“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: Horn (F), organ
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Item no.: 1230324
for: Tenor saxophone, organ
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for: Baritone saxophone, organ
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for: Baritone (Voice) & String Quartet or String Orchestra
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Item no.: 1232496
for: Bassoon, piano [organ]
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Item no.: 1231310
for: Bassoon, piano [organ]
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for: Alto saxophone, piano [organ]
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for: Horn (F), organ [piano]
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for: Tuba, piano [organ]
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for: Viola, piano [organ]
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Item no.: 1231270
for: Horn (E-flat), piano [organ]
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for: Clarinet, piano
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Item no.: 1312934
for: Euphonium, piano
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Item no.: 597101
for: Bassoon, string orchestra
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for: Flute, string orchestra
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for: Violin, string orchestra
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Item no.: 596880
for: Flute, concert band
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Item no.: 587957
for: Bass trombone, piano
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Item no.: 1306851
for: Mixed choir (SATB), brass band
Score, Parts
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for: Brass band
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Item no.: 594924
for: Cornet, brass ensemble
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for: 2 tenor recorders
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Item no.: 1285683
for: 4 Clarinets & Piano (Organ)
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Item no.: 1278907
for: Baritone saxophone, piano [organ]
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Item no.: 1272803
for: Clarinet, piano [organ]
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Item no.: 1272784
for: Horn (F), organ [piano]
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for: Trumpet or Cornet Solo (in Bb)
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for: Soprano Saxophone Solo
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Item no.: 1569435
for: Eb Cornet Solo
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Item no.: 1569422
for: Soprano, Flute & String Orchestra
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Item no.: 1568858
for: Soprano, Violin & Piano (Organ)
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Item no.: 1568841
for: Mezzo-Soprano, Trombone & Piano (Organ)
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Item no.: 1568837
for: Piano, string orchestra
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Item no.: 1299019
for: Piano, string orchestra
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Item no.: 1298987
for: Voice, orchestra
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Item no.: 1310776
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, piano [organ]
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Item no.: 1295810
for: Baritone saxophone, piano [organ]
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Item no.: 1295804
for: Viola, piano [organ]
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Item no.: 1295797
for: Horn (E-flat), piano [organ]
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Item no.: 1296316
for: Cello, piano [organ]
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Item no.: 1296310
for: Bass clarinet, piano [organ]
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Item no.: 1296305
for: Tuba (B-flat), piano [organ]
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Item no.: 1296297
for: Tuba (B-flat), organ
Organ score, solo part
Item no.: 1296220
for: Cello, organ
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Item no.: 1296216
for: Oboe, piano
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Item no.: 1308248
for: Horn (E-flat), piano
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Item no.: 1308244
for: Solo for Flute, Piccolo, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Alto Saxophone, Trumpet, F Horn, Trombone, Euphonium, Violin, Viola or Violoncello & Orchestra
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Item no.: 1308129
for: Solo for Flute, Piccolo, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Recorder, Tenor Recorder, F Horn, Trombone, Euphonium, Violin, Viola or Violoncello & Orchestra
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Item no.: 1308053