“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.
for: Gemischter Chor (SSATB)
Choir score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 228046
from "Magnificat" (First Version)
for: Alt, 2 Alt-Blockflöten und Basso continuo; Violoncello ad libitum
Score, Parts
Item no.: 743978
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, Solo parts
Item no.: 130494
for: 4 saxophones (SATBar/AATBar)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 472407
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 128705
Eingangschor zum Weihnachtsoratorium
Arrangiert für gemischten Chor und Orgel
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Organ score
Item no.: 199949
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 290823
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 171758
for: Symphonic orchestra
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1077335
Oratorium
for: SSAA , Keyboard [Organ or Piano]
Choir score
Item no.: 902169
for: Symphonic orchestra
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1077057
for: Tenor saxophone (B-flat), piano
Item no.: 420533
Southern Music
for: Cello Quartet
Buch
Item no.: 176671
Cantata for the 2nd day of Pentecost
Urtext Stuttgarter Bach-Ausgaben
for: 2 soloists (SB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 233135
Urtext Stuttgarter Bach-Ausgaben
Bläserstimmen (kompletter Satz)
for: 5 soloists (SSATB), mixed choir (SSATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 344547
Himmelfahrtsoratorium, Osteroratorium, Weihnachtsoratorium
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
3 CDs
Item no.: 1018175
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, organ
Choir score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1582667
Kantate zum 2. Weihnachtstag
Piano reduction
Item no.: 616054
BWV Anh. 160
for: 2 mixed choirs (SATB, SATB); basso continuo ad lib.
Set of parts
Item no.: 234244
für Sopran (Tenor) oder für Alt (Bariton) und Klavier
for: Voice, piano
Item no.: 105969
for: 2 Saxophone (ST), Klavier
Item no.: 278640
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 335306
for: Violin, piano [organ]
Item no.: 489979
Urtext Stuttgarter Bach-Ausgaben
for: 5 soloists (SSATB), mixed choir (SSATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 344544
for: SATB with ATB Soli
Book
Item no.: 935671
for: Accordion
Music score
Item no.: 135251
for: Voice, violin, piano
Item no.: 143071
for: Voice (bass), organ
Score
Item no.: 582667
for: Concert band
Score
Item no.: 942403
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Score
Item no.: 235529
for: Concert Band/Harmonie/Fanfare
Score, Parts
Item no.: 866846
for: Concert Band/Harmonie/Fanfare/Brass Band
Score
Item no.: 871104
for: Basso continuo, Orgel
Stimme, Urtextausgabe
Item no.: 133785
Texheft (Faksimile) (Facsimile)
Book
Item no.: 424304
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Gesamtausgabe, Partitur, Urtextausgabe, Sammelband
Item no.: 876778
for: Violine, Klavier und Orgel
Set of parts
Item no.: 295838
for: 2 soloists (ST), mixed choir (SSATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 627277
for: SAB, Keyboard [Organ or Piano]
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1038363
for: 5 soloists (SSATB), mixed choir (SSATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Study score
Item no.: 256664
for: Two-Part Treble Voices [SA], Keyboard [Organ or Piano]
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1037783
Kantate zu Neujahr
Piano reduction
Item no.: 148824
for: Choir
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 919376
for: Women's choir a cappella
Score
Item no.: 477462
Book
Item no.: 444294
for: Soli SSATB, Gemischter Chor (SATB), Flöten (2), Oboen (2), Oboe d'amore (2), Oboe da caccia (2), Trompeten (3), Pauke, Hörner (2), Violinen (2), Viola, Basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 1586535
for: Concert band
Sheet music
Item no.: 587619
3rd Day of Christmas [St John's Day]
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 458325
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 316885