It is uncertain how many

motet In Western classical music, a motet is mainly a vocal musical composition, of highly diverse form and style, from high medieval music to the present. The motet was one of the preeminent polyphonic forms of Renaissance music. According to the Eng ...

Johann Sebastian Bach Johann Sebastian Bach (German: Help:IPA/Standard German, �joːhan zeˈbasti̯an baχ ( – 28 July 1750) was a German composer and musician of the late Baroque music, Baroque period. He is known for his prolific output across a variety ...

composed, because some have been lost, and there are some doubtful attributions among the surviving ones associated with him. There is a case for regarding the six motets catalogued

BWV The (, ; BWV) is a Catalogues of classical compositions, catalogue of compositions by Johann Sebastian Bach. It was first published in 1950, edited by Wolfgang Schmieder. The catalogue's second edition appeared in 1990 and the third edition in ...

225–230 as being authenticated, although there is some doubt about one of them, ''Lobet den Herrn, alle Heiden''. A seventh motet, ''Ich lasse dich nicht'', BWV Anh. 159, which was formerly attributed to Bach's older cousin

Johann Christoph Bach Johann Christoph Bach (baptised – 31 March 1703) was a German composer and organist of the Baroque period. Johann Christoph was an older cousin of Johann Sebastian Bach who would later describe him in his ''Genealogy'' (, 1735) as "the pr ...

, appears to be at least partly by J.S. Bach, and if so was probably composed during his

Weimar period The Weimar Republic, officially known as the German Reich, was the German Reich, German state from 1918 to 1933, during which it was a constitutional republic for the first time in history; hence it is also referred to, and unofficially proclai ...

. BWV 228 is another motet which appears to have been written at

Weimar Weimar is a city in the state (Germany), German state of Thuringia, in Central Germany (cultural area), Central Germany between Erfurt to the west and Jena to the east, southwest of Leipzig, north of Nuremberg and west of Dresden. Together w ...

, between 1708 and 1717, the others having been composed in

Leipzig Leipzig (, ; ; Upper Saxon: ; ) is the most populous city in the States of Germany, German state of Saxony. The city has a population of 628,718 inhabitants as of 2023. It is the List of cities in Germany by population, eighth-largest city in Ge ...

. Several of the motets were written for funerals. There is some uncertainty as to the extent that motets would have been called for in normal church services—there is evidence that the form was considered archaic. The text of ''Jauchzet dem Herrn, alle Welt'', BWV Anh. 160 (whether or not the piece is attributable to Bach) suggests a performance at Christmas. Another possible use is a pedagogical one. Bach's biographer

Johann Nikolaus Forkel Johann Nikolaus Forkel (22 February 1749 – 20 March 1818) was a German musicologist and music theorist, generally regarded as among the founders of modern musicology. His publications include the two-volume ''Allgemeine Geschichte der Musik'' ...

suggested that the choral writing would have been useful for training Bach's young singers, and Christoph Wolff has argued that this could apply in particular to ''Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied''. Bach's motets are his only vocal works that stayed in the canon without interruption between his death in 1750 and the 19th-century

Bach Revival In the 18th century, the appreciation of Johann Sebastian Bach's music was mostly limited to distinguished connoisseurs. The 19th century started with publication of the first biography of the composer and ended with the completion of the publicat ...

. In the early 19th century, six motets (BWV 225, 228, Anh. 159, 229, 227, 226) were among Bach's first printed music, after the second half of the 18th century when the only vocal music by Bach that was printed were collections of his four-part chorales.

BWV 225–230

* (Sing unto the Lord a new song), BWV 225, is a motet in

B-flat major B-flat major is a major scale based on B, with pitches B, C, D, E, F, G, and A. Its key signature has two flats. Its relative minor is G minor and its parallel minor is B-flat minor. The B-flat major scale is: Changes needed for ...

scored for two four-part choirs (

SATB In music, SATB is a scoring of compositions for choirs or consorts of instruments consisting of four voice types: soprano, alto, tenor and bass. Choral music Four-part harmony using soprano, alto, tenor and bass is a common scoring in classic ...

