“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.
Kantate zum 1. Weihnachtstag (Frühfassung)
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, organ
Study score
Item no.: 233440
Kantate zum 1. Weihnachtstag
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, organ
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 233063
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: 5 Solostimmen, Chor und Orchester
Study score
Item no.: 737251
Version für gemischten Chor
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Score
Item no.: 477458
Kantate zum Sonntag nach Weihnachten
for: Soli SATB, Gemischter Chor (SATB), Blockflöten (3), Oboen (2), Tl, Violinen (2), Viola, Basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 1337515
Cantatas I–III
for: 5 soloists (SSATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Choir score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 371393
Cantatas I–III
for: 5 soloists (SSATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Piano reduction (XL format, Urtext edition)
Item no.: 663111
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 128705
for: 4 saxophones (SATBar/AATBar)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 472407
Fagott & Streicher
for: Bassoon, string orchestra
Sheet music
Item no.: 596919
Streichorchester
for: String orchestra
Sheet music
Item no.: 596600
Solo für Flöte, Klarinette, Fagott, Tenorsaxophon, Trompete, Horn, Tenorposaune, Bassposaune, Euphonium, Tuba, Violine, Viola oder Cello
for: Trumpet [cornet/flugelhorn], concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 671769
Solo Voice
for: Voice, brass band
Sheet music
Item no.: 686130
Choral
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 317227
Daybreak Christmas Choral
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 1167535
Mfb112
for: 4 brass instruments
Score, ensemble scores
Item no.: 644619
Cantata for the 3rd day of Christmas
E minor
for: 3 soloists (SAB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Choir score
Item no.: 233078
for: Choral
Item no.: 1524035
for: Choral
Item no.: 1524026
Weltliche Kantaten, Magnificat D-Dur, Johannes-Passion, Weihnachtsoratorium, Osteroratorium
BÄRENREITER URTEXT
for: Flute
Spielpartitur, Stimme, Urtextausgabe
Item no.: 190689
Pièces célèbres
for: Guitar
Item no.: 163512
2. Fassung mit 4 Einlagesätzen der Es-Dur-Fassung (transponiert)
BÄRENREITER URTEXT
for: Gemischter Chor (SSATB)
Choir score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 228046
Mélodie religieuse adaptée au 1er Prélude de J.S. Bach
for: Voice, piano
Piano score
Item no.: 273938
"Non sa che sia dolore" und "Schlafe, mein Liebster"
Flauto principale
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, Solo parts
Item no.: 130494
Boosey Choral Music Experience
for: Children's Choir [SSA] and Piano [Harp]
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 445776
2 Flöten, Alt-Querflöte und Bass-Querflöte
for: 2 Flöten, Alt-Querflöte und Bass-Querflöte
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1352090
für Blockflöten, Streichinstrumente, Gesang und Klavier zu beliebigem Musizieren
for: 3 BFL (SAB) KLAV
Score
Item no.: 417865
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, organ
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 765212
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SSATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 564885
für Solostimmen (SSATB), gemischten Chor (SSATB), Orchester und Basso continuo
Urtext Stuttgarter Bach-Ausgaben
for: 5 soloists (SSATB), mixed choir (SSATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 344545
BWV 243 (BWV3 243.2)
for: 5 soloists (SSATB), mixed choir (SSATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Piano reduction
Item no.: 1612000
3-4 octave Handbells
for: Choir
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 919376
for: Symphonic orchestra
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1077335
Oratorium
for: SSAA , Keyboard [Organ or Piano]
Choir score
Item no.: 902169
for: Symphonic orchestra
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1077057
Alleluia! gelobet sei Gott
for: SAB, Keyboard [Organ or Piano]
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1038363
Beside Thy Cradle, BWV 248
for: Two-Part Treble Voices [SA], Keyboard [Organ or Piano]
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1037783
for: 2 Saxophone (ST), Klavier
Item no.: 278640
für Bass und Orgel
aus dem Weihnachtsoratorium BWV 248
for: Voice (bass), organ
Score
Item no.: 582667
Southern Music
for: Cello Quartet
Buch
Item no.: 176671
for: Tenor saxophone (B-flat), piano
Item no.: 420533
Bearbeitung für Frauenchor
for: Women's choir a cappella
Score
Item no.: 477462
Himmelfahrtsoratorium, Osteroratorium, Weihnachtsoratorium
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
3 CDs
Item no.: 1018175
Kantate zum 1. Weihnachtstag
Urtext Stuttgarter Bach-Ausgaben
for: 2 soloists (ST), mixed choir (SSATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 627277
Kantate zum 2. Weihnachtstag
Piano reduction
Item no.: 616054
Teile I-VI
for: Soli SSATB, Gemischter Chor (SATB), Flöten (2), Oboen (2), Oboe d'amore (2), Oboe da caccia (2), Trompeten (3), Pauke, Hörner (2), Violinen (2), Viola, Basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 1586535
aus: Magnificat - BWV 243a, 2
Es-Dur-Fassung, transponiert nach D-Dur
4 Instrumente colla parte
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Score
Item no.: 235529
BWV Anh. 160
for: 2 mixed choirs (SATB, SATB); basso continuo ad lib.
Set of parts
Item no.: 234244