“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.
Part 1: BWV 846-869
Henle Urtext Edition
for: Piano [harpsichord]
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 401105
Transcriptions for piano four hands
for: Piano 4 hands
Ensemble score
Item no.: 563496
symphonic transcription
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 494369
BWV 992, 993, 989, 963, 820, 823, 832, 833, 822, 998
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 296588
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 275112
for: 2 harpsichords [2 pianos]
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 692285
1720
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1018210
from Mendelssohn to Brahms
Book (softcover)
Item no.: 868543
The Learned Musician
Book (softcover)
Item no.: 556953
aus der Orchestersuite BWV 1068
Arrangiert für Solovioline von Roman Kim
for: Violin
Ensemble score
Item no.: 635970
for: Voice (high), piano
Music score
Item no.: 105977
"Aus der Tiefen rufe ich, Herr, zu dir"
Cantata for a penitential service (Version in a minor)
Urtext Stuttgarter Bach-Ausgaben
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 233813
Cantata for Palm Sunday and the feast of the Annunciation Cantata for Palm Sunday and the feast of the Annunciation
Stuttgarter Bach-Ausgaben
for: 3 soloists (ATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, organ
Piano reduction
Item no.: 133122
Actus tragicus. Trauermusik
BWV 106
for: Mixed choir (SATB), baroque orchestra
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 233628
from Suite No. 2
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 182226
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 1202332
for: 2 guitars
Ensemble score
Item no.: 1136350
for: 2 pianos
Item no.: 382954
Johann Sebastian Bach
for: Marimba
Music score
Item no.: 655593
in Full Score for SATB
for: SATB and Instruments
Book
Item no.: 245808
Fantasias and Fugues
Breitkopf Urtext Edition
for: Organ
Music score (Urtext edition), online media
Item no.: 577763
Woodwind Solo
for: Flute
Music score
Item no.: 317947
Übertragung für Kontrabass
for: Double bass
Item no.: 169352
Piano reduction
Item no.: 285442
Kantate zu Mariae Reinigung
for: SOLI GCH FL OB (HRN) 2 VL VA VC ORG
Score
Item no.: 491167
16 Solopartien für 1-3 Blockflöten, mit den Vokalstimmen
BÄRENREITER URTEXT
for: Recorder
Spielpartitur, Sammelband, Urtextausgabe
Item no.: 358074
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Organ
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 196840
Die einzeln überlieferten Choräle
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 116765
for Viola da gamba and hapsichord
arranged for double bass and piano
for: Double bass, piano
Ensemble score
Item no.: 635961
for: Harpsichord
Music score
Item no.: 1551571
Klassik
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 271099
for: Piano 4 hands
Ensemble score
Item no.: 161299
Bach
for: Horn
Music score
Item no.: 130653
for: Guitar
Item no.: 142098
ohne FingersätzeBWV 809-811
for: Piano
Item no.: 486528
Violine
for: Violin
Item no.: 864964
for: 2 guitars
Item no.: 285781
completed by Eduarad Melkus
Diletto Musicale
for: 2 violins, viola, cello; double bass ad lib.
Score, Parts
Item no.: 767445
Reimagined
for: Flute [alto flute], piano
Score, Parts
Item no.: 781499
aus dem 2. "Notenbüchlein der Anna Magdalena Bach"
for: Guitar
Item no.: 393737
bearbeitet für Oktavgitarre (oder Manodline oder Violine) und Gitarre
for: GIT (MAND/VL) GIT
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 563782
For Alto Recorder & Keyboard
Volume III: Sonatas 5-6
for: Treble recorder, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 462627
for: Saxophone
Music score
Item no.: 140186
for: Piano [harpsichord]
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 778190
Die AbreiseBWV 992
for: Piano
Item no.: 356082
8 Famous Works
for: Trumpet
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 332922
for: Treble recorder
Book
Item no.: 101113