List of compositions by J.S. Bach printed during his lifetime
Encyclopedia
See List of compositions of Johann Sebastian Bach for the complete list of Bach compositions—the present list only lists those compositions by Bach which were printed during his lifetime. Since some of these editions have been scattered over the BWV
catalogue, this list is only intended to provide information regarding how Bach went about the publication of his own works.
Note that in Bach's time, compositions could circulate in manuscript and be copied by hand, which sometimes amounted to publication
, for example the Well-Tempered Clavier was considered "published" in this fashion years before it was printed the first time (all long before copyright even existed).
The scores of more extended vocal and orchestra
l works were less often published in print in Bach's time, at least as far as Bach's music is concerned. Such scores were generally intended for local use, and the expenses for printing all the parts were high. However, text-books of the special Easter and Christmas services, celebrated in the churches for which Bach composed music in Leipzig, were regularly printed (e.g., Music for Easter, 1731; Christmas Oratorio, 1734; etc.). As these publications only contain texts without music notation, they are not further considered in this article.
, published in installments from 1726 to 1730: Six Partitas, BWV 825-830:
In 1731 these partitas were collectively published as Clavier-Übung ("Keyboard Exercise").
. Both works specified for performance on a two-manual harpsichord
.
Bach contrasted a work in Italian style - a Concerto nach Italienischem Gusto (Concerto after the Italian taste, now known as the Italian Concerto) with a work in French style, a suite
which he called Overture nach Französischer Art
(Overture in the French style, now commonly referred to as the French Overture).
The French Overture had previously been written down in C minor
; for the publication of 1735 Bach transposed it to B minor
and made slight changes to the musical text, for example in the rhythms of the first movement. The reason for the transposition is not known: one speculation is that the aim was to increase the contrast between the two works. F major is a "flat" key and B minor is a "sharp" key, and the keynotes are related by a tritone
, which is the most distant modulation
. Another possible motivation is that out of the eight German note names A, B (B flat), C, D, E, F, G, H (B natural
), six had already been used as keynotes in the Partitas, thus only F and H remained.
. Not all 69 melodies were composed by Bach, but he provided (or "improved") a thorough bass accompaniment for all of them, BWV 439-507.
Schemellis Gesangbuch was published in 1736, and contains some of Bach's probably least known compositions.
Source
Clavier-Übung III
For organ
- published 1739:
Note: The Prelude and Fugue are often played as a unit with the nickname "St Anne"
, BWV 988
Canonic Variations on "Vom Himmel hoch da komm' ich her"
For organ, published in 1747 upon Bach's entrance into the Mizler society, BWV 769
: The Musical Offering
, BWV 1079
For diverse instruments, including a triosonate for flute
, violin
and continuo.
, BWV 1080
Both instrumentation and performance order of the fugue
s and canon
s contained in this work remain subject to debate amongst scholars.
Amore traditore, BWV 203, in a now lost volume containing Italian cantates by various composers. The publication date of that omnibus volume is equally unknown. Apart from Bach's cantatas for voice and harpsichord accompaniment, the volume is supposed to have contained works by Telemann, Heinichen, Conti, and others.
BWV
The Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis is the numbering system identifying compositions by Johann Sebastian Bach. The prefix BWV, followed by the work's number, is the shorthand identification for Bach's compositions...
catalogue, this list is only intended to provide information regarding how Bach went about the publication of his own works.
Note that in Bach's time, compositions could circulate in manuscript and be copied by hand, which sometimes amounted to publication
Publication
To publish is to make content available to the public. While specific use of the term may vary among countries, it is usually applied to text, images, or other audio-visual content on any medium, including paper or electronic publishing forms such as websites, e-books, Compact Discs and MP3s...
, for example the Well-Tempered Clavier was considered "published" in this fashion years before it was printed the first time (all long before copyright even existed).
The scores of more extended vocal and orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
l works were less often published in print in Bach's time, at least as far as Bach's music is concerned. Such scores were generally intended for local use, and the expenses for printing all the parts were high. However, text-books of the special Easter and Christmas services, celebrated in the churches for which Bach composed music in Leipzig, were regularly printed (e.g., Music for Easter, 1731; Christmas Oratorio, 1734; etc.). As these publications only contain texts without music notation, they are not further considered in this article.
Clavier-Übung I
For harpsichordHarpsichord
A harpsichord is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It produces sound by plucking a string when a key is pressed.In the narrow sense, "harpsichord" designates only the large wing-shaped instruments in which the strings are perpendicular to the keyboard...
