“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.
Cantata for the Feast of Visitation B. V. M.
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 329606
Cantata for the Feast of Visitation B. V. M.
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 329605
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Baroque orchestra
Viola da gamba 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 313415
Breitkopf Urtext Edition
for: 5 soloists (SSATB), mixed choir (SSATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 456172
Kantate zum 3. Ostertag
BÄRENREITER URTEXT
for: Oboe
Stimme, Urtextausgabe
Item no.: 882121
Choral Prelude
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 905943
for: Concert band
Score
Item no.: 1060021
Early version
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SSAATTBB), orchestra
Viola 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 643748
Chorale from the Cantata No. 147 "Heart and Mouth and Deed and Life"
for: 2 violins, viola, cello; double bass ad lib.
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 688823
for: Concert band
Score
Item no.: 1061431
for: gemischter Chor unisono und zweistimmig
Item no.: 1621230
Chorpartitur
Choir score
Item no.: 1626055
for: Concert band
Score
Item no.: 1068530
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 993000
"Coffee Cantata"
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: 3 voices (STB), flute, 2 violins, viola, basso continuo
Flute (orchestral part)
Item no.: 444409
for: Easy Piano
Item no.: 1365576
Cantata for the 8th Sunday after Trinity
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: 3 soloists (ATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 345049
for: Violin, recorder, oboe, trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 210586
for: 2 soloists (AT), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, organ
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1611376
Kantate BWV 129 – Trinitatisfest
Breitkopf Urtext Edition
for: 3 soloists (SAB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Single part (Violin solo)
Item no.: 227753
Southern Music
Single part Oboe
Item no.: 926768
Southern Music
Single part Trombone
Item no.: 925275
Southern Music
for: Brass ensemble
Score, Parts
Item no.: 924776
für 3 Oboen, Fagott, 3 Trompeten, Pauken, Streicher und Basso continuo
for: Baroque orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 648792
Cembalo (Klavier), Streicher und Basso continuo
for: Harpsichord, strings, basso continuo
String parts 3/3/2/2/1
Item no.: 648601
for: Flute
Single part
Item no.: 130150
for: SATB with SATB Soli
Book
Item no.: 933991
for: SATB with SATB Soli
Book
Item no.: 937166
for: SATB with ATB Soli
Book
Item no.: 931977
for: String orchestra
Score
Item no.: 946112
for: Mixed choir (SATB); piano ad lib.
Choir score
Item no.: 903008
for: 3 guitars
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1007974
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 278550
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 278314
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1178929
for: String orchestra, basso continuo
Cello 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 462134
for: Flexible ensemble
Part 2 in F (horn)
Item no.: 478660
Music Minus One Flute
for: Flute
Music score, online audio
Item no.: 247721
for: Flexible ensemble
Part 2 in C (violin / trumpet)
Item no.: 300588
Single part Organ
Item no.: 585472
Book (Hardcover)
Item no.: 1651242
(Urtext)
for: Harpsichord, strings
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 191473
"Actus tragicus"
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Mixed choir (SATB), baroque orchestra
Organ (orchestral part)
Item no.: 468507
for: Flexible ensemble
Part 3 in C, Bass Clef (bassoon / trombone / euphonium)
Item no.: 299896
New revised version
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: 5 soloists (SSATB), mixed choir (SSAATTBB), orchestra, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 580399
Violinkonzert
for: Symphonic orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 159030
Breitkopf Urtext Edition
for: 2 treble recorders, violin, strings, basso continuo
Cello 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 770659
Funeral Ode
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Viola da gamba 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 774660