“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: Oboe Solo or with Piano / Organ accompaniment optional
Sheet music
Item no.: 1577390
for: 2 flutes (duet)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 147091
for: 4 recorders (quartet)
Score
Item no.: 146130
for: 3 recorders (SAB)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 148264
for: Alt-Blockflöte (Flöte), Viola da gamba (Viola) und Basso continuo
Item no.: 101550
for: Organ
Item no.: 268403
for: Double bass
Music score
Item no.: 556380
Well-Tempered Clavier Part I
Edition without fingering
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 492999
for: Guitar
Item no.: 113220
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1704033
for: Brass band, organ
Sheet music
Item no.: 1315905
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 170060
for: Guitar
Music score (with TABs)
Item no.: 672854
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 360158
for: Brass band, organ
Sheet music
Item no.: 1643347
for: 2 flutes, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1573510
Arrangement of the Air from Suite for Orchestra No. 3 for mixed Choir
for: gemischter Chor (SATB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 754909
für Violine, Viola, Violoncello, Fagott und Kontrabass eingerichtet von Hans-Eberhard Dentler
for: Violine, Viola, Violoncello, Fagott und Kontrabass
Score
Item no.: 743079
Chorale from the Cantata No. 147 "Heart and Mouth and Deed and Life"
for: Oboe, piano
Music score
Item no.: 736825
Solo für Percussion
for: Guitar, marimba, handbells
Music score
Item no.: 740209
Transcription for Guitar
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 739799
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 739724
Edition Alfonso
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 738860
nach dem Schlusschoral der Kreuzstabkantate
for: gemischter Chor oder Soli (STTBarB)
Music score
Item no.: 731576
from: Cantata „One foot in the grave I stand“, BWV 156
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 738273
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 733688
from: Twelve Little Preludes
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 761734
from: Twelve Little Preludes
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 761719
from: The Well-Tempered Piano 1
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 751028
from: Orchestral Suite No. 3, BWV 1068
for: Violin-Ensemble (3-4 Violinen)
Music score
Item no.: 761156
for: Trumpet [cornet], piano [organ]
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 600893
from: J. S. Bach, Cello Suite No. 6, BWV 1012
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 759532
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 756093
God the Lord is sun and shield
for: 3 Solostimmen, Chor und Kammerorchester
Study score
Item no.: 755967
BWV 996
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 1582259
Edition Schott
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 749854
Edition Alfonso
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 749812
Kreisler masterpieces for violin
for: Violin, piano
Music score
Item no.: 747177
from "The Well-Tempered Clavier I"
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 724707
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 725998
Bist du bei mir / Komm, süßer Tod
for: Voice (high), piano
Music score
Item no.: 727190
from the Orchestral Suite No. 3 D major, BWV 1068
for: 2 violins, viola, cello (string quartet)
Music score
Item no.: 725526
from: Water Music
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, piano
Music score
Item no.: 725358
for: Trombone, string orchestra
Sheet music
Item no.: 596946
Edition Schott
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 723047
for: 5 woodwinds (quintet)
Sheet music
Item no.: 1663683
for: 4 Posaunen/Tenorhörner
Score, Parts
Item no.: 792466
for: Male choir (TTBB), concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 590342