, published in installments from 1726 to 1730: Six Partitas, BWV 825-830:
- Autumn 1726: Partita No. 1 in B flat major, BWV 825
- Easter 1727: Partita No. 2 in C minor, BWV 826
- Michaelmas 1727: Partita No. 3 in A minor, BWV 827
- 1728: Partita No. 4 in D major, BWV 828
- 1730: Partita No. 5 in G major, BWV 829
- 1730: Partita No. 6 in E minor, BWV 830
In 1731 these partitas were collectively published as Clavier-Übung ("Keyboard Exercise").
Clavier-Übung II
Published in 17351735 in music
-Events:*February 18 – Flora becomes the first opera performed in the United States – at Charleston, South Carolina.*Maurice Greene is appointed Master of the King's Musick....
. Both works specified for performance on a two-manual harpsichord
Harpsichord
A harpsichord is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It produces sound by plucking a string when a key is pressed.In the narrow sense, "harpsichord" designates only the large wing-shaped instruments in which the strings are perpendicular to the keyboard...
.
Bach contrasted a work in Italian style - a Concerto nach Italienischem Gusto (Concerto after the Italian taste, now known as the Italian Concerto) with a work in French style, a suite
Suite
In music, a suite is an ordered set of instrumental or orchestral pieces normally performed in a concert setting rather than as accompaniment; they may be extracts from an opera, ballet , or incidental music to a play or film , or they may be entirely original movements .In the...
which he called Overture nach Französischer Art
Overture in the French style, BWV 831
The Overture in the French style, BWV 831, original title Ouvertüre nach Französischer Art, also known as the French Overture and published as the second half of Clavier-Übung II in 1735 , is a suite in B minor for two-manual harpsichord written by Johann Sebastian Bach...
(Overture in the French style, now commonly referred to as the French Overture).
The French Overture had previously been written down in C minor
C minor
C minor is a minor scale based on C, consisting of the pitches C, D, E, F, G, A, and B. The harmonic minor raises the B to B. Changes needed for the melodic and harmonic versions of the scale are written in with naturals and accidentals as necessary.Its key signature consists of three flats...
; for the publication of 1735 Bach transposed it to B minor
B minor
B minor is a minor scale based on B, consisting of the pitches B, C, D, E, F, G, and A. The harmonic minor raises the A to A. Its key signature has two sharps .Its relative major is D major, and its parallel major is B major....
and made slight changes to the musical text, for example in the rhythms of the first movement. The reason for the transposition is not known: one speculation is that the aim was to increase the contrast between the two works. F major is a "flat" key and B minor is a "sharp" key, and the keynotes are related by a tritone
Tritone
In classical music from Western culture, the tritone |tone]]) is traditionally defined as a musical interval composed of three whole tones. In a chromatic scale, each whole tone can be further divided into two semitones...
, which is the most distant modulation
Modulation (music)
In music, modulation is most commonly the act or process of changing from one key to another. This may or may not be accompanied by a change in key signature. Modulations articulate or create the structure or form of many pieces, as well as add interest...
. Another possible motivation is that out of the eight German note names A, B (B flat), C, D, E, F, G, H (B natural
Natural
Natural is an adjective that refers to Nature.Natural may refer too:In science and mathematics:* Natural transformation, category theory in mathematics* Natural foods...
), six had already been used as keynotes in the Partitas, thus only F and H remained.
Geistliche Lieder und Arien aus Musicalisches Gesangbuch G.C. Schemelli
69 Sacred Songs and Arias for Georg Christian Schemelli's Musical Song Book, which contained in total 954 song-texts, for voice and an accompaniment written down as a figured bassFigured bass
Figured bass, or thoroughbass, is a kind of integer musical notation used to indicate intervals, chords, and non-chord tones, in relation to a bass note...
. Not all 69 melodies were composed by Bach, but he provided (or "improved") a thorough bass accompaniment for all of them, BWV 439-507.
Schemellis Gesangbuch was published in 1736, and contains some of Bach's probably least known compositions.
Source
- Brilliant ClassicsBrilliant ClassicsBrilliant Classics is a Dutch classical music record label, based in Leeuwarden, formerly part of Foreign Media Music BV, but since March 2011 acquired by Triacta. The company is notable for its ultra-budget market approach turning around decline in classical records sales with "Complete Mozart...
