“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: Harmonium [organ manuals]
Music score
Item no.: 1202255
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1356153
4trp/2hrn/3tbn/tuba
for: Brass ensemble
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1531174
Klassik
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1194455
for: Voice
Choir score
Item no.: 1173601
for: 4 trombones (quartet)
Buch
Item no.: 1141287
for: Handbells [3-5]
Single edition
Item no.: 1116992
für gleiche Stimmen und Instrumente PARTITUR (dt)
for: Chormusik Frauen- + Kinderchor mit Begleitung
Item no.: 119958
for: FL BC (GIT)
Item no.: 148546
for: KLAV (ORG) KB
Item no.: 554909
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 278555
(Chorale from Cantata No. 147)
for: Blechbläserquartett
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1132451
in d
for: Voice, piano [guitar]
Single edition
Item no.: 1084768
for: Mixed choir (SSATB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 586907
Leichte Stücke
for: Organ manuals [harmonium]
Item no.: 622910
Cantata for the 1st Sunday after Trinity
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1658665
for: 3 SAX
Score, Parts
Item no.: 362972
for: 4 recorders (quartet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 362609
for: 4 trumpets [clarinets]
Score, Parts
Item no.: 370911
for: GES-H TRP ORG
Score, Parts
Item no.: 149881
for: Piano
Sammelband
Item no.: 111828
for: 6 GIT KB-GIT
Score, Parts
Item no.: 331344
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 321246
for: PICC-TRP (C/A) KLAV
Item no.: 210552
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Item no.: 421150
for: Trumpet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1138325
for: Bass Recorder
Book
Item no.: 1091655
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 997535
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 997976
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 998753
for: 2 Saxophones and Organ
Book
Item no.: 998815
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 998867
for: 5 woodwinds (quintet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 463247
for: Harp
Item no.: 341302
Hymnen und Choräle
for: TTBB Choir
Piano reduction
Item no.: 1122040
for: SAX ENSEMBLE (AAAATTBARBAR)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 182418
a Cembalo obligato e Viola da gamba solo
for: Obligates Cembalo, Viola
Score, part
Item no.: 1105943
for: Accordion orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 1632312
Kantate zum Reformationsfest (Rekonstruktion: Reinhold Kubik)
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 233314
for: ST 3 (VA)
Item no.: 387815
for: Voice
Choir score
Item no.: 1175226
Zonder Pedaal
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 907130