) which was first performed in

around 1727. This motet uses

Psalm 149 Psalm 149 is the 149th psalm of the Book of Psalms, a hymn as the book's penultimate piece. The first verse of the psalm calls to praise in singing, in English in the King James Version: "Sing a new song unto the Lord". Similar to Psalm 96 and ...

:1–3 for its first movement, the third stanza of "

Nun lob, mein Seel, den Herren "" (Now praise, my soul, the Lord) is a Lutheran hymn written in German by the theologian and reformer Johann Gramann in 1525. It was published in 1540 and appears in 47 hymnals. A translation by Catherine Winkworth, "My Soul, now Praise thy M ...

" (a 1530

hymn A hymn is a type of song, and partially synonymous with devotional song, specifically written for the purpose of adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification. The word ''hymn'' d ...

after

Psalm 103 Psalm 103 is the 103rd psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "Bless the , O my soul". The Book of Psalms is part of the third section of the Tanakh, Hebrew Bible, and a book of the Christianity, Christian ...

Johann Gramann Johann Gramann or Graumann (5 July 1487 – 29 April 1541), also known by his pen name Johannes Poliander, was a German pastor, theologian, teacher, humanist, reformer, and Lutheran leader. Life Gramann was born in Neustadt an der Aisch, ...

) for the second movement, and

Psalm 150 Psalm 150 is the 150th and final psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "Praise ye the . Praise God in his sanctuary". In Latin, it is known as "Laudate Dominum in sanctis eius". In Psalm 150, the psalmist ...

:2 and 6 for its third movement. * (The Spirit gives aid to our weakness), BWV 226, a motet in B-flat major scored for two four-part choirs, was performed in Leipzig in 1729 for the funeral of

Johann Heinrich Ernesti Johann Heinrich Ernesti (; ; 12 March 1652 – 16 October 1729) was a German philosopher, Lutheran theologian, Latin classicist and poet. He was rector of the Thomasschule, and Professor of Poetry at Leipzig University. He gained fame through hi ...

. The text is taken from the

Epistle to the Romans The Epistle to the Romans is the sixth book in the New Testament, and the longest of the thirteen Pauline epistles. Biblical scholars agree that it was composed by Paul the Apostle to explain that Salvation (Christianity), salvation is offered ...

() and

Martin Luther Martin Luther ( ; ; 10 November 1483 – 18 February 1546) was a German priest, Theology, theologian, author, hymnwriter, professor, and former Order of Saint Augustine, Augustinian friar. Luther was the seminal figure of the Reformation, Pr ...

's third stanza to the hymn "" (1524). * (Jesus, my joy), BWV 227, is a motet in

E minor E minor is a minor scale based on E, consisting of the pitches E, F, G, A, B, C, and D. Its key signature has one sharp, on the F. Its relative major is G major and its parallel major is E major. The E natural minor scale is: Change ...

for five vocal parts. It has been suggested that it was composed in 1723 for the funeral of Johanna Maria Käsin, the wife of the Leipzig postmaster. It takes its title from the hymn "

Jesu, meine Freude "" (; Jesus, my joy) is a hymn in German, written by Johann Franck, with a melody, Zahn number, Zahn No. 8032, by Johann Crüger. The song first appeared in Crüger's hymnal in 1653. The text addresses Jesus as joy and support, versus enem ...

" by

Johann Franck Johann Fran(c)k (1 June 1618 – 18 June 1677) was a German politician (serving as mayor of Guben and a member of the Landtag of Lower Lusatia) and a lyric poet and hymnist. Life Franck was born in Guben, Margraviate of Lower Lusatia. After v ...

on which it is based. The stanzas of the chorale are interspersed with passages from the

. The chorale melody on which several movements are based was by

Johann Crüger Johann Crüger (9 April 1598 – 23 February 1662) was a German composer of well-known hymns. He was also the editor of the most widely used Lutheran hymnal of the 17th century, '' Praxis pietatis melica''. Early life and education Crüger was b ...

