“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.
Passio secundum Marcum
First version, first performed in Weimar around 1713 by J. S. Bach
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, organ
Viola 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 371837
for: Viola
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 612279
Motette
for: Chor SSATB, [Basso continuo]
Choir score
Item no.: 1587049
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 195227
for: zwei Blockflöten
Ensemble score
Item no.: 355505
for: Solo (S), Alt-Blockflöte, Violine und Basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 565511
Kantate zum 1. Pfingsttag
C-Dur BWV 172
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, organ
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 659164
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, organ
Viola 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 797961
for: 4 Klarinetten
Score, Parts
Item no.: 996061
for: Guitar
Item no.: 129938
for: 5 Blockflöten (SSAAT)
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1545057
for: Organ, orchestra
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1544751
for: Harpsichord, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 379009
for: Voice
Piano reduction
Item no.: 840583
for: Choral
Choir score
Item no.: 840383
for: Choral
Choir score
Item no.: 840020
for: Brass band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 874694
for: Viola da Gamba and Harpsichord
Score
Item no.: 992878
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 1317348
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1006637
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1006155
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1007773
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1007716
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 992823
for: Male choir (TTBB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 927487
for: Accordion orchestra
Score
Item no.: 218648
for: Organ
Score
Item no.: 1353352
for: 2 SAX (AT)
Score
Item no.: 466205
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Score
Item no.: 309797
for: Keyboard
Score
Item no.: 253742
for: Concert band
Score
Item no.: 1648070
for: Concert band
Score
Item no.: 1059826
for: Concert Band and Vocal Soloist
Score
Item no.: 1062208
Score
Item no.: 581423
for: String orchestra
Score
Item no.: 842911
for: Mixed Choir [SATB] and Double Bass [Piano]
Score
Item no.: 906292
for: Concert band
Score
Item no.: 1122751
for: String orchestra
Score
Item no.: 287161
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 949563
for: Concert band [Fanfare (brass & saxophones)]
Score
Item no.: 780783
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 977311
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 962098
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 771938
Festlicher Schlussgesang zum Gottesdienst
für gemischten Chor (oder 3 Oberstimmen) und Orchester
nach der Kantate BWV 207
for: Mixed choir (SATB), orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 684868
for: String orchestra, basso continuo
Viola 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 462132
for: Cello [Octet]
Set of parts
Item no.: 1352603
for: Symphonic orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 217377
for: Symphonic orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 189119