“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.
14 Popular Arrangements for Piano solo
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1696483
BWV 792/793/794/795/796
für 3 Spieler (Xylophon, Vibraphon, Marimba)
for: 3 Percussionists
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1689840
41 brani preparatori alle Sonate e Partite per violino solo
for: Violin
Music score
Item no.: 1672696
Original für Flöte in a-moll
for: Bassoon
Music score
Item no.: 1688031
with Insertion Movements for Performances over Christmas
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Single part Organ
Item no.: 1673803
mit Einlagesätzen der Es-dur-Fassung für die Aufführung zur Weihnachtszeit
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1673805
for: Organ, piano
Item no.: 1690169
for: 4 brass instruments [brass ensemble]
Ensemble score (B-flat, Treble Clef)
Item no.: 1672171
op. 107b, op. 108b und op. 111b
for: Violin
Music score
Item no.: 1684179
Kantate
(2. Trompete und Pauke opt. nach W. Fr. Bach)
Edition Immer – Reihe IV: Werke mit Gesang
for: Voice (soprano), 1-2 trumpets (C), timpani, organ
Organ score, Parts
Item no.: 1671499
mit Einlagesätzen der Es-dur-Fassung für die Aufführung zur Weihnachtszeit
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1673808
(Incompiuta). Completata in stile di Bach da Mirko Ballico
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 998754
BÄRENREITER URTEXT
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Choir score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1615932
BWV 797/798/799/800/801
für 3 Spieler (Xylophon, Vibraphon, Marimba)
for: 3 Percussionists
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1689831
mit Einlagesätzen der Es-dur-Fassung für die Aufführung zur Weihnachtszeit
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 1673810
Edition for Medium Voice
for: Voice (medium), piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1690713
BWV 787/788/789/790/791
für 3 Spieler (Xylophon, Vibraphon, Marimba)
for: 3 Percussionists
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1689841
(Incompiuta). Completata in stile di Bach da Mirko Ballico
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 998762
Trascrizione per pianoforte di Angelo Boschian
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 997530
Complete Works for Lute transcribed for Guitar
for: Classical guitar
Music score
Item no.: 1681651
for violin solo
arranged for cello
for: Cello
Music score
Item no.: 1667605
for: Accordion [piano]
Music score
Item no.: 1672261
for: 4 brass instruments [brass ensemble]
Ensemble score (C)
Item no.: 1672169
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1684657
with the Insertion Movements of the Version in E flat major for Performances over Christmas
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1673802
BWV 846
for: 4 saxophones (SATBar)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1665195
18 Transkriptionen von Chören, Arien und Chorälen
aus Matthäus- und Johannes-Passion
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 1678140
Arrangement of Johann Sebastian Bach's St. Matthew Passion
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1615898
mit Einlagesätzen der Es-dur-Fassung für die Aufführung zur Weihnachtszeit
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1673807
Werke von J. S. Bach, César Franck und Sergej Rachmaninov
édition bon(n)orgue Vol. 6
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 1678160
Solo for Bb Flugel Horn & Concert Band (Crossover funky version)
for: Flugelhorn, concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1676924
mit Einlagesätzen der Es-dur-Fassung für die Aufführung zur Weihnachtszeit
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1673809
with the Insertion Movements of the Version in E flat major for Performances over Christmas
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1677576
Bearbeitung der Matthäus-Passion von Johann Sebastian Bach
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1615909
Edition for Low Voice
for: Voice (low), piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1690714
Bach als Lernender und Lehrender
Book (Hardcover)
Item no.: 1615930