Johann Sebastian Bach
Biography
Johann Sebastian Bach (31 March [O.S. 21 March] 1685 – 28 July 1750) was a German composer and musician of the Baroque period.
Bach enriched established German styles through his skill in counterpoint, harmonic and motivic organisation, and the adaptation of rhythms, forms, and textures from abroad, particularly from Italy and France. Bach's compositions include the Brandenburg concerti, the Mass in B minor, The Well-Tempered Clavier, two Passions, keyboard works, and more than 300 cantatas, of which nearly 100 cantatas have been lost to posterity. His music is revered for its intellectual depth, technical command, and artistic beauty.
Bach was born in Eisenach, Saxe-Eisenach, into a great musical family; his father, Johann Ambrosius Bach, was the director of the town musicians, and all of his uncles were professional musicians. His father probably taught him to play violin and harpsichord, and his brother, Johann Christoph Bach, taught him the clavichord and exposed him to much contemporary music. Apparently at his own initiative, Bach attended St Michael's School in Lüneburg for two years. After graduating, he held several musical posts across Germany: he served as Kapellmeister (director of music) to Leopold, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen, Cantor of the Thomasschule in Leipzig, and Royal Court Composer to August III. Bach's health and vision declined in 1749, and he died on 28 July 1750. Modern historians believe that his death was caused by a combination of stroke and pneumonia.
Bach's abilities as an organist were highly respected throughout Europe during his lifetime, although he was not widely recognised as a great composer until a revival of interest and performances of his music in the first half of the nineteenth century. He is now generally regarded as one of the main composers of the Baroque period, and as one of the greatest composers of all time.
Works for Winds
Adaptable Music
- The Bach Initiative (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Folliard) (2019)
- Choral Prelude BWV 727 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Costa)
- Come, Sweet Death (Flex instrumentation) (tr. Reed; arr. Benson) (1736/1976/2019)
- Contrapunctus XIV (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Aho) (2018)
- French Suite No. 2 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Shishikura) (1722/)
- Fugue en sol mineur BWV 578 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Costa) (1703-1707/)
- O Mensch, Bewein' Dein Sünde Gross (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Grainger; ed. Brand and Brion) (1724?/1937-1942/1987)
- Prelude and Fugue in B-flat major (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Ring) (?/2020)
- Three Fugues by J.S. Bach (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Danyew) (1722/2020)
- Fugue No. 2 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Danyew) (1722/2020)
- Fugue No. 16 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Danyew) (1722/2020)
- Fugue No. 23 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Danyew) (1722/2020)
- Wachet Auf (Flex instrumentation) (arr. DeJonge) (1731/2020)
All Wind Works
- 5 Preludes and Fugues (arr. Beyrent)
- Adagio (arr. Hautvast)
- Adagio (arr. Warner)
- Air (arr. Hautvast)
- Air (arr. Klemke) (c. 1730/2006)
- Air (tr. Lang) (c. 1730/1958)
- Air for Woodwind Choir (arr. Blahnik)
- Allegro: From Brandenburg Concerto #3 (arr. Daehn) (1721/1980)
- Arioso (arr. De Haan) (1729/2000)
- Arioso (arr. Hill) (1729/1984)
- Arioso (arr. Reed) (1729/1998)
- The Art of Fugue (tr. Amis) (c. 1745)
- Ave Maria
- Ave Maria (Bach-Gounod) (arr. Lovrien) (1853/2004)
- Bach: Air (arr. McGinty) (c. 1730/)