, CD No. 99361/5 and 99361/6 (CD 14 and 15 from "Bach Edition")
Clavier-Übung IIIClavier-Übung IIIThe Clavier-Übung III, sometimes referred to as the German Organ Mass, is a collection of compositions for organ by Johann Sebastian Bach, started in 1735–6 and published in 1739. It is considered to be Bach's most significant and extensive work for organ, containing some of his musically most...
For organPipe organ
The pipe organ is a musical instrument that produces sound by driving pressurized air through pipes selected via a keyboard. Because each organ pipe produces a single pitch, the pipes are provided in sets called ranks, each of which has a common timbre and volume throughout the keyboard compass...
- published 1739:
- Prelude in E-flat major, BWV 552/iPrelude and Fugue in E flat major, BWV 552Johann Sebastian Bach's Prelude and Fugue in E flat major 'St. Anne', BWV 552 is a substantial piece for the organ that is a prime example of the composer's use of religious symbolism. The prelude and fugue form the opening and closing movements, respectively, of the Clavier-Übung III, which was...
- German Kyrie and Gloria settings, BWV 669-677
- Catechism chorales, BWV 678-689
- Four duetsDuets (Bach)Bach's four Duetti, BWV 802-805, are works for organ without pedals, which were included in Clavier-Übung III. Their inclusion in that work has been occasionally considered strange by scholars, and many theories have arisen surrounding the duets' origins, purpose and significance.*BWV 802: E...
, BWV 802-805 - Fugue E-flat major, BWV 552/ii
Note: The Prelude and Fugue are often played as a unit with the nickname "St Anne"
Fourth Clavier-Übung
For double manual harpsichord - published 1741 (Not numbered as IV in the original print!): the Goldberg VariationsGoldberg Variations
The Goldberg Variations, BWV 988, is a work for harpsichord by Johann Sebastian Bach, consisting of an aria and a set of 30 variations. First published in 1741, the work is considered to be one of the most important examples of variation form...
, BWV 988
Canonic Variations on "Vom Himmel hoch da komm' ich her"Canonic Variations on "Vom Himmel hoch da komm' ich her"The Canonic Variations on "Vom Himmel hoch da komm' ich her" , BWV 769, are a set of five variations in canon for organ with two manuals and pedals by Johann Sebastian Bach on the Christmas hymn by Martin Luther of the same name...
For organ, published in 1747 upon Bach's entrance into the Mizler society, BWV 769Musikalisches Opfer
Published 1747, after a visit to Frederick the GreatFrederick II of Prussia
Frederick II was a King in Prussia and a King of Prussia from the Hohenzollern dynasty. In his role as a prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire, he was also Elector of Brandenburg. He was in personal union the sovereign prince of the Principality of Neuchâtel...
: The Musical Offering
The Musical Offering
The Musical Offering , BWV 1079, is a collection of canons and fugues and other pieces of music by Johann Sebastian Bach, all based on a single musical theme given to him by Frederick II of Prussia , to whom they are dedicated...
, BWV 1079
For diverse instruments, including a triosonate for flute
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
, violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
and continuo.
Kunst der Fuge
In preparation for print when the composer died (1750): The Art of FugueThe Art of Fugue
The Art of Fugue , BWV 1080, is an incomplete work by Johann Sebastian Bach . It was most likely started at the beginning of the 1740s, if not earlier. The first known surviving version, which contained 12 fugues and 2 canons, was copied by the composer in 1745...
, BWV 1080
Both instrumentation and performance order of the fugue
Fugue
In music, a fugue is a compositional technique in two or more voices, built on a subject that is introduced at the beginning in imitation and recurs frequently in the course of the composition....
s and canon
Canon (music)
In music, a canon is a contrapuntal composition that employs a melody with one or more imitations of the melody played after a given duration . The initial melody is called the leader , while the imitative melody, which is played in a different voice, is called the follower...
s contained in this work remain subject to debate amongst scholars.
Amore traditore
It is uncertain whether Bach supervised the publication of his secular cantataCantata
A cantata is a vocal composition with an instrumental accompaniment, typically in several movements, often involving a choir....
Amore traditore, BWV 203, in a now lost volume containing Italian cantates by various composers. The publication date of that omnibus volume is equally unknown. Apart from Bach's cantatas for voice and harpsichord accompaniment, the volume is supposed to have contained works by Telemann, Heinichen, Conti, and others.