Bach, Johann Sebastian: Four duets BWV 802-805

Par BACH JOHANN SEBASTIAN. J. S. Bach ’s Four Orchestral Suites belong to that select group of works one could truly call classical hits! They stem from Bach ’s extremely productive time in Cöthen which ended in 1721. Unfortunately the only sources that have come down to us are copyist parts from Leipzig. These originally formed the basis for the critical complete edition volume which was published in 1967 as part of the “New Bach Edition”. At that time Bärenreiter also issued separate scores and parts which however were prepared with additional articulation and performance suggestions. Bärenreiter’s new edition of Bach’s great four suites nowpresents the Urtext as found in the “New Bach Edition” i. e. without emendations and performance suggestions. The orchestral parts have been re-engraved and the material includes an alternative version of the Overture and Air to the D major suite BWV 1068 including a “Violino concertato” part. - Urtext editions of these important works. - Newly engraved parts and fully realized continuo. - For the first time an alternative version of the Overture and Air to the D major suite BWV 1068 with “ Violino concertato ” is included. - Full scores, study scores and performance material available for sale./ Répertoire / Partition de Poche

Par BACH JOHANN SEBASTIAN. Without any doubt J.S. Bach’s cycle of the three Sonatas and Partitas BWV 1001-1006 represents one of the pinnacles of classical European music. According to C.P.E. Bach a contemporary voice stated that there was „nothing more accomplished in order to become a good violinist“ than his father’s works. The cycle reflects the entire harmonic and polyphonic musical universe of Bach’s time, so masterfully composed that it can be rendered within the limited framework of but a single instrument – the violin. The new publication of the Sonatas and Partitas BWV 1001-1006 (BA 5256) constitutes a complete revision of our older edition (BA 5116). The musical text has been edited by Peter Wollny and represents the most up-to-date state of research as published in the New Bach Edition – Revised (NBArev), volume BA 5937-01. The edition is mainly based on Bach’s unusually clear autograph which is considered among the most beautiful manuscripts by the composer. All relevant secondary sources have been taken into consideration in order to clarify ambiguities. These include five contemporary copies, including one by Anna Magdalena Bach, and four manuscripts from the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The musical text has been newly engraved with a clear and generous layout, whereby page turns and pagination have been retained from the previous edition. This allows the straightforward navigation between a copy of the previous and this new edition. The detailed Preface (Ger/Eng) provides information on the genesis of the Sonatas and Partitas, their context and the sources./ Répertoire / Violon

Klavierauszug -Revised edition. Par BACH JOHANN SEBASTIAN. The St. John Passion was first performed in Leipzig on Good Friday of 1724. Written three years before the St. Matthew Passion, it was a work Bach revised during the rest of his life, in fact he did not leave us a definitive version either in print or fair copy. The sources give evidence of four different versions used at four performances - 1724, 1725, around 1730 and during the last years of Bach 's life. They often contain two or more readings for the same passage, or even different movements that on different occasions occupied the same place in the work. Barenreiter's edition uses the final version IV as its basis with alternativemovements and readings contained in the appendices. A comprehensive preface in the study score (German/English) TP197 gives full information. - Full score, performance material (BA5037), vocal score (BA5037-90) and study score (TP197) available for sale. / Niveau : 4 / Répertoire / Solistes (T (Evangelist), B (Jesus), SATB), Choeur

Fassung Iv. Par BACH JOHANN SEBASTIAN. with the unfinished revision [1739] an an appendix. The St. John Passion ranks among the great vocal works from Bach’s Leipzig years. In contrast to his other large-scale choral works, however, Bach never gave this work a definitive final form. Rather, for every performance he made numerous changes. All previous editions of the St. John Passion have combined readings from various layers of sources. The wish often expressed by conductors to perform an authentic version is made possible for the first time with the present edition in this fourth and final version which was performed under Bach’s direction in 1749. At the same time, with the aid of the appendix it is possibleto perform the work in the traditional “mixed version. ”/ Répertoire / Solistes SATBB, Choeur SATB, 2 Flûtes Traversières