- The Bach Buch (tr. Pann) (2011)
- Bach Chorale and March (arr. Wilson) (c. 1730/1990)
- Bach: Chorale and Variation (arr. McGinty) (1994)
- Bach Fugue (arr. Kinyon) (/1984)
- The Bach Initiative (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Folliard) (2019)
- Bach's Fugue à la Gigue (ed. Brand). See: Fugue à la Gigue
- Bach's Fugue à la Gigue (tr. Holst; ed. Mitchell) (1921/2005)
- Before Thy Throne I Now Appear (arr. Bukvich) (1750/1993)
- Berceuse (arr. Hautvast) (/1994)
- Bourrée (arr. Isaac) (1720/1969)
- Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 (arr. Marlatt) (1721/2011)
- Brandenburg Concerto No 3. See also: Allegro: From Brandenburg Concerto #3
- Canzona (orch. Stock)
- Chaconne (arr. Ito) (1720/1987)
- Chaconne and Festive Aria (arr. Daehn)
- Chaconne in D Minor (arr. Daehn) (1720/)
- Chaconne in D Minor (tr. Whitwell) (1720/2015)
- Choral Prelude BWV 727 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Costa)
- Chorale and Fugue (arr. Warner)
- Chorale and Fugue in F Major (arr. Daehn) (1988)
- Chorale Prelude on "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" (tr. Damrosch; adapt. O'Toole)
- Chorale in C Minor (arr. Topolewski) (2012)
- Christ He Is My Life (arr. Cailliet) (1973)
- Christmas Pastorale (arr. Hastings) (1970)
- Ciaccona (arr. Votta) (1720/2021)
- Come, Blessed Peace (arr. Tolmage) (1736/1958)
- Come, Sweet Death (arr. Reed) (1736/1976)
- Come, Sweet Death (Flex instrumentation) (tr. Reed; arr. Benson) (1736/1976/2019)
- Concerto IV (Alto Saxophone and Percussion Ensemble) (tr. Paxton; ed. Young) (c. 1738/2015)
- Concerto IV (Alto Saxophone, Piano and Percussion Ensemble) (tr. Paxton; ed. Young) (c. 1738/2015)
- Concerto IV (Flute and Percussion Ensemble) (tr. Paxton; ed. Young) (c. 1738/2015)
- Concerto IV (Flute, Piano and Percussion Ensemble) (tr. Paxton; ed. Young) (c. 1738/2015)
- Concerto IV (Soprano Saxophone and Percussion Ensemble) (tr. Paxton; ed. Young) (c. 1738/2015)
- Concerto IV (Soprano Saxophone, Piano and Percussion Ensemble) (tr. Paxton; ed. Young) (c. 1738/2015)
- Concerto for Prince Johann (arr. Daehn) (c. 1713 / 2011)
- Contrapunctus I (arr. Barnes) (c. 1745/1988)
- Contrapunctus I (arr. King) (c. 1745/1960)
- Contrapunctus III (arr. King) (c. 1745/1955)
- Contrapunctus IX (arr. Clark) (c. 1745/2005)
- Contrapunctus V (arr. Daehn) (c. 1745)
- Contrapunctus XIV (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Aho) (2018)
- Deck Thyself, My Soul, With Gladness (arr. Reed) (1990)
- Fantasia and Fugue in C Minor (arr. Elgar; tr. Topolewski) (1727?)
- Fantasia and Fugue in C Minor (arr. Elgar; arr. Nowlin) (1727?/2016)
- Fantasia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 537 (arr. Hunsberger) (1727?/1997)
- Fantasia and Fugue in G minor (arr. Horovitz) (c. 1838/1986)
- Fantasia and Fugue in G minor, BWV 542 "The Great" (arr. Boyd) (c. 1838/1985)
- Fantasia in C (arr. Sterk) (1706/2017)
- Fantasia in G, BWV 572 (arr. Boyd) (1703-7/1957/1985)
- Fantasia in G, BWV 572 (arr. Goldman) (1703-7/1957/2012)
- Fervent is My Longing; Fugue in G Minor (tr. Cailliet) (c. 1710/1935/2006)
- Forget Me Not, O Dearest Lord (arr. Reed) (c. 1736/1985)
- French Suite No. 2 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Shishikura) (1722/)
- Fugue à la Gigue (tr. Holst; ed. Brand) (1921/2008)
- Fugue à la Gigue (ed. Mitchell). See: Bach's Fugue à la Gigue
- Fugue à la Gigue (arr. Rondeau) (1921/2011)
- Fugue en sol mineur BWV 578 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Costa) (1703-1707/)
- Fugue in B-flat Major (arr. Daehn) (1722/1988)
- Fugue in E-flat Major (tr. Abrams and Jones) (1739/2019)
- Fugue in G Minor (arr. Kimura) (1703-1707/1993)
