Johann Sebastian Bach
Life
Born: 21 March 1685
Died: 28 July 1750
Biography
Johann Sebastian Bach was a prolific German composer and organist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity. Although he introduced no new forms, he enriched the prevailing German style with a robust contrapuntal technique, a control of harmonic and motivic organization from the smallest to the largest scales, and the adaptation of rhythms and textures from abroad, particularly Italy and France.
While Bach's fame as an organist was great during his lifetime, he was not particularly well-known as a composer. His adherence to Baroque forms and contrapuntal style was considered "old-fashioned" by his contemporaries, especially late in his career when the musical fashion tended towards Rococo and later Classical styles. A revival of interest and performances of his music began early in the 19th century, and he is now widely considered to be one of the greatest composers in the Western tradition.
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List of choral works
- Bach works published at CPDL sorted alphabetically by title, see Johann Sebastian Bach compositions
- Bach Cantatas sorted by BWV number, see Johann Sebastian Bach - list of cantatas
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Cantatas (BWV1-BWV 224 and BWV 249)
- Ach Gott, vom Himmel sieh darein, BWV 2
- Ach Gott, wie manches Herzeleid, BWV 3 – complete, full score, separate movements
- Ach wie flüchtig, ach wie nichtig, BWV 26 – chorale only ( ) ( )
- Aus der Tiefe[n] ruf' ich, Herr, zu dir, BWV 131 ( - complete score)
- Orchestral parts ( Finale 2000 )
- #4 - Meine Seele wartet (aria for tenor) ( Encore )
- Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir, BWV 38 – Several editions available.
- Christ lag in Todesbanden, BWV 4 – Several editions available
- Christ unser Herr zum Jordan kam, BWV 7 – movements 1 & 7 available
- Christum wir sollen loben schon, BWV 121
- Der Herr ist mein getreuer Hirt, BWV 112
- Die Elenden sollen essen, BWV 75
- Erfreut euch, ihr Herzen, BWV 66 ( LilyPond ) – Choir only
- Erschallet, ihr Lieder, BWV 172 – Full score, orchestral and choral parts
- Es ist ein trotzig und verzagt Ding, BWV 176 – (multiple editions available)
- Gott der Herr ist Sonn und Schild, BWV 79 – Full score, vocal and orchestral parts.
- Gott fähret auf mit Jauchzen, BWV 43 – Full score, orchestral parts, choral score.
- Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit, BWV 106 – Choral and soloists, with keyboard score.
- Halt im Gedächtnis Jesum Christ, BWV 67
- #4 - Erschienen ist der herrlich Tag ( )
- #7 - Du Friedefürst, Herr Jesu Christ (chorale) (2 editions available)
- Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben, BWV 147 – Chorales only, several editions available
- Ich elender Mensch, wer wird mich erlösen, BWV 48 – Full score, orchestral parts.
- Ich freue mich in dir, BWV 133 – full score version, split in 2 files
- Ich habe meine Zuversicht
- Ich ruf' zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ, BWV 177
- #5 Chorale ( Capella )
- Ich will den Kreuzstab gerne tragen, BWV 56
- Ich hatte viel Bekümmerniss, BWV 21 – full score and movements
- Ihr, die ihr euch von Christo nennet, BWV 164 (4 editions available)
- Jesu, der du meine Seele, BWV 78
- #2 Wir eilen mit schwachen (Duet SA) ( Capella )
- Jesus nahm zu sich die Zwölfe, BWV 22
- O Ewigkeit, du Donnerwort, BWV 60
- O Jesu Christ, meins Lebens Licht, BWV 118 (3 editions available).
- Preise, Jerusalem, den Herrn, BWV 119 – Full score and Independent numbers.
- Selig ist der Mann, BWV 57
- Sie werden euch in den Bann tun, BWV 44
- Wachet, betet, seid bereit allezeit
- Was mir behagt, ist nur die muntre Jagd, BWV 208 (Hunting Cantata) secular
- Wir danken dir, Gott, wir danken dir, BWV 29
- #1 - Sinfonia ( )
Chorale Harmonizations (BWV 250-BWV 438)
- 185 Bach Chorales ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) split into 4 files: A-Ein, Eins-Jesu der du meine Seele, Jesu der du meine Seele-O Mensch, O Traurigkeit-
- Ach bleib' bei uns, Herr Jesu Christ, BWV 253 (2 editions available)
- Ach Gott, erhör mein Seufzen und Wehklagen, BWV 254 (2 editions available)
- Allein Gott in der Höh' sei Ehr', BWV 260 (3 editions available)
- Aus meines Herzens Grunde, BWV 269 (3 editions available)
- Christ ist erstanden, BWV 276 several editions available.
