“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: Soprano, Oboe & String Orchestra
Sheet music
Item no.: 1597624
for: Soprano, Alto Trombone & Piano (Organ)
Sheet music
Item no.: 1568842
Sinfonia Uit Kantate 156
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 1214564
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 1114515
BWV772–786
for: Oboe, cor anglais
Ensemble score, solo part
Item no.: 1012934
(d’après Vivaldi)
BWV 593
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 863347
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 1113151
Original Version in D Minor BWV 565
for: Bass Trombone Solo
Sheet music
Item no.: 1569426
Schule
for: Analysis
Book
Item no.: 988711
Klassik
for: Accordion
Music score
Item no.: 1195173
for: Flötenquartett
Score, Parts
Item no.: 993744
From English Suite No. 3, Bwv 808
for: Violin, piano
Item no.: 896611
Music for String Orchestra
for: String orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1534120
Klassik
for: Flexible ensemble
Score, Parts
Item no.: 818730
Partitur
for: CHORMUSIK MÄNNERCHOR A CAPPELLA WELTLICH EINZELN
Score
Item no.: 1592646
From Cantata No. 78 - for Two Violins and Piano
for: 2 violins, piano
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1619694
Southern Music
for: 5 brass winds
Score
Item no.: 927364
for: Cello [unaccompanied]
Book
Item no.: 1004860
from Magnificat
for: SAB a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 1532530
D major
for: Chamber orchestra, basso continuo
Study score
Item no.: 735787
Cello or Bass
for: SATB and Keyboard
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1158114
Gegenwartsmusik
for: 2 Bb Instruments
Buch
Item no.: 1530990
for: TTBB Piano 4-Hands
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 899716
Messe
for: Male choir (TTBB), piano
Score
Item no.: 901754
for: 2 violins, viola, cello (string quartet)
Set of parts
Item no.: 963801
Schmuecke dich, o liebe Seele
for: SATB and Keyboard
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1039509
for: Male choir (TTBB), piano
Score
Item no.: 908500
Klassik
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 971861
Shawnee Sacred
for: SATB
Choir score
Item no.: 1656337
Selected Movements from unaccompanied Sonatas, Partitas and Suites
for: Clarinet
Music score
Item no.: 662770
Klassik
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 861082
for: Piano 4 hands
Score
Item no.: 822198
So Truly His world did love
for: SSAA , Keyboard [Organ or Piano]
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1041749
Christoph Reinhold Morath an der rekonstruierten Wiegleb-Orgel (1736-39) der ehemaligen Hof- und Stiftskirche St. Gumbertus zu Ansbach
Item no.: 1632685
Treasury Choral
for: Mixed choir (SSATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 816528
for: Organ Duet [2 players, 1 console]
Buch
Item no.: 912034
for: 2 violins, viola, cello (string quartet)
Set of parts
Item no.: 963472
for: Handbells
Buch
Item no.: 1095075
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 822791
for: SATB, Organ, Three Trumpets, Timpani
Choir score
Item no.: 1094611
From English Suite No. 3, Bwv 808
for: Violin, piano
Item no.: 893616
from: Twelve Little Preludes
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 761734
for: Two-Part Treble Voices [SA], Organ or String Ensemble
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 902960
for: Mixed choir (SATB); piano ad lib.
Choir score
Item no.: 1040665
Klassik
for: Opera
Lyrics
Item no.: 1103292
Willis
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 934202
N03 Bwv227
for: Woodwind ensemble
Set of parts
Item no.: 819558
for: Flötenquartett
Score, Parts
Item no.: 963628