“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.
Urtext Edition without fingering
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 493444
for: 2 Violinen und Basso continuo (Cembalo, Klavier), Violoncello (Viola da gamba) ad libitum
Item no.: 1711980
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 296552
for: 2 violas
Ensemble score, solo part
Item no.: 611405
for: 2 treble recorders, harpsichord, string orchestra
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 296590
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1704033
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 392208
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 298470
for: Flute, basso continuo
Item no.: 109080
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 360158
Flötensonaten - Band 2 [mit CD: Continuo-Begleitung zur Solostimme]
MusicPartner - Klassik zum Mitspielen (Sammelband, Urtextausgabe) (Collection, Urtext)
for: Flute, basso continuo
Piano score, parts, CD
Item no.: 346183
Urtext
for: Mixed choir (SATB); instruments ad lib.
Choir score with piano accompaniment
Item no.: 289297
for: Guitar
Ensemble score
Item no.: 146516
Beginn des Autographs
Postcard
Item no.: 424146
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 822791
for: Organ
Study score
Item no.: 256701
for: 3 soloists (STB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Study score
Item no.: 256679
for: Recorder
Music score
Item no.: 566097
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 256321
for: Flute
Music score
Item no.: 403439
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 362331
for: Piano [harpsichord]
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 255857
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 255594
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 255583
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 316156
for: SSAA , Keyboard [Organ or Piano]
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1041749
for: Mixed choir (SATB); piano ad lib.
Choir score
Item no.: 1041431
for: Mixed choir (SATB); piano ad lib.
Choir score
Item no.: 1040665
for: SATB and Keyboard
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1039509
for: SSAA and Organ
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1039218
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Choir score
Item no.: 1039192
for: SATB and Keyboard
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1038704
for: Two-Part Treble Voices [SA], Organ or String Ensemble
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 902960
for: Male choir (TTBB), piano
Score
Item no.: 908500
for: Male choir (TTBB), piano
Score
Item no.: 901754
for: TTBB Piano 4-Hands
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 899716
for: Voice (bass), trumpet, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 462167
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 863347
for: Mixed choir (SATB); piano ad lib.
Choir score
Item no.: 1151129
for: SATB and Keyboard
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1158114
Appendix: Chorale "Vor deinen Thron tret ich hiermit"
for: 2 violins, viola, cello (string quartet)
Study score
Item no.: 196612
for: Guitar
Music score (with TABs)
Item no.: 672854
for: 2-3 Trombones
Buch
Item no.: 1127157
for: 2 Trumpets and 2 Trombones
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1128463
for: Voice (high), piano [organ/ harpsichord]
Score
Item no.: 114824
for: Violin, viola, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 477834
for: Soloists, mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, organ
Score
Item no.: 472477
(complete)
for: Symphonic orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 349300