WeRead Powered by ReaderPub
Johann Sebastian Bach: His Life, Art, and Work cover

Johann Sebastian Bach: His Life, Art, and Work

Chapter 27: Clavier:—
By Johann Nikolaus Forkel
Open in WeRead

Explore more books like this:

BiographiesGerman LiteratureHistory - Modern (1750+)Music

About This Book

A comprehensive early biography of the composer Johann Sebastian Bach that reconstructs his family background and musical training, follows his professional appointments including the Leipzig years, and examines his abilities as clavier player, organist, teacher, and composer. It analyzes compositional technique and personal character, discusses surviving manuscripts and editions, and concludes with an assessment of his artistic genius. Extensive appendices provide chronological catalogues, a chronologically arranged list of church cantatas, information on major editions, a bibliography, manuscript collations, and a family genealogy, while illustrations and tables support the narrative and reference material.

[pg 153]

APPENDIX I. CHRONOLOGICAL CATALOGUE OF BACH'S COMPOSITIONS

I. CATALOGUE OF BACH'S COMPOSITIONS PRIOR TO HIS APPOINTMENT TO WEIMAR IN JUNE 1708, in his twenty-fourth year.327

VOCAL:—

Motet: Lobet den Herrn, alle Heiden.

CLAVIER328:—

Capriccio sopra la lontananza del suo fratello dilettissimo (bk. 208 p. 62) (1704).
Capriccio in honorem Joh. Christoph Bachii, Ohrdruf (bk. 216 p. 34) (c. 1704).
Sonata in D major (bk. 215 p. 44) (c. 1704).329

B.G. XXXVI. prints a number of pieces which, in general, may be assigned to Bach's immature years. They are reproduced in Peters' edition:

Book 200:
Fughetta in C minor (p. 10).
Prelude and Fughetta in D minor (p. 40).
Prelude and Fughetta in E minor (p. 42).
Prelude and Fughetta in A minor (p. 47).
Fugue in C major (p. 54).
Fugue in C major (p. 56).
Book 207:
Fantasia in C minor (p. 50).
Book 212:
Fantasia in C minor (p. 58).
Fugue in D minor (p. 59).
Fugue in D minor (p. 61).
Fugue in E minor (p. 68).
Book 214:
Prelude and Fughetta in F major (p. 76).
Prelude and Fughetta in G major (p. 78).
Prelude in G major (p. 80).
Book 215: Three Minuets (p. 62).

To these may be added (? authentic) from B.G. XLII.:

Book 212:
Fantasia and Fughetta in B flat major (p 58).
Do. do. D major (p. 60).

Organ330:—

Prelude and Fugue in C minor (bk. 2 p. 48) (c. 1704).
Do. do. C major (bk. 8 p. 88) (? 1707).331
Do. do. the “Short,” A minor (bk. 10 p. 208).
Fugue in C minor (bk. 12 p. 95) (c. 1704).
Do. C minor, on a theme by Legrenzi (bk. 10 p. 230) (c. 1708).
Do. B minor, on a theme by Corelli (bk. 3 p. 60).
Do. D major (bk. 12 p. 83).
Do. G major (bk. 12 p. 55).
Do. G major (bk. 12 p. 86).
Do. G minor (bk. 2 p. 41).
Prelude in A minor (bk. 10 p. 238) (by 1706).
Do. C major (bk. 12 p. 94).
Fantasia and Fugue in A minor (bk. 12 p. 60).
Fantasias in 6 major (bk. 9 p. 168; bk. 12 p. 75).
Pastorale in F major (bk. 12 p. 102).
Choral Partita: Christ, der du bist der helle Tag (bk. 19 p. 36).
Do. O Gott, du frommer Gott (bk. 19 p. 44).
Do. Sei gegrüsset, Jesu gütig (bk. 19 p. 55).

Generally speaking, the Choral Preludes, other than those in the maturer collections made by Bach himself, may be regarded as youthful works (bks. 18, 19).

II. Catalogue Of Bach's Compositions At Weimar, 1708-17, from his twenty-fourth to his thirty-third year.

Vocal:—

Secular Cantata: Was mir behagt (1716), or, Verlockender Götterstreit.

Clavier:—

Sixteen Concertos after Vivaldi (bk. 217) (c. 1708-12).
Toccatas in D major (bk. 211 p. 28), G major (bk. 215 p. 19), D minor (bk. 210 p. 68), G minor (bk. 211 p. 4), E minor (bk. 210 p. 23) (c. 1708-12).
Aria variata alia maniera Italiana (bk. 215 p. 12) (c. 1708-12).
Prelude and Fugue in A minor (bk. 211 p. 14) (c. 1715).
Fugues in A major (bk. 215 pp. 52, 57).
Do. B minor (bk. 214 p. 48).
Do. A major (bk. 212 p. 66).
Do. A minor (bk. 212 p. 70).
Fantasia in G minor (bk. 215 p. 32).
Do. B minor (bk. 215 p. 41). (For Organ, N. bk. 12 p. 71.)
Do. D major (bk. 211 p. 28).
Do. A minor (bk. 215 p. 5) (c. 1710).

