Eighteen chorales (Bach)
The Eighteen Chorales of various kinds, and Leipzig Chorales presented Johann Sebastian Bach in his final years with the intention to print it. This collection contains chorale arrangements for organ with two manuals and pedal.
Bach selected sentences from very different periods of life - most of them were probably composed in Weimar. In many cases there are several older readings, for example the last two movements are also contained in the little organ book ; These early forms do not always differ so far from the final version that they received their own BWV numbers.
As always, Bach not only copied, but also used the opportunity to improve countless details. The manuscript begins in a firm, secure handwriting, which - probably because of Bach's eye problems - is becoming increasingly insecure and shaky. The last three sentences were written by Bach's son-in-law Johann Christoph Altnikol ; according to the preface to the art of fugue according to dictation.
The last chorale, I step before your throne, is probably best known; it was integrated into the art of the fugue by the editors under the name When we are in dire straits and is still sometimes played as its conclusion.
Overview in the series of the autograph
No. | BWV | Title of the sentence | Time signature | key | Early forms |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | BWV 651 | Fantasia super: Come, Holy Spirit, Lord God | F major | BWV 651a | |
2 | BWV 652 | Come, Holy Spirit, Lord God | 3/4 | G major | BWV 652a |
3 | BWV 653 | On water rivers Babylon | 3/4 | G major | BWV 653a, 653b |
4th | BWV 654 | Adorn yourself, dear soul | 3/4 | E flat major | BWV 654a |
5 | BWV 655 | Trio great: Lord Jesus Christ, turn to us | G major | BWV 655a, 655b, 655c | |
6th | BWV 656 | O Lamb of God, innocent (3 Versus) | 3/2 - 3/2 - 9/4 - 3/2 | A major | BWV 656a |
7th | BWV 657 | Now all thank God | G major | ||
8th | BWV 658 | I don't want to leave God | F minor | BWV 658a | |
9 | BWV 659 | Now come, the Gentile Savior | G minor | BWV 659a | |
10 | BWV 660 | Trio great: Come on, the Gentile Savior | G minor | BWV 660a, 660b | |
11 | BWV 661 | Now come, the Gentile Savior | G minor | BWV 661a | |
12 | BWV 662 | Honor only to God on high | A major | BWV 662a | |
13 | BWV 663 | Honor only to God on high | 3/2 | G major | BWV 663a |
14th | BWV 664 | Trio great: Alone God on high 'be honor' | A major | BWV 664a | |
15th | BWV 665 | Jesus Christ our Savior | E minor | BWV 665a | |
16 | BWV 666 | Jesus Christ, our Savior (alio modo) | 12/8 | E minor | BWV 666a |
17th | BWV 667 | Come, God Creator, Holy Spirit | 12/8 | G major | BWV 631 |
18th | BWV 668 | Herefore I step in front of your throne | G major | BWV 641 |
expenditure
- New Bach edition , Volume IV / 2
literature
- Wolfgang Schmieder : Thematic-systematic directory of the works of Johann Sebastian Bach . Wiesbaden 1969.
Web links
- The original Leipzig manuscript at bach-digital.de of the Leipzig Bach Archive
- Eighteen Chorales : Sheet Music and Audio Files in the International Music Score Library Project
- Leipzig chorales in PDF and MIDI format for the Mutopia project
- Discography of the eighteen chorales (English)