(1653). The German text is by

, and dates from . * (Do not fear), BWV 228, is a motet in

A major A major is a major scale based on A, with the pitches A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. Its key signature has three sharps. Its relative minor is F-sharp minor and its parallel minor is A minor. The A major scale is: Changes needed for the ...

for a funeral, set for double chorus and unspecified instruments playing

colla parte A variety of musical terms is encountered in printed scores, music reviews, and program notes. Most of the terms are Italian, in accordance with the Italian origins of many European musical conventions. Sometimes, the special musical meanings ...

. The work in two movements draws its text from the

Book of Isaiah The Book of Isaiah ( ) is the first of the Latter Prophets in the Hebrew Bible and the first of the Major Prophets in the Christian Old Testament. It is identified by a superscription as the words of the 8th-century BC prophet Isaiah ben Amo ...

and a hymn by

Paul Gerhardt wikisource:The New International Encyclopædia/Gerhardt, Paulus, Paulus or Paul Gerhardt (12 March 1607 – 27 May 1676) was a German theologian, Lutheranism, Lutheran minister and hymnodist. Biography Gerhardt was born into a middle-class fam ...

. Traditionally, scholars believed that Bach composed it in Leipzig in 1726, while more recent scholarship suggests for stylistic reasons that it was composed during Bach's Weimar period. It has been compared to another motet for double choir, ''Ich lasse dich nicht'', BWV Anh. 159, which is possibly by Bach. * (Come, Jesus, come), BWV 229, is a motet in

G minor G minor is a minor scale based on G, consisting of the pitches G, A, B, C, D, E, and F. Its key signature has two flats. Its relative major is B-flat major and its parallel major is G major. The G natural minor scale is: Changes n ...

composed in Leipzig, which received its first performance by 1731–1732. * (Praise the Lord, all ye heathen), BWV 230, is a motet in

C major C major is a major scale based on C, consisting of the pitches C, D, E, F, G, A, and B. C major is one of the most common keys used in music. Its key signature has no flats or sharps. Its relative minor is A minor and its parallel min ...

scored for four voices, which draws its text from

Psalm 117 Psalm 117 is the 117th psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people." In Latin, it is known as . Consisting of only two verses, Psalm 117 is the short ...

: 1–2. Although some scholars have expressed doubts about the attribution to Bach, the work is generally regarded as a surviving motet by Bach.

BWV 28/2a (231) and 118

* , originally BWV 231, later renumbered to BWV 28/2a, is the second movement of the motet , presented as a separate motet. Whether Bach extracted this motet (which is based on the second movement of the cantata BWV 28) from the three-movement motet or the cantata, and/or used it as a separate motet is not known.Bach Digital Work at * ''O Jesu Christ, meins Lebens Licht'', BWV 118: originally listed as a cantata, in BWV^2a listed as a (funeral) motet.Bach Digital Work at

Parodies

* ''Der Gerechte kömmt um'', BWV 1149, a chorale from a pasticcio passion oratorio, is a

parody A parody is a creative work designed to imitate, comment on, and/or mock its subject by means of satire, satirical or irony, ironic imitation. Often its subject is an Originality, original work or some aspect of it (theme/content, author, style, e ...

of the motet '' Tristis est anima mea'' which was likely composed by

Johann Kuhnau Johann Kuhnau (; 6 April 16605 June 1722) was a German polymath, known primarily as a composer today. He was also active as a novelist, translator, lawyer, and music theorist, and was able to combine these activities with his duties in his offici ...