Organ:—

Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor (bk. 10 p. 214).
Four Concertos after Vivaldi (bk. 11).
Eight Short Preludes and Fugues (bk. 1).
Orgelbüchlein (bk. 15) (1717).
Aria in F major (bk. 12 p. 112).
Fantasia con Imitazione (bk. 12 p. 71).
Do. C major (bk. 12 p. 92).
Do. C minor (bk. 3 p. 57).
Trio in C minor (bk. 12 p. 108).
Do. D minor (bk. 2 p. 54).
Canzona in D minor (bk. 2 p. 34) (c. 1714).
Allabreve in D major (bk. 2 p. 26).
Prelude and Fugue in C major (bk. 7 p. 74).
Do. do. the “Short,” E minor (bk. 2 p. 44).
Do. do. D major (bk. 6 p. 10).
Do. do. the “Great,” A minor (bk. 7 p. 42).
Do. do. A major (bk. 3 p. 64).
Do. do. the “Great,” C minor (bk. 7 p. 64).
Do. do. F minor (bk. 6 p. 21).
Do. do. G major (bk. 7 p. 80).
Do. do. G minor (bk. 8 p. 120) (c. 1712).
Toccata and Fugue in D minor (bk. 6 p. 2).
Do. do. the “Great,” C major (bk. 9 p. 137).
Do. do. the “Great,” F major (bk. 9 p. 176).
Do. do. the Dorian, D minor (bk. 10 p. 196).
Fantasia and Fugue in C minor (bk. 3 p. 76).
Prelude in G major (bk. 2 p. 30).
Do. C major (bk. 12 p. 91).
Fugue, the “Short,” in G minor (bk. 3 p. 84).
Do. C major (bk. 12 p. 100).

III. Catalogue Of Bach's Compositions At Cöthen, 1717-23, from his thirty-third to his thirty-ninth year.

Vocal:—

Secular Cantata: Durchlaucht'ster Leopold (1717).
Do. Mit Gnaden bekröne der Himmel die Zeiten
(?1721). Do. Weichetnur, betrübte Schatten (?1717-23).332

Clavier:—

Clavier-Büchlein vor Wilhelm Friedemann Bach (1720).
Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue (bk. 207 p. 4) (c. 1720-23).
Clavier-Büchlein vor A. M. Bachin (bk 1959) (1722).
The Well-tempered Clavier (Part i.) (bk. 2790a) (1722).
Six French Suites (bks. 202 and 2793) (c. 1722).
Six English Suites (bks. 203-4 and 2794-95) (before 1726).
Fantasia and Fugue in A minor (bk. 208 p. 50).
Fugue in A minor (bk. 207 p. 16) (B.G. III. p. 334).
Twelve Little Preludes and Six Preludes for Beginners (bks. 200 and 2791) (c. 1722).
Inventions and Symphonies (bks. 201 and 2792) (1723).
Toccatas in F sharp minor and C minor (bk. 210 pp. 30 and 40).
Suites in A minor, E flat major, E minor, F major, and F minor (fragment) (bk. 214 pp. 54,62, 68; bk. 215 p. 27; bk. 212 p. 84).
Prelude and Fugue in E flat major (bk. 214 p. 40).

Chamber333:—

Six Sonatas (Suites) for Violin Solo (bk. 228) (c. 1720).334
Six Sonatas (Suites) for Violoncello Solo (bk. 238a) (c. 1720).
Six Sonatas for Violin and Clavier (bks. 232-33-232a-33a).
Suite in A major for Violin and Clavier (bk. 236).
Four Inventions for Violin and Clavier (bk. 2957).
Sonata in E minor and Fugue in G minor for Violin and Clavier (bk. 236) (?early work).
Six Sonatas for Flute and Clavier (bks. 234-35).
Sonata in C major for two Violins and Clavier (bk. 237).
Three Sonatas for Viol da Gamba and Clavier (bk. 239).
Sonata in G major for two Flutes and Clavier (bk. 239 p. 2).
Sonata in G major for Violin, Flute, and Clavier (bk. 237).

Orchestral:335—

Six Brandenburg Concertos (bks. 261-66) (1721).
Four Suites (Overtures) (bks. 267-69, 2068).336
Three Concertos for Violin and Orchestra (bks. 229, 230).337
Concerto in D minor for two Violins and Orchestra (bk. 231).338

Organ:—

Prelude (Fantasia) and Fugue, the “Great,” in G minor (bk. 8 p. 127) (?1720).

