“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.
BWV 245
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 116685
BWV 244
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Soloists, 2 mixed choirs (SATB, SATB), orchestra
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 116686
Urtext Primo – A new concept for the beginner
Edition with German and English Commentary
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition, anthology)
Item no.: 498364
Easiest Piano Pieces
Easy Composer Series
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 632994
The Bartók Performing Editions
With performance marks, fingering and commentaries for beginners
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 254879
Original Works and Arrangements
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 612201
BWV 1001–1006
for: Violin
Music score
Item no.: 378868
Motet – "Jesu, meine Freude"
Urtext Stuttgarter Bach-Ausgaben
for: Mixed choir (SSATB); instruments colla parte, basso continuo ad lib.
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 226945
"Actus tragicus"
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Mixed choir (SATB), baroque orchestra
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 167439
for choir and Basso continuo
for: Mixed choir, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 303691
Volume with detailed booklet in English
for: Voice (soprano), piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 243453
Arrangement of the "Stabat Mater" by Giovanni Battista Pergolesi
STUTTGARTER BACH-AUSGABEN
Urtext
for: 2 voices (SA), 2 violins, viola, basso continuo
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 137218
Cantata for the Feast of Visitation B. V. M.
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 137089
15 Pieces Arranged for Three or More Guitarists
for: Guitar ensemble
Buch
Item no.: 638512
Hal Leonard Classical Play-Along Series
for: Piano
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 601312
from Suite No. 3
for: Flute, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 759091
Ausgabe für Violine und Klavier – Rekonstruktion nach dem Cembalokonzert f-Moll BWV 1056
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 679978
Preludes and Fugues I
Breitkopf Urtext Edition
You will find supplementary material online
for: Organ
Music score (Urtext edition), online media
Item no.: 577750
for: Classical guitar
Music score, CD
Item no.: 371585
Cantata for the Purification of Mary – Ich habe genung (Version for solo soprano)
Urtext Stuttgarter Bach-Ausgaben
for: Voice (soprano), flute, 2 violins, viola, basso continuo
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 363435
aus der Orchestersuite BWV 1068
Arrangiert für Solovioline von Roman Kim
for: Violin
Ensemble score
Item no.: 635970
1720
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1018210
"Christ lag in Todes Banden"
Cantata for Easter Sunday
Stuttgarter Bach-Ausgaben
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Piano reduction
Item no.: 232735
Cantata for the 15th Sunday after Trinity
Urtext Stuttgarter Bach-Ausgaben
for: Voice (soprano), trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 232993
Jubilate
Urtext Stuttgarter Bach-Ausgaben
for: 3 soloists (ATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 232820
Passio secundum Joannem BWV 245 - Urtext Stuttgarter Bach-Ausgaben
Fassung IV (1749) mit der unvollendeten Revision 1739 im Anhang
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 346649
Cantata for the Sunday Septuagesim
Urtext Stuttgarter Bach-Ausgaben
for: 3 soloists (SAT), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 217133
Cantata for the 1st Sunday in Advent
Urtext Stuttgarter Bach-Ausgaben
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 663105
Cantata for the 3rd Sunday after Trinity/all occasions
Stuttgarter Bach-Ausgaben - Urtext
for: 3 soloists (STB) [SB/TB/SATB], mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 232836
Traditional version (1739/1749)
BWV 245
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 613071
Bach–Busoni–Ausgabe 5
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 284506
Cantata Nr. 82 for the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary
in c-minor
for: Voice (bass), oboe, strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction
Item no.: 285476
"It is enough"
Version for Soprano
for: Voice (soprano), orchestra, basso continuo
Piano reduction
Item no.: 285380
from Suite No. 3
for: Piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 722238
for: 2 trumpets
Ensemble score, online audio
Item no.: 499376
Stuttgarter Bach-Ausgaben · Urtext
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), 2 violins, viola, bassoon, basso continuo
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 233890
Eb
for: Voice, piano [guitar]
Piano/Voice/Guitar
Item no.: 1030816
for medium voice and piano
for: Voice (medium), piano
Single edition
Item no.: 316970
Choral Nr. 6 und Nr. 10 der Kantate BWV 147 "Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben"
for: Mixed choir (SATB), 2 violins, viola, basso continuo; oboe ad lib.
Score
Item no.: 464812
Cantata for the 5th Sunday after Trinity
for: 4 solo voices (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), baroque orchestra
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 279219
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
Passio secundum Marcum
First version, first performed in Weimar around 1713 by J. S. Bach
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, organ
Piano reduction
Item no.: 241833
The Bartók Performing Editions
for: Piano
Music lesson book
Item no.: 686828
Meditation on the Prélude on G Major BWV 1007
for: 2 violoncellos [violin/ viola/ voice (low), Cello].
Score, Parts
Item no.: 697660
from Suite No. 3
for: Violin, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 722284
Cantata for the 6th Sunday after Trinity
Urtext Stuttgarter Bach-Ausgaben
for: Solo voice (alto), organ (obl.), orchestra, basso continuo
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 606574
Motet
for: Mixed choir (SATB), basso continuo
Piano reduction
Item no.: 285595
from Suite No. 3
for: Cello, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 722311
with an introduction to each piece (English, French, Italian)
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 464012
Cantata for the first Advent
for: 3 soloists (STB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Piano reduction
Item no.: 285455