“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: Organ
Ensemble score
Item no.: 114637
for flute and piano
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 165277
Transcribed by August Stradal (1860-1930). Contains the famous Andante / Adagio
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1008807
for: Flute
Music score, online playback
Item no.: 672733
for: Piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 3518
for: 2 mixed choirs (SATB, SATB); instruments ad lib.
Choir score
Item no.: 116726
Piano reduction
Item no.: 285416
Volume 2: Church Cantatas BWV 91–195
Musica Rara
for: Horn
Music score
Item no.: 193983
for: Flute, harpsichord
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 141904
Ausgabe für Violine und Klavier (Urtextausgabe) (Urtext)
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 379540
for: Mixed choir (SATB), orchestra
Score
Item no.: 374763
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 142396
for: Violin
Music score (reprint, hardcover)
Item no.: 188149
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 155423
Piano reduction
Item no.: 285565
New Edition in 10 Volumes in slipcase
Urtext
for: Organ
10 music scores (Urtext)
Item no.: 684089
24 Preludes and Fugues BWV 846–869
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 379244
"Alternative versions, ammendments and addtions included in appendix / with the supplement "Mirror Fugues for two Harpsichords"
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 229398
for: Voice (low), piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1640340
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 167633
original for solo cello
for: Bass clarinet
Music score
Item no.: 778891
for: STREICH- UND ZUPFINSTRUMENTE VIOLA VIOLA SOLO
Item no.: 392802
for: Violin, piano [harpsichord]
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401166
for: Piano
Music score, CD
Item no.: 388877
for: Piano
Item no.: 401233
for: 3 violins, piano
Piano score, Solo parts
Item no.: 121505
for: 2 guitars
Ensemble score
Item no.: 109123
Three Sonatas attributed to J. S. Bach
for: Flute, harpsichord [piano]
Piano score, parts (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401306
for: Violin
Music score
Item no.: 389129
A collection of early to middle grade student pieces selected from the works of J.S. Bach.
for: Treble recorder, piano
Music score, solo part
Item no.: 199898
for: Violin
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 383712
revised edition
replaces HN 169
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 638975
for: 2 cellos
Ensemble score
Item no.: 419048
Part 2: BWV 870-BWV 893
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Music score (Hardcover, Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401136
Part 1: BWV 846-869
for: Piano [harpsichord]
Music score (Hardcover, Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401116
for Alto Recorder & Keyboard
Volume I: Sonatas 1-2
for: Treble recorder, harpsichord [piano]
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 462625
A performing edition transcribed for guitar with Facsimiles of the Original Manuscripts
for: Classical guitar
Music score
Item no.: 343461
for: Recorder and Basso Continuo
Buch
Item no.: 461036
Lautenwerk Im Urtext Bd 2
for: Guitar
Item no.: 216074
for: Clarinet, bass clarinet
Ensemble score
Item no.: 977131
Kantate zum 15. Sonntag nach Trinitatis
for: Voice (soprano), trumpet, organ
Score, Parts
Item no.: 279192
for: Oboe, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 630028
Die Arien aus den Kantaten und
der Johannespassion
for: STREICH- UND ZUPFINSTRUMENTE VIOLA VIOLA SOLO
Item no.: 180983
for: Harp
Item no.: 246250
Simrock Original Edition
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 357529
for: Basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 341758
Funeral motet
for: Mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 280492
for: ORCHESTERWERKE STREICHORCHESTER SOLO-OBOE
Score
Item no.: 296337