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Since the publication of the BWV catalogue in 1950 lists of compositions by Johann Sebastian Bach are often ordered by BWV number. That ordering says however little about chronology of composition, and even less about chronology of publication. Historians did however study which works the composer selected for print, and when and how they were published.
Contents
- Cantata BWV 71
- Clavier bung I
- Canon a 4
- Clavier bung II
- Spiritual songs and arias from Schemellis Musicalisches Gesangbuch
- Clavier bung III
- Clavier bung IV
- Canon triplex a 6
- Canonic Variations on Vom Himmel hoch da komm ich her
- Musikalisches Opfer
- Schbler Chorales
- Kunst der Fuge
- References
In Bach's time, compositions could circulate in manuscript and be copied by hand, which sometimes amounted to publication, for example the Well-Tempered Clavier was considered "published" in this fashion years before it was printed the first time (all long before copyright even existed).
The scores of more extended vocal and orchestral works were less often published in print in Bach's time. Such scores were generally intended for local use, and the expenses for printing all the parts were high. However, text-books of the special Easter and Christmas services, celebrated in the churches for which Bach composed music in Leipzig, were regularly printed (e.g., Music for Easter, 1731; Christmas Oratorio, 1734; etc.), and texts for the Passions and many cantatas were for instance included in Picander's volumes of Ernst-Schertzhaffte und Satyrische Gedichte. These publications did however contain little indications about the music.
Cantata BWV 71
The parts of the cantata Gott ist mein König, BWV 71 were printed in Mühlhausen in 1708. Records suggest that Mühlhausen council may also have paid for the printing of a later cantata, known as BWV Anh. 192, but, if so, it is now lost.
Clavier-Übung I
For harpsichord, published in installments from 1726 to 1730: Six Partitas, BWV 825–830:
- Autumn 1726: Partita No. 1 in B flat major, BWV 825
- Easter 1727: Partita No. 2 in C minor, BWV 826
- Michaelmas 1727: Partita No. 3 in A minor, BWV 827
- 1728: Partita No. 4 in D major, BWV 828
- 1730: Partita No. 5 in G major, BWV 829
- 1730: Partita No. 6 in E minor, BWV 830
In 1731 these partitas were collectively published as Clavier-Übung ("Keyboard Exercise").
Canon a 4
Canon for four voices, BWV 1074, first published in Georg Philipp Telemann's Der getreue Music-Meister in 1728. The same canon was published two more times during Bach's lifetime: with two solutions in Johann Mattheson's Der vollkommene Capellmeister in 1739, and with three solutions in Volume 3 of Lorenz Christoph Mizler's Neu eröffnete musikalische Bibliothek in 1747.
Clavier-Übung II
Published in 1735, containing two works specified for performance on a two-manual harpsichord: Bach contrasted a work in Italian style – a Concerto nach Italienischem Gusto (Concerto after the Italian taste, now known as the Italian Concerto), BWV 971, with a work in French style, a suite which he called Ouvertüre nach franzosischer Art (Overture in the French style, also known as the French Overture), BWV 831.
Spiritual songs and arias from Schemelli's Musicalisches Gesangbuch
69 Sacred Songs and Arias for Georg Christian Schemelli's Musical Song Book, which contained in total 954 song-texts, for voice and an accompaniment written down as a figured bass. Not all 69 melodies were composed by Bach, but he provided (or "improved") a thorough bass accompaniment for all of them, BWV 439–507.
Schemellis Gesangbuch was published in 1736, and contains some of Bach's probably least known compositions.
Clavier-Übung III
For organ – published 1739:
The Prelude and Fugue are often played as a unit with the nickname "St Anne".
Clavier-Übung IV
In 1741 another Clavier-Übung was published, the ARIA with diverse variations for double manual harpsichord, later to be known as the Goldberg Variations, BWV 988. Not thus numbered in the print it was the fourth Clavier-Übung publication. Note that this publication also carries no reference to Johann Gottlieb Goldberg either: the music was published over half a century before the perhaps exaggerated anecdote involving Goldberg was printed in Forkel's biography of Bach.
Canon triplex a 6
The Canon triplex a 6, BWV 1076, which had appeared on Elias Gottlob Haussmann's portrait of Bach in 1746, was printed in 1747.
Canonic Variations on "Vom Himmel hoch da komm' ich her"
The Canonic Variations on "Vom Himmel hoch da komm' ich her", for organ, were published in 1747 upon Bach's entrance into the Mizler society, BWV 769.
Musikalisches Opfer
Published 1747, after a visit to Frederick the Great: The Musical Offering, BWV 1079.
For diverse instruments, including a triosonate for flute, violin and continuo.
Schübler Chorales
The Schübler Chorales BWV 645–650, published around 1748 as Sechs Chorale von verschiedener Art ('Six Chorales of Various Kinds'), is a set of chorale preludes for organ.
Kunst der Fuge
In preparation for print when the composer died (1750): The Art of Fugue, BWV 1080. Both instrumentation and performance order of the fugues and canons contained in this work remain subject to debate amongst scholars.