Johann Sebastian Bach's earliest music manuscripts, and copies by his pupil Johann Martin Schubart (Transcription)

SKU: CA.3110604

ISBN 9790007244620. Key: F major. Language: German/English.

The Actus tragicus or Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit BWV 106 remains one of Bach's best-known and most admired works, one which continues to resonate to this day - a work of genius such as even great masters seldom achieve (Alfred Durr). The cantata is one of the earliest known vocal works by Johann Sebastian Bach. It was written during his time at Muhlhausen, probably in 1707, when Bach took up the position of organist at the Divi Blasii Church. A possible occasion for its composition may have been the funeral of the mayor of Muhlhausen, Adolph Strecker. The short, slow Sonatina with two recorders, two gambas and continuo gets the listener into the mood of the character of the cantata. This instrumental combination is unique in Bach's vocal output, but could derive from a central German tradition. This new edition is a critical-practical edition which combines both the latest discoveries in Bach research with a detailed Critical Report as well as addressing current questions on performance practice. Score available separately - see item CA.3110600.

SKU: CA.3116513

ISBN 9790007209100. Text language: German/English. Text: Franck, Salomo.

The cantata O heilges Geist- und Wasserbad (O Holy spirit's solemn rite) BWV 165 is one of Bach's earliest cantata compositions and was presumably first performed in the Weimar Schlosskirche for Trinity Sunday in 1715. With a simple instrumentation of only strings and basso continuo (including bassoon), the cantata offers an alternative to the later Leipzig cantatas for the Feast of the Holy Trinity, also with regard to the vivid interpretation of the text in the librettos by Salomon Franck. In the two expressive recitatives and the three distinctively different arias, Bach repeatedly emphasizes the central words of the text, which focuses on the meaning of the rebirth of the spirit through baptism. Score and part available separately - see item CA.3116500.

SKU: CA.3116521

Text language: German/English. Text: Franck, Salomo.

The cantata O heilges Geist- und Wasserbad (O Holy spirit's solemn rite) BWV 165 is one of Bach's earliest cantata compositions and was presumably first performed in the Weimar Schlosskirche for Trinity Sunday in 1715. With a simple instrumentation of only strings and basso continuo (including bassoon), the cantata offers an alternative to the later Leipzig cantatas for the Feast of the Holy Trinity, also with regard to the vivid interpretation of the text in the librettos by Salomon Franck. In the two expressive recitatives and the three distinctively different arias, Bach repeatedly emphasizes the central words of the text, which focuses on the meaning of the rebirth of the spirit through baptism. Score and part available separately - see item CA.3116500.

SKU: CA.3116511

ISBN 9790007209087. Text language: German/English. Text: Franck, Salomo.

The cantata O heilges Geist- und Wasserbad (O Holy spirit's solemn rite) BWV 165 is one of Bach's earliest cantata compositions and was presumably first performed in the Weimar Schlosskirche for Trinity Sunday in 1715. With a simple instrumentation of only strings and basso continuo (including bassoon), the cantata offers an alternative to the later Leipzig cantatas for the Feast of the Holy Trinity, also with regard to the vivid interpretation of the text in the librettos by Salomon Franck. In the two expressive recitatives and the three distinctively different arias, Bach repeatedly emphasizes the central words of the text, which focuses on the meaning of the rebirth of the spirit through baptism. Score and part available separately - see item CA.3116500.

SKU: CA.3100409

ISBN 9790007041526. Key: E minor. Language: German/English. Text: Luther, Martin. Text: Martin Luther.

The cantata Christ lag in Todesbanden is among Bach's earliest preserved vocal compositions. The text is based Martin Luther's Easter chorale of the same name. Score and parts available separately - see item CA.3100400.

SKU: BR.BV-209

ISBN 9783765102097. 9 x 14.5 inches. German.

The Publication in facsimile of the auto graphic copy of Johann Sebastian Bach's Mass in A major BWV 234 at the occasion of the Bach Anniversary Year 1985 has been made possible thanks to the generous support of the publishing house which so carefully preserved this precious manuscript in its archives for almost 200 years. The manuscript was acquired long ago by Johann Gottlob Immanuel Breitkopf, the brilliant and dynamic forefather of the publishing house Breitkopf & Hartel, who conducted a prosperous business selling music transcriptions in Leipzig. It is still unclear as to how he obtained the manuscript. Perhaps it had belonged to the estate of Wilhelm Friedemann Bach, from whom Breitkopf apparently acquired a part of his Bach collection. The earliest reference to the manuscript's change of ownership is found in Breitkopfs Verzeichniss Musicalischer Werke of 1761, which includes Bach's Missa, a 2 Flauti, 2 Violini, Viola 4 Voci, Organo under the listing of copies of unpublished compositions. The copy was available at the price of 2 thl. (thalers) 12gl. (groschen). A few years later, in 1769, the same offer appeared again together with other works by Bach or ascribed to him in the Verzeichniss lateinischer und italianischer Kirchen-Musiken of Bernhard Christoph Breitkopf & Sohn. In more recent times, the work has been mentioned in Wilhelm Hitzig's Katalog des Archivs von Breitkopf & Hartel, revised in 1925, together with the continuo part, which was included with the copy and which was also originally written in Bach's own hand. The economic reorganization of the publishing house Breitkopf & Hartel after the Second World War made it necessary to sell the manuscript together with other works from the publisher's archives. This manuscript was to have been put up at auction by the auction house J. A. Stargardt. The catalogue, containing an informative commentary by Wolfgang Schmieder, was already printed, but before the auction could take place, the land of Hesse decided to purchase all the manuscripts, thus preventing the dispersion of this valuable collection. The manuscript was officially handed over to the Hessische Landes- und Hochschulbibliothek in Darmstadt on 29 October 1953. The A major Mass is still preserved there today, together with its fellow piece, the Mass in G major BWV 236.