- Fugue in G Minor (arr. Rechtman) (1703-1707/)
- Fugue No. 2 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Danyew) (1722/2020)
- Fugue No. 16 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Danyew) (1722/2020)
- Fugue No. 23 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Danyew) (1722/2020)
- God Still Lives (arr. Reed)
- Goldberg Variations (arr. Colgrass)
- Hertzlich tut mich verlangen. See: Fervent is My Longing; Organ Fugue in G Minor
- If Thou Be Near (arr. Moehlmann) (1725/1940)
- If Thou Be Near (arr. Reed) (1725/1984)
- In Dulci Jubilo (arr. Reed) (1970)
- Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (tr. Cailliet) (1723/1962)
- Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (arr. Custer) (1723/1975/1997)
- Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (arr. Hazo) (1723/2012)
- Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (tr. Leidzen) (1723/1936)
- Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (arr. Moerenhout) (1723/2019)
- Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (arr. Pekas) (1723/)
- Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (arr. Reed) (1723/)
- Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (arr. Sapieyevski) (1723/)
- Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (arr. Sparke) (1723/2004)
- Jig Fugue (arr. Marlatt) (2003)
- Komm, Susser Tod (arr. Leidzen) (1736/1936)
- A Little Bach Suite (arr. Gordon) (1966)
- Little Fugue (arr. Romm; adapt. Custer) (c. 1705/1974/1991)
- Little Fugue in G minor (arr. Howland) (c. 1705/1974/2015)
- Little Fugue in G Minor, BWV 578 (arr. Parks)
- March (arr. Grainger) (1946)
- My Heart, Ever Faithful (arr. Barnes) (1988)
- My Heart is Filled With Longing (arr. Reed) (c. 1710/1986)
- My Jesus, Oh What Anguish (arr. Reed)
- My Soul Longeth to Depart in Peace
- Nun komm der Heiden Heiland (arr. McAlister)
- Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland (arr. Stert) (c. 1748/2013)
- O Jesu Christ, meins Lebens Licht (arr. Westover) (c. 1736/2017)
- O Mensch, Bewein' Dein Sünde Gross (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Grainger; ed. Brand and Brion) (1724?/1937-1942/1987)
- Our Father Who Art in Heaven (arr. Reed) (1710/1988)
- Passacaglia (arr. Glover) (c. 1703-1713?/2014)
- Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor (tr. Hunsberger) (1703-1713?/ 1968/1975)
- Passacaglia and Thema Fugatum in C Minor (tr. Stowkowski; ed. Sosnowchik) (1703-1713?/2014)
- Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor (tr. Falcone) (ca. 1712/1969)
- Passacaglia from "Cantata No. 12" (arr. Daehn) (1714/2011)
- Präludium und Fuge d-Moll (tr. Rechtman) (1722/2003)
- Prelude IV (arr. Reed) (1722/1983)
- Prelude and Fugue No. 6, BWV 535 (arr. Anthenien) (1722/1979)
- Prelude and Fugue in A-flat, BWV 557 (tr. Moehlmann) (1964)
- Prelude and Fugue in Bb major (Brass Ensemble) (arr. Beyrent)
- Prelude and Fugue in B-flat major (Brass Quintet) (arr. Beyrent)
- Prelude and Fugue in B-flat major, BWV 553 (arr. Moehlmann) (1852/1955)
- Prelude and Fugue in B-flat major BWV 553 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Ring) (?/2020)
- Prelude and Fugue in B-flat minor, BWV 559 (arr. Moehlmann) (1852/1969)
- Prelude and Fugue in C major (arr. Beyrent)
- Prelude and Fugue in D major, BWV 532 (arr. Steinmetz) (1710/2018)
- Prelude and Fugue in D minor, BWV 554 (arr. Beyrent) (1722/2001)
- Prelude and Fugue in D minor, BWV 555 (arr. Coleman) (1852/2017)
- Prelude and Fugue in D minor, BWV 554 (tr. Moehlmann) (1852/1988)
- Prelude and Fugue in D minor (tr. Rechtman). See: Präludium und Fuge d-Moll
- Prelude and Fugue in E-flat, BWV 552 (setting Hunsberger) (c. 1739/2009)
- Prelude and Fugue in F major (arr. Moehlmann) (1852/?)
