“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.
Urtext Stuttgarter Bach-Ausgaben
for: 5 soloists (SSATB), mixed choir (SSATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 137216
for: Accordion orchestra
Score
Item no.: 143895
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 616053
for: Mixed choir (SABar), piano
Score
Item no.: 334315
for: Concert Band/Harmonie/Fanfare
Score, Parts
Item no.: 869449
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 578385
for: Flexible wind ensemble (5 voices)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 597166
for: Mixed choir (SATB), concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 587620
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, organ
Choir part Tenor
Item no.: 298435
for: 2 oboes, cor anglais, 2 bassoons
Score, Parts
Item no.: 274930
Cantata for the 1st day of Christmas
Stuttgarter Bach-Ausgaben
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, organ
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 233676
for: Accordion orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 126832
for: TTBB Keyboard [Organ or Piano]
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 903358
for: 5 recorders (SSATB)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 215238
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 121922
for: String orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 648975
for: 4 saxophones (SATBar/AATBar)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 175492
for: Trombone, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 479239
for: Basso continuo, Cello, Kontrabass, Fagott
Stimme, Urtextausgabe
Item no.: 133784
for: Brass band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 371276
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, piano
Item no.: 420535
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Score
Item no.: 309779
for: Piano
Item no.: 356507
zusammen mit Schubert, F.: Ave Maria, tief (D-Dur)
for: Voice (low), piano
Music score
Item no.: 1668101
for: Symphonic orchestra
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1077870
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, organ
Choir part Soprano
Item no.: 147575
Vorspiel, Fuge und Choral BWV 606/700/248,9
eingerichtet für Streichorchester
for: String orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 656098
Cantata for the Sunday after Christmas
Urtext Stuttgarter Bach-Ausgaben
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), 3 recorders, 2 oboes, cor anglais, 2 violins, viola, basso continuo, organ
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 616052
for: 2 BL CH
Item no.: 313760
for: Organ 4 hands
Item no.: 563586
Incorporating J.S. Bach's Prelude in C Major
for: 2-part Vocal and Opt. Percussion
Choir score
Item no.: 1125292
for: Mixed choir (SAB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 937643
Akkordeon und Melodieinstrument in der Kirche
für Akkordeon und Melodiestimme in C, B, Es
for: Accordion, melody instrument
Score, solo part
Item no.: 663583
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1004696
for: Mixed choir (SSAB), organ; 4 melodic instruments (colla parte) ad lib.
Score
Item no.: 235534
for: Women's choir (SSA), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 807387
Cantata for the 1st day of Christmas
Stuttgarter Bach-Ausgaben
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, organ
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 137437
Oratorium
for: Women's choir (SSA), piano
Piano reduction
Item no.: 1103113
Book
Item no.: 144209
for: 2 soloists (ST), mixed choir (SSATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 680076
D major
for: tiefe Singstimme und Klavier; Violine (Violoncello) ad libitum
Music score
Item no.: 724110
for: Brass ensemble (5 parts)
Score (C), Parts
Item no.: 597175
for: Flute, string orchestra
Sheet music
Item no.: 596903
for: Euphonium, strings
Sheet music
Item no.: 591341
for: Voice, concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 686128
for: Voice [cornet, horn, trombone, euphonium], brass band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 671768
(zus. mit Bach/Gounod: Ave Maria)
for: Alt (Bariton) und Klavier
Music score
Item no.: 760376