Fassung Iv. Par BACH JOHANN SEBASTIAN. with the unfinished revision [1739] an an appendix. The St. John Passion ranks among the great vocal works from Bach’s Leipzig years. In contrast to his other large-scale choral works, however, Bach never gave this work a definitive final form. Rather, for every performance he made numerous changes. All previous editions of the St. John Passion have combined readings from various layers of sources. The wish often expressed by conductors to perform an authentic version is made possible for the first time with the present edition in this fourth and final version which was performed under Bach’s direction in 1749. At the same time, with the aid of the appendix it is possibleto perform the work in the traditional “mixed version. ” / Oratorio / Date parution : 2004-10-01/ Répertoire / Solistes SATBB, Choeur SATB, 2 Flûtes Traversières

Fassung Iv. Par BACH JOHANN SEBASTIAN. with the unfinished revision [1739] an an appendix. The St. John Passion ranks among the great vocal works from Bach’s Leipzig years. In contrast to his other large-scale choral works, however, Bach never gave this work a definitive final form. Rather, for every performance he made numerous changes. All previous editions of the St. John Passion have combined readings from various layers of sources. The wish often expressed by conductors to perform an authentic version is made possible for the first time with the present edition in this fourth and final version which was performed under Bach’s direction in 1749. At the same time, with the aid of the appendix it is possibleto perform the work in the traditional “mixed version. ” / Oratorio / Date parution : 2004-10-01/ Répertoire / Solistes SATBB, Choeur SATB, 2 Flûtes Traversières

Fassung Iv. Par BACH JOHANN SEBASTIAN. with the unfinished revision [1739] an an appendix. The St. John Passion ranks among the great vocal works from Bach’s Leipzig years. In contrast to his other large-scale choral works, however, Bach never gave this work a definitive final form. Rather, for every performance he made numerous changes. All previous editions of the St. John Passion have combined readings from various layers of sources. The wish often expressed by conductors to perform an authentic version is made possible for the first time with the present edition in this fourth and final version which was performed under Bach’s direction in 1749. At the same time, with the aid of the appendix it is possibleto perform the work in the traditional “mixed version. ” / Oratorio / Date parution : 2005-07-01/ Répertoire / Solistes SATBB, Choeur SATB, 2 Flûtes Traversières

Fassung Iv. Par BACH JOHANN SEBASTIAN. with the unfinished revision [1739] an an appendix. The St. John Passion ranks among the great vocal works from Bach’s Leipzig years. In contrast to his other large-scale choral works, however, Bach never gave this work a definitive final form. Rather, for every performance he made numerous changes. All previous editions of the St. John Passion have combined readings from various layers of sources. The wish often expressed by conductors to perform an authentic version is made possible for the first time with the present edition in this fourth and final version which was performed under Bach’s direction in 1749. At the same time, with the aid of the appendix it is possibleto perform the work in the traditional “mixed version. ” / Oratorio / Date parution : 2004-12-01/ Répertoire / Solistes SATBB, Choeur SATB, 2 Flûtes Traversières

10 Fugues For String Quartet Vol. 2. Par BACH JOHANN-SEBASTIAN. The idea for these arrangements came to me whilst listening to the Hagen Quartet's beautiful recording of the fugues that form part of Haydn's 'Sun Quartets', Op. 20. The spirit and influence of J.S. Bach, in particular his Well Tempered Clavier, Book II, courses through these three miraculous Haydn fugues. Like the viol consort, the string quartet suits this kind of composition (the fugue), with all four instruments sufficiently similar in character to each other to match the extraordinary unity and economy of the counterpoint. A string quartet playing Bach fugues is a good example of a harmonious relationship between form andcontent: just as there is a unifying principle behind the construction of the four string instruments, so there is (usually) a single theme or subject that unifies the construction of a four-part fugue. Thus the form enacts the content, telling you something about the text and message within. Apart from Haydn's and a handful of other composers' wondrous creations, there's little fugal writing for string quartet, at least in comparison with the abundance of other forms. This was another reason to make these arrangements. The quartet offers a melodic independence impossible to achieve on a single instrument. And I believe the technical and interpretative challenges posed by this repertoire and ndash - lightness of sound and rhythmic fluidity, for example - will be very valuable to quartets seeking the holy grail: a unified sound. Perhaps the simplest and most compelling reason for this work is that I just love this music more than I can say. These dazzling pieces, mostly fast, bright and in major keys, show Bach at his most playful, funny and mischievous, composing for an instrument rarely associated with these qualities. And so I'm very happy to offer string quartets these little know fugues, written by my favourite composer - a violinist and violist himself, but above all a master / Classique / Date parution : 2018-05-04/ Répertoire / Quatuor à Cordes

