# The Soothing Seductiveness of Self-Doubt

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-buoyant-leader-7043386/the-soothing-seductiveness-of-self-doubt
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-buoyant-leader-7043386/the-soothing-seductiveness-of-self-doubt.md
Podcast: [The Buoyant Leader](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-buoyant-leader-7043386)
Published: 2026-04-28T06:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://howiejacobson.india-explore.in/captivate-podcast/the-soothing-seductiveness-of-self-doubt
Audio file: https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/7a1b720c-0a88-42f8-86c8-0fd3ea0c06af.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-buoyant-leader-7043386/episodes/the-soothing-seductiveness-of-self-doubt
Duration seconds: 609

## Resource

Augustus III, King of Poland, received a cover letter in July 1733 from a German musician — some fella named Bach — attached to a bunch of sheet music. Here’s part of that letter: “In deepest Devotion I present to your Royal Highness this small product of that science which I have attained in music, with the most humble request that you will deign to regard it not according to the imperfection of its Composition, but with a most gracious eye ... and thus take me into your most mighty Protection.” That small, imperfect product? It was only his Mass in B Minor , widely regarded as one of the greatest compositions of all time. Here’s how the Netherlands Bach Society describes it on YouTube, “In between an awe-inspiring Kyrie and the jubilant final Dona nobis pacem , there are nine completely unique arias and duets, fourteen impressive ensemble sections for four, five, six and even eight voices, a broad spectrum of instrumental solos, and an incredible variety of styles.” A “small product” indeed ;) I can’t read Bach’s mind (I’ve played violin since 1974, and I can barely read his Sonatas and Partitas), so I’m curious: was he really that modest, or was the self-deprecation a strategic gambit to get the job he wanted: court composer? But what I really wonder about is how Augustus himself reacted to that letter. Imagine the king's secretary handing him the package. Your Highness, a musician from Leipzig sent this. Says it's a small product of his attempts at music. Asks for your indulgence. If Augustus had taken Bach at his word — if he'd glanced at the inscription, registered the apology, and filed the parts away unexamined — the world might have lost the Mass in B minor for another century. He didn't. Three years later, Bach got the court composer title he was angling for.…

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## Transcript

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