. The arrangement is possibly Bach's, and it is possible Bach used it as a separate (funeral) motet.Bach Digital Work at ''Instrumental and Supplement''
bach333.com

BWV Anh. 159–165

* (I will not let you go nless you bless me, BWV Anh. 159, is a motet in

F minor F minor is a minor scale based on F, consisting of the pitches F, G, A, B, C, D, and E. Its key signature consists of four flats. Its relative major is A-flat major and its parallel major is F major. Its enharmonic equivalent, E-sharp ...

scored for double chorus (

–SATB) and unspecified instruments playing

. The motet, which was formerly attributed to Bach's older cousin

, appears to be one of Bach's earlier works, possibly composed during his

period around 1712. Consequently, the motet was moved from BWV Anh. III (spurious works) to BWV Anh. II (doubtful works) in BWV^2a. The final chorale of the motet is an adaptation of BWV 421, but that may also be a later addition to the motet.Bach Digital Work at It draws its text from a verse taken from the

Book of Genesis The Book of Genesis (from Greek language, Greek ; ; ) is the first book of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament. Its Hebrew name is the same as its incipit, first word, (In the beginning (phrase), 'In the beginning'). Genesis purpor ...

, from the scene of

Jacob's Ladder Jacob's Ladder () is a ladder or staircase leading to Heaven that was featured in a dream the Biblical Patriarch Jacob had during his flight from his brother Esau in the Book of Genesis (chapter 28). The significance of the dream has been de ...

(), combined with the third stanza of the

" Warum betrübst du dich, mein Herz" by Erasmus Alberus. * , BWV Anh. 160 (=

TWV The Telemann-Werke-Verzeichnis (Telemann Works Catalogue), abbreviated TWV, is the numbering system identifying compositions by Georg Philipp Telemann, published by musicologist Martin Ruhnke. The prefix TWV is generally followed by a Music genre, ...

8:10) is a three-movement

pasticcio In music, a ''pasticcio'' or ''pastiche'' is an opera or other musical work composed of works by different composers who may or may not have been working together, or an adaptation or localization of an existing work that is loose, unauthorized, ...

motet for SATB–SATB attributed to, among others, Bach and

Georg Philipp Telemann Georg Philipp Telemann (; – 25 June 1767) was a German Baroque composer and multi-instrumentalist. He is one of the most prolific composers in history, at least in terms of surviving works. Telemann was considered by his contemporaries to b ...

. All that is certain regarding Bach's participation in the work is that its second movement derives from the second movement of Bach's cantata BWV 28.Bach Digital Work at * Motet movement ''Kündlich groß ist das gottselige Geheimnis'', BWV Anh. 161, in

D major D major is a major scale based on D (musical note), D, consisting of the pitches D, E (musical note), E, F♯ (musical note), F, G (musical note), G, A (musical note), A, B (musical note), B, and C♯ (musical note), C. Its key signature has two S ...

for SATB, strings(?) and continuo, by Graun (possibly

Carl Heinrich Graun Carl Heinrich Graun (7 May 1704 – 8 August 1759) was a German composer and tenor. Along with Johann Adolph Hasse, he is considered to be the most important German composer of Italian opera of his time. Biography Graun was born in Wahrenbrüc ...

), precedes laudes A and B of

Bach's Magnificat Johann Sebastian Bach's Magnificat, BWV 243, is a musical setting of the biblical canticle Magnificat. It is scored for five vocal parts (two sopranos, alto, tenor and bass), and a Baroque instruments, Baroque orchestra including trumpets an ...

in a three-movement Christmas motet pasticcio.Bach Digital Work at * ''Lob und Ehre und Weisheit und Dank'', BWV Anh. 162, for SATB–SATB, by

Georg Gottfried Wagner Georg may refer to: * ''Georg'' (film), 1997 *Georg (musical), Estonian musical * Georg (given name) * Georg (surname) * , a Kriegsmarine coastal tanker * Spiders Georg, an Internet meme See also * George (disambiguation) George may refer to: ...

.Bach Digital Work at * ''Merk auf, mein Herz, und sieh dorthin'', BWV Anh. 163, for SATB–SATB, by

Johann Bernhard Johann, typically a male given name, is the German form of ''Iohannes'', which is the Latin form of the Greek name ''Iōánnēs'' (), itself derived from Hebrew name '' Yochanan'' () in turn from its extended form (), meaning "Yahweh is Gracious" ...