IV. Catalogue Of Bach's Compositions At Leipzig, 1723-34, from his thirty-ninth to his fiftieth year.

Vocal:—

Magnificat in D (?1723).339
Sanctus in C major, D major (c. 1723), D minor, and G major (P. bk. 29b).340
St. John Passion (1723).
Trauer-Ode (1727).
St. Matthew Passion (1729).
Mass in B minor (1733-?1738).
Christmas Oratorio (1734).
Three Wedding Chorals (P. bk. 1654).
Motet: Jesu, meine Freude (1723).
Do. Der Geist hilft unsrer Schwachheit auf (1729).
Do. fürchte dich nicht.
Do. Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied.
Motet: Komm, Jesu, komm.
Secular Cantata: Der zufriedengestellte Aeolus (1725); also entitled Blast Larmen, ihr Feinden (1734).
Do. Vereinigte Zwietracht der wechselnden Saiten (1726), or, Auf schmetternde Töne der muntern Trompeten (after 1733).
Do. Schwingt freudig euch empor; also entitled Die Freude reget sich, or Steigt freudig in die Luft (1726).
Do Entfernet euch, ihr heitern Sterne (1727; music lost).
Do. Vergnügte Pleissenstadt (1728; music lost).
Do. Von der Vergnügsamkeit, or Ich bin in mir vergnügt (c. 1730).
Do. Weichet nur, betrübte Schatten (c. 1730).
Do. Der Streit zwischen Phoebus und Pan 1731).
Do. Froher Tag, verlangte Stunden (1732; music lost).
Do. Schweigt stille (Coffee Cantata) (c. 1732).
Do. Herkules auf dem Scheidewege, or Die Wahl des Herkules (1733).
Do. Tönet, ihr Pauken! Erschallet, Trompeten (1733).
Do. Preise dein Glücke, gesegnetes Sachsen (1734).
Do. Schleicht, spielende Wellen (1734).
Do. Thomana sass annoch betrübt (1734; music lost).
Graduation Cantata: Siehe, der Hüter Israels (music lost).

Clavier:—

Notenbuch vor Anna Magdalena Bach (bk. 1959) (1725).
Clavierübung, Part I. containing the six Partitas, or German Suites (bks. 205-6 or 2796-97) (1731).
[pg 160]

Orchestral:—

Concertos in C major, C minor, and C minor for two Claviers and Orchestra (bks. 256, 257, 257b) (1727-36).341
Seven Concertos for Clavier and Orchestra (bks. 248-54) (1729-36).
Concerto in A minor for Violin, Flute, Clavier, and Orchestra (bk. 255) (c. 1730).342
Concerto in A minor for four Claviers and Orchestra (bk. 260) (c. 1733).
Concertos in D minor and C major for three Claviers and Orchestra (bks. 258, 259) (c. 1733).

Organ:—

Prelude and Fugue, the Great, in G major (bk. 8 p. 112) (1724 or 1725).343
Six Sonatas in E flat major, C minor, D minor, E minor, C major, G major (bks. 4 and 5) (1727-33).344
Prelude and Fugue in C major (bk. 3 p. 70) (c. 1730).
Do. do. D minor (bk. 9 p. 150).

V. Catalogue Of Bach's Compositions At Leipzig, 1735-50, from his fifty-first year to his death.

Vocal:—

Ascension Oratorio (Cantata 11) (c. 1735).
Schemelli's Hymn-book (1736).
Easter Oratorio (c. 1736).
Four Masses, in P major, A major (c. 1739), G minor, G major (c. 1739).
Secular Cantata: Angenehmes Wiederau (1737).
Do. Willkommen, ihr herrschenden Götter der Erden (1738) (music lost).
Do. Mer hahn en neue Oberkeet (Peasant Cantata) (1742).
Do. O holder Tag (?1749), or, O angenehme Melodei.
Italian Cantata: Amore traditore.
Do. Andro dall' colle al prato (lost).
Do. Non sa che sia dolore.

Clavier:—

Clavierübung, Part II. containing the Italian Concerto (bk. 207) and Partita in B minor (bk. 208) (1735).
Fantasia and Fugue in C minor (bk. 207 p. 50 and bk. 212 p. 88) (c. 1738).
Clavierübung, Part III. containing the four Duetti (bk. 208) (1739).
Clavierübung, Part IV. containing the Goldberg Variations (bk. 209) (c. 1742).
The Well-tempered Clavier, Part II. (bk. Ib or 2790b) (1744).

Chamber:—

Sonata for Violin, Flute, and Clavier, in C minor (in the “Musical Offering”) (bk. 237 p. 3) (1747).
Three Partitas for the Lute (?1740).345

Organ:—

The Catechism Choral Preludes (in Clavierübung, Part III.) (bk. 16) (1739).
Fugue in D minor (in ditto) (bk. 16 p. 49) (1739).
Prelude and Fugue in E flat major (in ditto) (bk. 6 p. 28) (1739).
Do. do. the “Great,” in C major (bk. 9 p. 156).
Do. do. the “Great,” in B minor (bk. 7 p. 52) (1727-36).
Do. do. the “Great,” in E minor (bk. 8 p. 98).
Canonic Variations on “Vom Himmel hoch” (bk. 19) (1746).
The Schübler Choral Preludes (bk. 16) (c. 1747-50).
The Eighteen Choral Preludes (bk. 17) (c. 1747-50).
The Musical Offering (P. bk. 219) (1747).
The Art of Fugue (P. bk. 218) (1749).
[pg 163]