Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor (Bach)

Johann Sebastian Bach

Johann Sebastian Bach (trans. Donald Hunsberger)

This work bears the designation BWV 582.

General Info

Year: 1703-1713? / 1968 / 1975
Duration: c. 13:05
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Original Medium: Harpsichord
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 Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinets I-II-III
B-flat Bass Clarinet (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
F Horns I-II-III-IV
Trombones I-II-III-IV
Euphonium (Bass Clef & Treble Clef)
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

Commercial Discography

• 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 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)
• 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)

All Wind Works

• 5 Preludes and Fugues (arr. Beyrent)
• Adagio (arr. Hautvast)
• Adagio (arr. Warner)
• Air (tr. Lang) (c. 1730/1958)
• Air for Woodwind Choir (arr. Blahnik)
• 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
• Bach: Air (arr. McGinty) (c. 1730/)
• The Bach Buch (tr. Pann) (2011)
• 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)
• Bourrée (arr. Isaac) (1720/1969)
• Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 (arr. Marlatt) (1721/2011)
• Canzona, BWV 584
• Chaconne (arr. Ito) (1720/1987)
• Chaconne and Festive Aria (arr. Daehn)
• Chaconne in D Minor (arr. Daehn)
• 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)
• 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)
• 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 (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)
• 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 (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/)
• 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)
• 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 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)
• "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)
• 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, 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, Adagio, and Fugue, BWV 564 (tr. Paynter) (c. 1717/2000)
• Toccata, Adagio and Fugue (tr. Knox) (c. 1717)
• Violin Partita No. 3 in E major (arr. Kitakata) (1720/2018?)
• 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.