List of compositions by J.S. Bach printed during his lifetime

See List of compositions of Johann Sebastian Bach for the completelist of Bach compositions -- the present list "only" lists thosecompositions by Bach which were printed during his lifetime. Since someof these editions have been scattered over the BWV catalogue, thislist is only intended to provide information regarding how Bach wentabout the publication of his own works.

Note that 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'stime, at least as far as Bach's music is concerned. Such scores weregenerally intended for local use, and the expenses for printing allthe parts were high. However, text-books of the special Easter andChristmas services, celebrated in the churches for which Bach composedmusic in Leipzig, were regularly printed (e.g., Music for Easter, 1731;Christmas Oratorio, 1734; etc.). As these publications only contain textswithout music notation, they are not further considered in this article.

Clavier-Übung I

For harpsichord, published in installments from 1726 to 1730: Six Partitas, BWV 825-830:
#Fall 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").

Clavier-Übung II

Published in 1735. Both works specified for performance on a two-manual harpsichord.

Bach contrasted a work in Italian style - a "Concerto nach Italienischen Gusto" ("Concerto after the Italian taste", now known as the "Italian Concerto") with a work in French style, a suite which he called "Overture nach Französicher Art" ("Overture in the French style", now commonly referred to as the "French Overture").

The "French Overture" had previously been written down in C minor; for the publication of 1735 Bach transposed it to B minor and made slight changes to the musical text, for example in the rhythms of the first movement. The reason for the transposition is not known: one speculation is that the aim was to increase the contrast between the two works. F major is a "flat" key and B minor is a "sharp" key, and the keynotes are related by a tritone, which was one of the most distant modulations. Another possible motivation is that out of the eight German note names A, B (B flat), C, D, E, F, G, H (B natural), six had already been used as keynotes in the Partitas, thus only F and H remained. [ [http://www.signumclassics.com/catalogue/sigcd030/programme.htm] Programme notes for recording by Lucy Carolan]

Geistliche Lieder und Arien aus Musicalisches Gesangbuch G.C. Schemelli

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.

;Source
*Brilliant Classics, CD No. 99361/5 and 99361/6 (CD 14 and 15 from "Bach Edition")

Clavier-Übung III

For organ - published 1739:
* Prelude of "Prelude and fugue in E-flat major", BWV 552/i
* German Kyrie and Gloria settings, BWV 669-677
* Catechism chorales, BWV 678-689
* Four duets, BWV 802-805
* Fugue of "Prelude and fugue in E-flat major", BWV 552/ii

;See also
* http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~tas3/ubung.html
* http://www.music.qub.ac.uk/~tomita/essay/cu3.html

Clavier-Übung IV

For double manual harpsichord - published 1741: the "Goldberg Variations", BWV 988

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.

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.

Amore traditore

It is uncertain whether Bach supervised the publication of his secular cantata "Amore traditore", BWV 203, in a now lost volume containing Italian cantates by various composers. The publication date of that omnibus volume is equally unknown. Apart from Bach's cantatas for voice and harpsichord accompaniment, the volume is supposed to have contained works by Telemann, Heinichen, Conti, and others.

References