“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.
Bist du bei mir / Komm, süßer Tod
for: Voice (high), piano
Music score
Item no.: 727190
Praise, O Jerusalem, thy God
for: 4 Solostimmen, Chor und Kammerorchester
Study score
Item no.: 736151
Edition Alfonso
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 749812
from: Twelve Little Preludes
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 761719
God the Lord is sun and shield
for: 3 Solostimmen, Chor und Kammerorchester
Study score
Item no.: 755967
from: J. S. Bach, Cello Suite No. 6, BWV 1012
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 759532
for: Soprano, Alto Trombone & Piano (Organ)
Sheet music
Item no.: 1597609
for: Soprano, Oboe & Piano (Organ)
Sheet music
Item no.: 1597612
for: 5 woodwinds (quintet)
Sheet music
Item no.: 1663683
from "The Well-Tempered Clavier I"
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 724707
for: Viola Solo
Sheet music
Item no.: 1598185
for: Mezzo-Soprano, Bassoon & String Orchestra
Sheet music
Item no.: 1597593
from: Water Music
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, piano
Music score
Item no.: 725358
for: Piccolo Trumpet & String Orchestra, Harpsichord
Sheet music
Item no.: 1636959
Solo für Percussion
for: Guitar, marimba, handbells
Music score
Item no.: 740209
for: Mezzo-Soprano, Trumpet & String Orchestra
Sheet music
Item no.: 1597594
Kreisler masterpieces for violin
for: Violin, piano
Music score
Item no.: 747177
BWV 935
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Sheet music
Item no.: 6081
BWV 1033
für Flöte und Basso continuo
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 2004
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 739724
B minor
for: Flute, strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 736349
BWV 547
for: Organ
Sheet music
Item no.: 3083
BWV 996
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 1582259
Edition Alfonso
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 738860
from the Orchestral Suite No. 3 D major, BWV 1068
for: 2 violins, viola, cello (string quartet)
Music score
Item no.: 725526
Choralbearbeitung, BWV 683
for: Organ
Sheet music
Item no.: 1034
for: Soprano, Oboe & String Orchestra
Sheet music
Item no.: 1597624
D major
for: Chamber orchestra, basso continuo
Study score
Item no.: 735787
from: Twelve Little Preludes
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 761734
Edition Schott
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 749854
nach dem Schlusschoral der Kreuzstabkantate
for: gemischter Chor oder Soli (STTBarB)
Music score
Item no.: 731576
from: Cantata „One foot in the grave I stand“, BWV 156
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 738273
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 756093
für Violine, Viola, Violoncello, Fagott und Kontrabass eingerichtet von Hans-Eberhard Dentler
for: Violine, Viola, Violoncello, Fagott und Kontrabass
Score
Item no.: 743079
in Epidiapente
eingerichtet für Streichtrio
for: 2 violins [violin, viola], cello (trio)
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 4928
Edition Schott
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 723047
for: Baritone Saxophone Solo
Sheet music
Item no.: 1598199
BWV 1068
for: 2 trumpets (B-flat), 2 trombones (tenor, bass) [2 trumpets (B-flat), horn (F), bass trombone]
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 1336
BWV 789
for: Piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1351140
BWV 787
for: Piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1351138
D
for: Piano
Piano Solo
Item no.: 1553243
for: Trumpet, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1271795
Eb
for: Piano
Piano Solo
Item no.: 1049582
for: Trombone, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1271952
from: Orchestral Suite No. 3, BWV 1068
for: Violin-Ensemble (3-4 Violinen)
Music score
Item no.: 761156
for: Horn, Euphonium & Piano (Organ)
Sheet music
Item no.: 1602511
for: Bassoon Solo or with Piano / Organ accompaniment optional
Sheet music
Item no.: 1606345
for: Eb Bass Solo or with Piano / Organ accompaniment optional
Sheet music
Item no.: 1606342