“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.
from: Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 751024
from: Sonata for Flute and Harpsichord in E flat major, BWV 1031
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 725512
Chorale from the Cantata No. 147 "Heart and Mouth and Deed and Life"
for: Cello, piano
Music score
Item no.: 750649
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: 2 Cembali und Streicher
Study score
Item no.: 743438
from the Orchestral Suite No. 3 D major, BWV 1068
for: 4 violas
Music score
Item no.: 731855
No 6 B Major
for: AAATBB[VVVVVcVc]Keyboard
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1091336
from Cantata 140
for: 4 Klarinetten
Score, Parts
Item no.: 996049
Klassische Meisterwerke - in neuer Gestalt
for: Cello
Music score
Item no.: 768282
from: Piano Book for W.F. Bach, No. 1
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 761723
10 vierstimmige Fugen
for: 2 violins, viola, cello (string quartet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1013009
aus der Kantate "Wir müssen durch viel Trübsal" BWV 146
for: 2 trumpets (B-flat/C), organ
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1631794
for: Oboe Solo
Sheet music
Item no.: 1598206
for: Piccolo Solo
Sheet music
Item no.: 1598208
for Wind Orchestra
for: Wind Orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1166204
for: Soprano, Violin & String Orchestra
Sheet music
Item no.: 1568853
for: Cello
Sheet music
Item no.: 1598184
for: Mezzo-Soprano, Bassoon & String Orchestra
Sheet music
Item no.: 1597617
for: 5 horns
Sheet music
Item no.: 1663678
for: Flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, bassoon (wind quintet)
Sheet music
Item no.: 1663679
for: Concert band
Score
Item no.: 1669023
für Altflöte und Klavier
Klavierpartitur
for: Flute, piano
Item no.: 1678149
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: 5 Soli, 2 Chöre und 2 Orchester
Study score
Item no.: 753219
We hasten with eager
for: Two-Part Treble Voices [SA], Keyboard [Organ or Piano]
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1038934
in G, BWV 1007
for: Cello
Sheet music
Item no.: 2296
for: Eb Bass Solo
Sheet music
Item no.: 1598188
Christ lay by death enshrouded
for: 4 Solostimmen, Chor und Kammerorchester
Study score
Item no.: 749278
To Jordan's Stream came Christ, our Lord
for: 3 Soli, Chor und Kammerorchester
Study score
Item no.: 749280
aus dem Notenbuch der Anna Magdalena Bach, 1725
for: Alt (Bariton) und Klavier
Music score
Item no.: 1552341
for: Violin
Music score
Item no.: 731595
Fughetta, BWV 704
for: Organ (manuals)
Sheet music
Item no.: 2703
for: Flexible ensemble (5 voices)
Sheet music
Item no.: 1210644
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 748984
In Canone alla Quinta, BWV 633
for: Organ
Sheet music
Item no.: 1354
ALB
A collection of organ works. Include 'Toccata in C (or E) ', 'Prelude and 'Wedge' Fugue in E minor' and 'Prelude and Fugue in G minor'.
Bach Organ Works
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 1664851
Edition Schott
for: Piano, string orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 782410
for: 4 melodic instruments
4 Performance scores
Item no.: 688046
BWV 1068
bearbeitet für Saxophonquartett
for: 4 saxophones (SATBar/AATBar)
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 3218
for cello solo, with piano accompaniment by Alfredo Piatti
for: Cello, piano
Score (C), Parts
Item no.: 1642686
Para sexteto o trío de saxofones
for: 6 saxophones (SSATTBar)
Music score
Item no.: 775796
for: Tuba Solo
Sheet music
Item no.: 1598190
for: Brass Ensemble (10 or 11 Players)
Sheet music
Item no.: 1630266
aus der Lautensuite BWV 1006a transkribiert für Gitarre
for: Guitar
Sheet music
Item no.: 1894
from "The Peasant Cantata"
for: Double bass, piano
Music score
Item no.: 740723
for: Soprano, F Horn & Piano (Organ)
Sheet music
Item no.: 1568867
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 746504
Fingerstyle Guitar
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 972548
Solo für Percussion
for: Guitar, marimba, handbells
Music score
Item no.: 1548809
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 723062