“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: Cornet (E-flat), piano [organ]
Piano score, solo part, playback-CD
Item no.: 1692517
for: Tuba, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1692516
for: Violin, piano
Piano reduction, solo part, Playback-CD
Item no.: 350788
for: Trumpet [cornet], piano [organ]
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 600893
for: Vibraphone, string orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 591292
for: Bassoon, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 593588
for: Euphonium, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 593315
for: 4 brass instruments
Sheet music
Item no.: 597233
for: Trombone, string orchestra
Sheet music
Item no.: 596946
for: 4 trombones (quartet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 596301
for: Trumpet, organ
Sheet music
Item no.: 1629857
for: Piano SATB Organ Accompaniment
Book
Item no.: 321999
for: Solo for Flute, Piccolo, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Recorder, Tenor Recorder, Trumpet, F Horn, Trombone, Euphonium Violin, Viola or Violoncello & String Quintet
Sheet music
Item no.: 1299228
for: Solo for Flute, Piccolo, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Recorder, Tenor Recorder, Trumpet, F Horn, Trombone, Euphonium Violin, Viola or Violoncello & String Quartet
Sheet music
Item no.: 1299227
for: Trumpet, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1299218
for: Piano, string orchestra
Sheet music
Item no.: 1298972
for: 2 recorders (SA), organ [piano]
Score, part (pdf download)
Item no.: 2208
Postcard
Item no.: 369583
for: Piccolo Trumpet & String Orchestra, Harpsichord
Sheet music
Item no.: 1636959
for: 5 trombones
Sheet music
Item no.: 1599631
for: 4 brass instruments
Sheet music
Item no.: 1599614
for: 4 euphoniums
Sheet music
Item no.: 1599609
for: Brass quintet
Sheet music
Item no.: 1265774
for: 4 brass instruments
Sheet music
Item no.: 1265704
for: Trombone, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1271952
for: Trumpet, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1271795
for: Violin, string orchestra
Sheet music
Item no.: 1265954
for: Violin, string orchestra
Sheet music
Item no.: 1265943
for: Piccolo, organ
Organ score, solo part
Item no.: 1231529
for: Oboe, organ
Sheet music
Item no.: 1231527
for: Bassoon, organ
Sheet music
Item no.: 1231524
for: Tuba (E-flat), piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1239580
for: Oboe, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1239574
for: Horn (F), organ [piano]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1239567
for: Viola, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1239561
for: Cello, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1239560
for: Violin, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1239544
for: Tenor saxophone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1239535
for: Bassoon, organ
Sheet music
Item no.: 1230398
for: Soprano saxophone, organ
Sheet music
Item no.: 1230397
for: Euphonium, organ
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1230388
for: Violin, organ
Sheet music
Item no.: 1230384
for: Trumpet [cornet], organ
Organ score, solo part
Item no.: 1230335
for: Cello, organ
Sheet music
Item no.: 1230313
for: Baritone saxophone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1231306
for: Double bass, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1231292
for: Cornet (E-flat), piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1231281
for: Bass trombone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1231276