SKU: BR.CHB-3477-02

ISBN 9790004404218. 6.5 x 9.5 inches.

The Publication in facsimile of the auto graphic copy of Johann Sebastian Bach's Mass in A major BWV 234 at the occasion of the Bach Anniversary Year 1985 has been made possible thanks to the generous support of the publishing house which so carefully preserved this precious manuscript in its archives for almost 200 years. The manuscript was acquired long ago by Johann Gottlob Immanuel Breitkopf, the brilliant and dynamic forefather of the publishing house Breitkopf & Hartel, who conducted a prosperous business selling music transcriptions in Leipzig. It is still unclear as to how he obtained the manuscript. Perhaps it had belonged to the estate of Wilhelm Friedemann Bach, from whom Breitkopf apparently acquired a part of his Bach collection. The earliest reference to the manuscript's change of ownership is found in Breitkopfs Verzeichniss Musicalischer Werke of 1761, which includes Bach's Missa, a 2 Flauti, 2 Violini, Viola 4 Voci, Organo under the listing of copies of unpublished compositions. The copy was available at the price of 2 thl. (thalers) 12gl. (groschen). A few years later, in 1769, the same offer appeared again together with other works by Bach or ascribed to him in the Verzeichniss lateinischer und italianischer Kirchen-Musiken of Bernhard Christoph Breitkopf & Sohn. In more recent times, the work has been mentioned in Wilhelm Hitzig's Katalog des Archivs von Breitkopf & Hartel, revised in 1925, together with the continuo part, which was included with the copy and which was also originally written in Bach's own hand. The economic reorganization of the publishing house Breitkopf & Hartel after the Second World War made it necessary to sell the manuscript together with other works from the publisher's archives. This manuscript was to have been put up at auction by the auction house J. A. Stargardt. The catalogue, containing an informative commentary by Wolfgang Schmieder, was already printed, but before the auction could take place, the land of Hesse decided to purchase all the manuscripts, thus preventing the dispersion of this valuable collection. The manuscript was officially handed over to the Hessische Landes- und Hochschulbibliothek in Darmstadt on 29 October 1953. The A major Mass is still preserved there today, together with its fellow piece, the Mass in G major BWV 236.

SKU: CA.3115049

ISBN 9790007241469. Key: B minor. Language: German/English.

The cantata Nach dir, Herr, verlanget mich (O my Lord, I long for thee) BWV 150 is one of the earliest cantatas from Bach's Muhlhausen period. Its authenticity was long disputed, partly because of the stylistic characteristics of this early work, but also because the cantata only survives in sources dating from the period after Bach's death. However, in recent years a hidden dedication to Conrad Meckbach, a member of the Muhlhausen town council and patron of Bach, has been deciphered: the initial letters of the free poetry reveal the acrostic Doctor Conrad Meckbach (in the 18th century spelling), revealing a link to the city of Muhlhausen and almost certainly confirming Bach's authorship of the cantata. The occasion of the composition of the work is still unknown. The small instrumental scoring for just two violins, bassoon, and continuo, plus the fact that only the soprano is given a solo movement, suggest a performance with modest resources. Score and part available separately - see item CA.3115000.

SKU: CA.3104612

ISBN 9790007042981. Key: D minor. Language: German/English.

The opening chorus of the cantata Schauet doch und sehet (Look ye then and see now) is one of those movements by Bach which are much better known in their later guise: the first part of it became the Qui tollis of the Mass in B minor. But this movement is not the only high point of the cantata from Bach's earliest Leipzig period. Both the arias are also unusual: a bass aria depicting God's anger dramatically as a thundering storm, with strings and slide trumpet, which gives the movement a very special colour through its unexpected notes beyond the instrument's natural series, and an alto aria with two recorders, accompanied by just two oboi da caccia in unison, which take the role of the continuo as little basset instruments. Music almost not of this world! New revised edition. Score and part available separately - see item CA.3104600.

SKU: CA.3104605

ISBN 9790007042950. Key: D minor. Language: German/English.

The opening chorus of the cantata Schauet doch und sehet (Look ye then and see now) is one of those movements by Bach which are much better known in their later guise: the first part of it became the Qui tollis of the Mass in B minor. But this movement is not the only high point of the cantata from Bach's earliest Leipzig period. Both the arias are also unusual: a bass aria depicting God's anger dramatically as a thundering storm, with strings and slide trumpet, which gives the movement a very special colour through its unexpected notes beyond the instrument's natural series, and an alto aria with two recorders, accompanied by just two oboi da caccia in unison, which take the role of the continuo as little basset instruments. Music almost not of this world! New revised edition. Score available separately - see item CA.3104600.