- Danket dem Herren, denn er ist freundlich, BWV 286 (2 editions available)
- Die Sonn hat sich, BWV 297 (2 editions available)
- Dir dir Jehova, BWV 299 ( )
- Ein Lämmlein geht und trägt die Schuld, BWV 267 (2 editions available)
- In dulci jubilo, BWV 368 (3 editions available)
- Warum sollt ich mich denn grämen BWV 422 English only
Comparative Editions (Chorales with different harmonizations)
- Ach Gott, vom Himmel sieh' darein (Chorale) Harmonizations used in Cantatas BWV 2, BWV 77 and BWV 153
- Ach Gott, wie manches Herzeleid (Chorale) Harmonizations used in Cantatas BWV 3 and BWV 153
- Allein Gott in der Höh' sei Ehr' (Chorale) BWV 260 Harmonizations used in Cantatas BWV 104 and BWV 112
- Christ ist erstanden (Chorale) BWV 276 4 editions of other harmonizations.
- Christ unser Herr zum Jordan kam (Chorale) BWV 280 Harmonizations used in Cantatas BWV 7 and BWV 176
- Christus, der uns selig macht (Chorale) BWV 283 Harmonizations used in BWV 245
Other works
- Bist du bei mir BWV 508 (Attrib.) (2 editions available)
- Chorals of the German Organ Mass (Clavier Übung III) ( )
- Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 Choral parts only.
- Der Geist hilft unser Schwachheit auf, BWV 226 ( Finale 2000 )
- Freut euch und jubiliert, BWV 243a (2 editions available)
- Fürchte dich nicht (BWV 228) ( )
- Gloria in excelsis Deo, BWV 243a, #c (2 editions available)
- Ich esse mit Freuden mein weniges Brot ( )
- Ich lasse dich nicht, du segnest mich denn (2 editions available)
- Ich steh an deiner Krippen hier, BWV 469 (3 editions available)
- Jesu, meine Freude, BWV 227 complete edition and separate movements.
- Jesu, Jesu, du bist mein, BWV 470 ( )
- Jesus meine Zuversicht ( )
- Komm, Gott Schöpfer ( )
- Komm, heiliger Geist, Herre Gott BWV 226 ( )
- Komm, Jesu, komm (2 editions available)
- Komm, süsser Tod ( Encore )
- Lobe den Herren ( )
- Lobet den Herrn, BWV 230 ( Finale 1998 )
- Magnificat, BWV 243 2 editions available (full score and piano-vocal)
- Mass in B minor, BWV 232 several editions available, separate movements
- Mein gläubiges Herze ( )
- Nun bitten wir den heiligen Geist ( )
- Nun danket alle Gott (3 editions available)
- Nun hilf uns, Herr, den Dienern dein ( )
- Nun preiset alle ( )
- Nun sich der Tag ( )
- O Caput Cruentatum ( )
- O Hail This Brightest Day of Days ( )
- O Jesulein süß (4 editions available)
- O Lamm Gottes, unschuldig, BWV 401 (2 editions available)
- O Mensch, bewein' dein' Sünde groß, BWV 402 ( )
- Psallite Deo nostro in laetitia (sicut locutus est from Magnificat) ( Finale 1998 )
- Saget mir geschwinde ( Sibelius 4 )
- Sanctus, BWV 325 ( )
- Sanctus in C, BWV 237 ( Sibelius 4 )
- Sei Lob und Preis mit Ehren ( LilyPond )
- Singen wir aus Herzensgrund ( )
- Singet dem Herrn ( LilyPond )
- Sollt ich meinem Gott nicht singen ( )
- St John Passion, BWV 245 Choral parts only.
- St Matthew Passion, BWV 244 Choral parts only.
- Van 't vroeglicht van de dageraad, BWV 121 ( )
- Vergiss mein nicht (2 editions available)
- Verleih' uns Frieden gnädiglich ( )
- Wach auf, mein Herz, und singe ( Finale 1998 )
- Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan ( MusiXTex )
- Wer nur den lieben Gott läßt walten (4 editions available)
- Wir Christenleut' (3 editions available)
- Zion hört die Wächter singen ( Encore )
Editions with texts translated to other languages
- All my heart this night rejoices (2 editions available)
- Ein Kind geborn zu Bethlehem ( ) English translation of BWV 65, #2
- Lodate Dio (Italian version of 'Lobet den Herrn') ( )
- Now Blessed be Thou, Christ Jesu (2 editions available)
- We Christians may rejoice (3 editions available)
Vocal Arrangements based on Bach's works
- Dona Nobis Pacem (Arrangement from the Prelude in C) (2 editions available)
- Ich steh an deiner Krippen hier, BWV 469 2 editions available (choral arrangements)
- Jesu deine Liebeswunden, BWV 471 ( ) (Choral arrangement)
Misattributed works
- Aperite Portas (misattrib.?) ( )
Click here to search for this composer on CPDL
Recordings of interest
Bach: Cantatas for alto
- Performer: Andreas Scholl, Marcel Ponseele, Markus Markl
- Orchestra: Collegium Vocale Orchestra
- Audio CD (October 12, 1999);1 Disc
- Label: Harmonia Mundi Fr.
External links
- Johann Sebastian Bach Home Page
- JSB's autograph scores at Bach Digital
- Bach Cantatas Website: Free PDF vocal scores to nearly every Bach cantata
- The BGA-edition piece by piece (in PDF) on the site of the International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP)
- The (almost) complete BGA in PDF (complete books) - Russian site
- Parts for BWV 11, 43, 48, 213, 232 and complete Chorales at CCARH
- Johann Sebastian Bach bibliography