“Music owes as much to Bach as religion to its founder.” Robert Schumann
It is astounding how abundant and inexhaustible are his works. Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) is more than the epitome of baroque music, and one wonders how a single person could accomplish so much in one lifetime. Show others the brilliance of Bach through Stretta!
After a number of engagements as an organist, in which he often confused more than supported parishes with his improvisational skills and harmonic experiments, in 1708, J. S. Bach was appointed Court Organist & Chamber Musician by the Duke of Saxony-Weimar. It was during this period that he composed most of his organ music. In 1714 he was promoted to Concert Master of the Court Orchestra, and one of his duties was to compose weekly cantatas for the Sunday Service, laying the foundations for the 300 or more Bach Cantatas, of which around 200 remain. For his next position, as Kapellmeister to the Prince of Anhalt-Köthen from 1717, Bach’s role no longer required him to compose sacred music, so it was here that many of any his instrumental works were developed, including The Brandenburg Concertos.
With his last role as Cantor of St. Thomas in 1723, Bach held his first and only official position working for the city, the city of Leipzig. He was responsible for the music at the four main churches in Leipzig, and he taught at St. Thomas’ Boarding School. The St. Thomas’ Boys’ Choir is still one of the most important, and traditional boys’ choirs in the world today. In his final years, despite his steadily declining sight, Bach still created works that are the sum, and pinnacle of counterpoint, such as The Musical Sacrifice or the The Art of Fugue.
As was common in the 18th century, Bach’s works were quickly forgotten after his death. People were only concerned with new music. It was Bach’s sons, and his successors at St Thomas’, who preserved his memory. Composers of the First Viennese School, like Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven, especially admired Bach’s counterpoint, and learned a great deal from him. In the 19th century Bach Renaissance, the St. Matthew Passion was famously rediscovered, and performed in Berlin in 1829 by Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy. Another important milestone was the first complete edition of Bach’s works, which was created between 1850-1899. Today’s “New Bach Edition” was published between 1954-2007 by Bärenreiter and has become the authoritative Bach edition. The Original Manuscript of Bach’s B Minor Mass was declared a UNESCO World Document Heritage in 2015.
Johann Sebastian Bach came from a long line of musicians, whose family dated back centuries. Four of his sons continued this tradition, also becoming composers, ending up in London and Milan. With their works, they bridge the gap between baroque and classical music.
aus: Magnificat
Es-Dur-Fassung, transponiert nach D-Dur
for: Mixed choir (SSAB), organ; 4 melodic instruments (colla parte) ad lib.
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 235542
Cantata for the Sunday after Christmas
Urtext Stuttgarter Bach-Ausgaben
for: 2 voices (SB), descant (soprano) recorder, oboe, viola d'amore, viola da gamba, basso continuo
Basso continuo (orchestral part)
Item no.: 642087
for: Violin
Single part
Item no.: 363917
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 362093
3rd Day of Christmas [St John's Day]
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 458329
Cantata for the 3rd day of Christmas
Urtext Stuttgarter Bach-Ausgaben
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Single part Organ
Item no.: 781069
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Book (softcover)
Item no.: 247715
for: Piano
Music lesson book, online audio
Item no.: 767426
Choral Singing – The Easy Way to Learn. Progress through Private Practice
Choral Part Alto
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, basso continuo
2 Playback-CDs (choir part alto)
Item no.: 313037
for: 5 soloists (SSATB), mixed choir (SSAATTBB), orchestra, basso continuo
4 Playback-CDs
Item no.: 674635
for: Piano
Music lesson book
Item no.: 121670
for: Double bass
Music score
Item no.: 305997
Choral Singing – The Easy Way to Learn. Progress through Private Practice
Choral Part Bass
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
2 Playback-CDs (choir part bass)
Item no.: 104123
Book (Hardcover), 2 CDs
Item no.: 1551889
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Music score
Item no.: 771331
for: 5 soloists (SSATB), mixed choir (SSAATTBB), orchestra, basso continuo
3 Playback-CDs
Item no.: 674636
for: Solo voices, mixed choir (SSAATTBB), orchestra
Playback-CD (Chorstimme Bass)
Item no.: 671892
for: Double bass
Music score
Item no.: 277604
for: Guitar
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 772975
for: 5 soloists (SSATB), mixed choir (SSAATTBB), orchestra, basso continuo
3 Playback-CDs
Item no.: 674637
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1031503
Motet BWV 227 – "Jesu, meine Freude"
Practice-CD (mp3)
Choral Part Tenore
for: Mixed choir (SSATB); instruments colla parte, basso continuo ad lib.
Playback-CD (mp3) (choir part tenor)
Item no.: 692502
Book (Hardcover)
Item no.: 1701633
for: Flute
Music lesson book
Item no.: 942127
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 771688
Choral Singing – The Easy Way to Learn. Progress through Private Practice
Choral Part Soprano
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, basso continuo
2 Playback-CDs (choir part soprano)
Item no.: 335043
Book
Item no.: 773355
Choral Singing – The Easy Way to Learn. Progress through Private Practice
Choral Part Tenor
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
2 Playback-CDs (choir part tenor)
Item no.: 313794
Choral Singing – The Easy Way to Learn. Progress through Private Practice
Choral Part Alto
for: 5 soloists (SSATB), mixed choir (SSAATTBB), orchestra, basso continuo
2 Playback-CDs (choir part alto)
Item no.: 310868
for: Trumpet (B-flat)
Music score
Item no.: 147927
for: Flute
Music lesson book
Item no.: 940725
Traditional version (1739/1749)
Carus Choir Coach
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra
Playback-CD (mp3) (choir part alto)
Item no.: 682748
Choral Singing – The Easy Way to Learn. Progress through Private Practice
Choral Part Tenor
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, basso continuo
2 Playback-CDs (choir part tenor)
Item no.: 336628
Choral Singing – The Easy Way to Learn. Progress through Private Practice
Choral Part Alto
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
2 Playback-CDs (choir part alto)
Item no.: 104031
for: Bass guitar
Music score (with TABs), Playback-CD
Item no.: 771404
Motet BWV 227 – "Jesu, meine Freude"
Practice-CD (mp3)
Choral Part Bass
for: Mixed choir (SSATB); instruments colla parte, basso continuo ad lib.
Playback-CD (mp3) (choir part bass)
Item no.: 692503
Motet BWV 227 – "Jesu, meine Freude"
Practice-CD (mp3)
Choral Part Soprano
for: Mixed choir (SSATB); instruments colla parte, basso continuo ad lib.
Playback-CD (mp3) (choir part soprano)
Item no.: 692500
for: Voice
Music score
Item no.: 254959
Choral Singing – The Easy Way to Learn. Progress through Private Practice
Choral Part Tenor
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
2 Playback-CDs (choir part tenor)
Item no.: 104122
for: Solo voices, mixed choir (SSAATTBB), orchestra
Playback-CD (choir part tenor)
Item no.: 671891
Book (Hardcover)
Item no.: 1534698
Choral Singing – The Easy Way to Learn. Progress through Private Practice
Choral Part Bass
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
2 Playback-CDs (choir part bass)
Item no.: 313795
for: Guitar
Book, DVD
Item no.: 1021842
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra
4 Playback-CDs (choir part bass)
Item no.: 682750
Book (Hardcover)
Item no.: 1615930
Choral Singing – The Easy Way to Learn. Progress through Private Practice
Choral Part Bass
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, basso continuo
2 Playback-CDs (choir part bass)
Item no.: 325916
for: Electric guitar
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 772466
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra
4 Playback-CDs (choir part tenor)
Item no.: 682749