Bach's anti-Jewish texts. Ms.Belfer was amazed at the beauty of the music and how sometimes, jarringly, the corresponding texts lashed out at Catholics, Jews, and Muslims. 

The library has just ordered Belfer's novel, and Marissen's book is in our New Books area on the 3rd floor.

(Photo taken from New York Times online, May 25, 2016).