Par BACH JOHANN-SEBASTIAN. It was 1995 when I had the fortune to listen to the freshly published recording of the suites performed by Mstislav Rostropovich. I would have given anything to be able to play them, and this was what inspired me to study the bass clarinet. The series of diverse emotions which I subsequently experienced made me see Music in a completely new way. I began learning them slowly, inevitably adapting the text. As I discovered their educational value, the knowledge of harmonic structures, forms and stylistic features gradually evolved within me. Over 20 years I have studied various editions and listened to the meaning which these suites have had for many famous performers. Ipleasantly discovered the commendable work of other clarinettists who in turn have dedicated themselves to approaching this composer with the bass clarinet. The objective of this version isn't to impose conditions on how to play the suites. We carried out unique research into the coherence of the text, based on the manuscripts of Anna Magdalena Bach and Johann Peter Kellner. The choice to remove any type of articulation and agogic was made in order to encourage the development of personal interpretation, which obviously requires a fundamental investigation of the sources. This edition comes with 4 versions of the suite. The reason behind producing four versions (which are in different keys and tones) is because every musician has their own tastes and tendencies. Personally, I prefer the bass clef transposed to B flat because I find the bass clef to be the most appropriate for the spirit of the low instrument. It was 1995 when I had the fortune to listen to the freshly published recording of the suites performed by Mstislav Rostropovich. I would have given anything to be able to play them, and this was what inspired me to study the bass clarinet. The series of diverse emotions which I subsequently experienced made me see Music in a completely new way. I began learning them slowly, inevitably adapting the text. As I discovered their educational value, the knowledge of harmonic structures, forms and stylistic features gradually evolved within me. Over 20 years I have studied various editions and listened to the meaning which these suites have had for many famous performers. Ipleasantly discovered the commendable work of other clarinettists who in turn have dedicated themselves to approaching this composer with the bass clarinet. The objective of this version isn't to impose conditions on how to play the suites. We carried out unique research into the coherence of the text, based on the manuscripts of Anna Magdalena Bach and Johann Peter Kellner. The choice to remove any type of articulation and agogic was made in order to encourage the development of personal interpretation, which obviously requires a fundamental investigation of the sources. This edition comes with 4 versions of the suite. The reason behind producing four versions (which are in different keys and tones) is because every musician has their own tastes and tendencies. Personally, I prefer the bass clef transposed to B flat because I find the bass clef to be the most appropriate for the spirit of the low instrument./ Répertoire / Clarinette Basse Solo

Kantate zum Sonntag Sexagesimae. Leipziger Fassung. Par BACH JOHANN SEBASTIAN. The cantata dates from Bach's time in Weimar. The instrumental scoring of four violas and basso continuo - in the Leipzig performances enhanced by two recorders doubling viola I and II at the octave - is unique in Bach's cantata oeuvre. It lends a dark, luxurious sound to the four movements which is gently illuminated by the recorders. The work - with its instrumental sinfonia, a short secco recitative and an extended accompagnato recitative (both of which contain arioso inserts), a short soprano aria and a simple closing chorale - makes no great demands on the performing forces. Admirers of text interpretation by means of instrumental figuration will be richly rewarded./ Répertoire / Choeur