Johann Sebastian Bach

"Bach" redirects here. If you are looking for a different Bach, see the disambiguation page.

Life

J.S. Bach as painted by Gottlieb Haussmann (circa 1747).

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.

The above is an excerpt from Wikipedia. For the full article, click here.

List of choral works

• Works published at CPLD sorted alphabetically by title, see Johann Sebastian Bach compositions
• Cantatas sorted by BWV number, see Johann Sebastian Bach - list of cantatas

L E G E N D

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Cantatas (BWV1-BWV 224 and BWV 249)

• - Ach Gott vom Himmel, sieh' darein    (  )

• 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 ruf ich Herr zu dir, Cantata No. 131– Orchestral parts  (  Finale 2000 )

• Meine Seele wartet (movement No. 4 from Cantata No. 131)   (   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    (  )

• Der Herr ist mein getreuer Hirt (Cantata No. 112 - first movement)  (   )

• Der Herr ist mein getreuer Hirt (Cantata No. 112 - movement 5)   (   )

• #14 - Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan   (  )

• Es ist ein trotzig und verzagt Ding, BWV 176 – multiple editions available

• Erschallet, ihr Lieder, BWV 172 – Full score, orchestral and choral parts

• 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.

• Erschienen ist der herrlich Tag   (  )
• Du Friedefürst, Herr Jesu Christ 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.
• Ach Gott und Herr (Chorale)  (   )

• Ich freue mich in dir, BWV 133 – full score version, split in 2 files

• Auf meinen lieben Gott    (  )

• Komm, o Tod, du Schlafes Bruder   (  )

• Ich hatte viel Bekümmerniss, BWV 21 – full score and movements   

• Ihr, die ihr euch von Christo nennet, BWV 164 – 4 editions available

• Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen, BWV 51

• Wir eilen mit schwachen (from Cantata No. 78)   (   Capella )

• Ertödt' uns durch dein' Güte   (  )

• Lobet Gott in seinen Reichen, BWV 11   (  )

• Nun ist das Heil und die Kraft, BWV 50

• Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, BWV 61

• Es ist genug (Chorale from Cantata 60)    (  )

• O Jesu Christ, meins Lebens Licht, BWV 118 – 3 editions available.

• Preise, Jerusalem, den Herrn, BWV 119 – Full score and Independent numbers.

• Schweigt stille, plaudert nicht, BWV 211   (     Sibelius 4 )

• Schwingt freudig euch empor, BWV 36

• Sehet, wir gehn hinauf gen Jerusalem, BWV 159

• Richte dich, Liebste, BWV 57, No.8)  (   Finale 1998 )

• Es ist und bleibt Christen Trost, BWV 44, No.6   (  )

• Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, BWV 140

• Freu dich sehr, o meine Seele   (  )

• Schafe können sicher weiden (Sheep may safely graze)  (  XML )

• Widerstehe doch der Sünde, BWV 54   ( )

• Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern, BWV 1

• #1 - Sinfonia   (  )

Chorale Harmonizations (BWV 250-BWV 438)

• 185 Bach Chorales (complete)   (     ) split into 4 files

• Ach bleib' bei uns, Herr Jesu Christ, BWV 253   2 editions available

• Ach Gott, erhör mein Seufzen und Wehklagen, BWV 254   2 editions available

• Ach Gott und Herr, wie gross und schwer, BWV 255  (   )

• Ach, was soll ich Sünder machen, BWV 259  (   )

• Alle Menschen müssen sterben, BWV 262  (   )

• Allein Gott in der Höh' sei Ehr', BWV 260   

• Allein zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ, BWV 261  (   )

• Aus meines Herzens Grunde, BWV 269   2 editions available

• Befiehl du deine Wege, BWV 272   (  )

• Bekennen will ich seinen Namen, BWV 200   (  )

• Christ, der du bist der helle Tag, BWV 273   (  )

• Christ ist erstanden, BWV 276   several editions available.

• Christ unser Herr zum Jordan kam, BWV 280 

• Christus, der ist mein Leben, BWV 281  (   )

• Christus, der uns selig macht, BWV 283 

• Gott, der du selber bist das Licht, BWV 316   ( )

• Da der Herr Christ zu Tische sass, BWV 285  (   )

• Dank sei Gott in der Höhe, BWV 287  (   )

• Danket dem Herren, denn er ist freundlich, BWV 286 2 editions available

• Das alte Jahr vergangen ist, BWV 288  (   )

• Die Sonn hat sich, BWV 297   (  )

• Dir dir Jehova, BWV 299   (  )

• Ein Lämmlein geht und trägt die Schuld, BWV 267 - 2 editions available

• Heut triumphieret Gottes Sohn, BWV 342

• Ich hab mein Sach, BWV 351   (  )

• In dulci jubilo, BWV 368      (3 editions available)

• Jesu, Jesu, du bist mein, BWV 357  (  )

• Jesu, nun sei gepreiset, BWV 362   (  )

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.)   (  )

• Chorals of the German Organ Mass (Clavier Übung III)   (  )

• Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248   Choral parts only.

• Der Geist hilft unsrer 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 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  (   Finale 2001 )

• 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

• 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    Some choral parts only.

• St Matthew Passion, BWV 244    Choral parts only.

• Van 't vroeglicht van de dageraad, BWV 121   (  )

• Vergiss mein nicht   (   )

• 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

• Ah Lord when my last end is come   (  )

• All glory, laud and honour   (  )

• All my heart this night rejoices   2 editions available

• Behold! in lowly manger stall   (  )

• Credo in unum Deum  (   Encore )

• De lo profundo de mi corazón  (  )

• Discendi Santo Spirito  (   Encore )

• 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

• Now join we all to praise Thee, BWV 362   (  )

• Now let us to the bagpipe' sound (from 'Peasant Cantata')   (  )

• O Little Sweet (English translation of Jesulein süß)  (   Finale 2001 )

• Rejoice ye Heavens   (  )

• Señor, tu que eres bueno   (  )

• Signore dolce volto   (  )

• We Christians May Rejoice   3 editions available

Vocal Arrangements based on Bach's works

• Aria de la Suite No. 3  (   Finale 2003 )

• Bach's Christmas Carol   (    )

• Dona Nobis Pacem (Arrangement from the Prelude in C)   2 editions available

• Haec Tibi dona pura   (   Encore )

• Ich steh an deiner Krippen hier, BWV 469   2 editions available (choral arrangements)

• Jesu deine Liebeswunden, BWV 471   (  ) (Choral arrangement)

• Ode to the Seasons (and to Change)   (  )

Missatributed Editions

• Aperite Portas (misattrib.?)   (  )

• Gottes Sohn ist kommen   (  )

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
• Bach Cantatas Website: Free PDF vocal scores to nearly every Bach cantata
• The (almost) complete Bach-Gesellschaft Ausgabe in PDF (complete books) - russian site
• Scores for BWV 11, BWV 43, BWV 48, BWV 213, BWV 232 and complete Chorale
• The BGA-edition piece by piece (in PDF) on the site of the International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP)
• Johann Sebastian Bach bibliography