- Prelude and Fugue in F minor, BWV 555 (arr. Moehlmann) (1852/1954)
- Prelude and Fugue in G minor, BWV 535 (tr. Moehlmann) (1852/1939)
- Prelude, Chorale and Fugue (arr. Godfrey) (1919)
- Prelude in E-flat, BWV 552 (arr. Tamura) (c. 1739/2001)
- Prelude No. 22 (tr. Lynch) (c. 1722/2013)
- "Ricercare a 6" from Musical Offering, BWV 1079 (tr. McAlister)
- Saint Anne's Fugue (arr. Rhoads) (1965)
- Sarabande (arr. Kennaway) (1972/1977/1995)
- Second Bach Suite for Band (tr. Tolmage) (1965)
- Sehet was die liebe tut (arr. Grainger) (1937)
- Sheep May Safely Graze (arr. Reed) (1713/1981)
- Sinfonia from "Cantata No 29" (arr. Ninmer)
- Sinfonia from "Cantate 156" (arr. Daniels) (1729/)
- Sixteen Chorales (ed. King) (1958)
- Sixteen Chorales (arr. Lake) (1938)
- Sleepers, Awake! (arr. Patterson) (1731/1995)
- Sleepers, Awake! (arr. Reed) (1731)
- Sleepers, Awake! (tr. Sparke) (1731/2002)
- Songs of Exaltation (arr. Gordon) (1974)
- St. Anne. See: Prelude and Fugue in E-flat
- Three Fugues by J.S. Bach (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Danyew) (1722/2020)
- Fugue No. 2 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Danyew) (1722/2020)
- Fugue No. 16 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Danyew) (1722/2020)
- Fugue No. 23 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Danyew) (1722/2020)
- Thus Do You Fare, My Jesus (arr. Reed)
- Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in C Major (arr. Rechtman) (c. 1717)
- Toccata, Adagio, and Fugue, BWV 564 (tr. Paynter) (c. 1717/2000)
- Toccata, Adagio and Fugue (tr. Knox) (c. 1717)
- Toccata, Aria, and Fugue in C Major (tr. Knox) (c. 1717)
- Toccata & Fuge d-Moll (arr. Goldhammer) (1705/2011)
- Toccata and Fugue in D minor (arr. Goldhammer). See: Toccata & Fuge d-Moll
- Toccata and Fugue in D minor (tr. Goto) (1705/2014)
- Toccata and Fugue in D minor (tr. Hindsley) (1705)
- Toccata and Fugue in D minor (tr. Hunsberger) (1705/1998)
- Toccata and Fugue in D minor (tr. Leidzen) (1705/1942)
- Toccata and Fugue in D minor (arr. Lopez) (1705/2010)
- Toccata and Fugue in D minor (tr. Nowlin) (1705/2015)
- Toccata and Fugue in D minor (tr. Smalls) (1705/2023)
- Violin Partita No. 3 in E major (arr. Kitakata) (1720/2018?)
- Wachet Auf (Flex instrumentation) (arr. DeJonge) (1731/2020)
- Wachet auf (arr. Marlatt) (1731/)
- Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme (arr. Lauf Jr.) (1731/2019)
- Who Puts His Trust in God Most Just (arr. Croft) (1978)
- Wir Glauben All’ An Einen Gott (arr. Stokowski) (1739)
Resources
- "Bach, J.S." G & M Brand Publications Web. Accessed 18 February 2021
- Hermann, Joseph W. "Fugue á la Gigue." In Teaching Music through Performance in Band. Volume 9, edit. & comp. by Richard Miles, 527-535. Chicago: GIA Publications, 2013.
- Johann Sebastian Bach. Wikipedia.
- Miles, Richard B., and Larry Blocher. (2010). Teaching Music through Performance in Band. Volume 1. Chicago: GIA Publications. pp. 878.
- Ragsdale, David. ""Passacaglia" from Cantata No. 12." In Teaching Music through Performance in Band. Volume 9, edit. & comp. by Richard Miles, 200-205. Chicago: GIA Publications, 2013.
- Schweitzer, Albert. (1905) J S Bach Volume 1 Digital Text.
- Schweitzer, Albert. (1905) J S Bach Volume 2 Digital Text.
- Seggelke, Martin H. "Fantasia and Fugue in C Minor, BWV 547." In Teaching Music through Performance in Band. Volume 10, Compiled and edited by Richard Miles, 960-969. Chicago: GIA Publications, 2015.
- Terry, Charles Stanford. (1963) The Music of Bach: An Introduction Digital Text.