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Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor (Bach)
Johann Sebastian Bach (trans. Donald Hunsberger)
This work bears the designation BWV 582.
General Info
Year: 1703-1713? / 1968 / 1975
Duration: c. 13:00
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Original Medium: Organ
Publisher: G. Schirmer
Cost: Score and Parts - $100.00 | Score Only - $10.00
Instrumentation
Full Score
C Piccolo/Flute III
Flutes I-II
Oboes I-II
English Horn
Bassoons I-II
Contrabassoon
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinets I-II-III
B-flat Bass Clarinet (or B-flat Contrabass Clarinet)
E-flat Alto Saxophone
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Flugelhorn
B-flat Trumpets I-II-III
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombones I-II-III-IV
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Organ
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
Though one of the great organ classics, the Passacaglia in C Minor was first composed for the double-manual harpsichord. Despite the fact that the key of C minor is constantly present throughout all 20 variations and much of the fugue, Bach maintains a freshness in each variation which distinguishes it from the next. Albert Schweitzer advised that "Each of the twenty sections ... must have its own characteristic tone colour (but) ... no colour must be sharply differentiated from its predecessor or its successor."
In his transcription for wind ensemble, Donald Hunsberger follows this advice by employing woodwind voices in groups of three and brass voices (mellow vs. brilliant) in fours.
The work opens with a stately eight-bar theme followed by the 20 variations and an overwhelming tutti. The double fugue is built on the first part of the passacaglia theme in combination with a countertheme in eighth notes. The work closes with a massive climax of suspended harmonies and full instrumental sonority.
- Program Note from Program Notes for Band
The Passacaglia and Fugue in c minor was composed sometime during Bach’s second residence
in Weimar, c. 1708-17. Albert Schweitzer writes: “The Passacaglia and Fugue was written in the first
place for cembalo (harpsichord) with pedal and was later transcribed for organ.” The theme, which
is presented in 20 variations and the fugue, consists of two parts: the first half which Bach
borrowed from a Trio en Passacaille by Andre Raison, and the answering second half which is
original material.
Bach was fairly consistent in closing each statement of the theme with an authentic cadence (c minor: V-i); despite these brief attempts at finality there remains a flow of continuity provided by a frequent rhythmic acceleration during the closing measures of the variation, anticipating the rhythmic pattern of the following variation. An additional feeling of continuity is supplied through the contrapuntal treatment of the inner voices, seldom allowing these voice to become stagnant.
The instrumentation selected provided a wealth of solo colors in both the woodwind and brass sections; octave doublings and timbre couplings have been utilized to employ the outer tessituras of each instrument. There has been no direct attempt to reproduce the vast tonal resources of the pipe or electronic organ although the transcriber bore in mind the coupling principle inherent in the overtone mechanism of the organ.
- Program Note excerpted from notes by Donald Hunsberger
Media
- Audio CD: Dallas Wind Symphony (Frederick Fennell, conductor) - 1993
State Ratings
- Alabama: Class AA
- Arkansas: V
- Georgia: VI
- Kansas: VI
- Louisiana: V
- Maryland: VI
- Michigan: Senior High AA
- Mississippi:VI-A
- New York: Concert Band VI
- South Carolina: VI
- Virginia: VI
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- University of Tulsa (Okla.) Wind Ensemble (Andrew Anderson, conductor) - 18 April 2022
- Eastman School of Music (Rochester, N.Y.) Wind Orchestra (Mason St. Pierre, conductor) - 28 February 2022
- University of Southern Mississippi (Hattiesburg) Wind Ensemble (Catherine Rand, conductor) - 7 October 2021
- University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory Wind Symphony (Steven Davis, conductor) – 29 September 2019
- Shenandoah Conservatory Wind Ensemble (Winchester, Va.) (Timothy J. Robblee, conductor) – 21 September 2019
- Manhattan School of Music (N.Y.) Wind Ensemble (Kevin Fitzgerald, conductor) - 18 September 2019
- Eastman School of Music (Rochester, N.Y.) Wind Ensemble (Mark Scatterday, conductor) – 6 October 2018
- Colorado Wind Ensemble (Denver) (David Kish, conductor) – 11 February 2018
- Lawrence University (Appleton, Wisc.) Wind Ensemble (Andrew Mast, conductor) – 15 October 2016
- University of North Texas Symphonic Band (Dennis Fisher, conductor) – 17 September 2015
- Illinois State University (Normal) Wind Symphony (Martin Seggelke, conductor) - 28 September 2014
- The College of New Jersey Wind Ensemble (David Vickerman, conductor) - Ewing, NJ 25 April 2014
- San Francisco Wind Ensemble (Martin H. Seggelke, conductor) - 27 October 2012
- Knightwind Ensemble [Milwaukee, Wisc.] (Erik Janners, conductor) - 1 April 2012
- High School Symphonic Band [Interlochen, Mich.] (Frederick Fennell, conductor) - 14 August 1981
Works for Winds by This Composer
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)
- 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.; Hunsberger, D. (1968). Passacaglia and Fugue in C Minor: For Symphonic Wind Ensemble [score]. G. Schirmer: New York.
- Miles, Richard B., and Larry Blocher. (2010). Teaching Music through Performance in Band. Volume 1. Chicago: GIA Publications. pp. 878-885.
- Smith, Norman E. (2002). Program Notes for Band. Chicago: GIA Publications, pp. 25.