Johann Ernst Johann, typically a male given name, is the German form of ''Iohannes'', which is the Latin form of the Greek name ''Iōánnēs'' (), itself derived from Hebrew name '' Yochanan'' () in turn from its extended form (), meaning "Yahweh is Gracious" ...

Bach.Bach Digital Work at * ''Nun danket alle Gott'', BWV Anh. 164, for SSATB, by

Johann Christoph Altnickol Johann Christoph Altnickol, or Altnikol, (baptised 1 January 1720, buried 25 July 1759) was a German organist, bass singer, and composer. He was a student, copyist and son-in-law of Johann Sebastian Bach. Biography Altnikol was born in Berna b ...

, Bach's son-in-law.Bach Digital Work at * ''Unser Wandel ist im Himmel'', BWV Anh. 165, for SATB, after movements 2, 4 and 6 of cantata ''Mein Odem ist schwach'', BWV 222, by Johann Ernst Bach.Bach Digital Work at

Motets listed in the second chapter of the ''Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis'' (1998)

, - style="background: #E3F6CE;" , data-sort-value="0225.000" , 225 , data-sort-value="228.002" , 2. , data-sort-value="1727-01-01" , 1726–1727
New Year? , Motet ''Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied'' , B♭ maj. , data-sort-value="SATBx2 +colla parte instruments?" , 2SATB (+''

'' instr.?) , data-sort-value="000.39: 003" , 39: 3 , data-sort-value="III/01: 001" , III/1: 1 , after Z 8244 (/2); text after Ps. 149: 1–3 (/1), by Gramann after Ps. 103 (/2), after Ps. 150: 2, 6 (/3) , , - style="background: #E3F6CE;" , data-sort-value="0226.000" , 226 , data-sort-value="229.001" rowspan="2" , 2. , rowspan="2" , 1729-10-20 , Motet ''Der Geist hilft unser Schwachheit auf'' (funeral of Ernesti, J. H.) , B♭ maj. , data-sort-value="SATBx2 Str Vc Obx2 Tai Bas" , 2SATB Str Vc 2Ob Tai Bas , data-sort-value="000.39: 039" , 39: 39, 143 , data-sort-value="III/01: 037" , III/1: 37 , after Z 7445a (/2); text after Rom. 8: 26–27 (/1), by Luther (/2) , , - style="background: #E3F6CE;" , data-sort-value="0226.002" , 226/2 , chorale setting "Komm, Heiliger Geist, Herre Gott" (s. 3) , B♭ maj.
G maj. , SATB , data-sort-value="000.39: 057" , 39: 57 , data-sort-value="III/02 1: 016" , III/2.1: 18
III/2.2: 38 , after Z 7445a; text by Luther , , - style="background: #F5F6CE;" , data-sort-value="0227.000" , 227 , data-sort-value="229.002" rowspan="4" , 2. , data-sort-value="1728-07-18" rowspan="4" , , Motet ''Jesu, meine Freude'' , rowspan="4" , E min. , data-sort-value="SSATB +colla parte instruments?" , SSATB (+''

'' instr.?) , data-sort-value="000.39: 059" , 39: 59 , data-sort-value="III/01: 075" , III/1: 75 , after Z 8032 (odd mvts); text by Franck, J. (odd mvts), after Rom. 8: 1–2, 9–11 (even mvts) , , - style="background: #F5F6CE;" , data-sort-value="0227.001" , 227/1
227/11 , chorale setting "Jesu, meine Freude" (ss. 1, 6) , SATB , data-sort-value="000.39: 061" , 39: 61 , data-sort-value="III/02 1: 031" , III/2.1: 27
III/2.2: 156 , after Z 8032; text by Franck, J. , , - style="background: #F5F6CE;" , data-sort-value="0227.003" , 227/3 , chorale setting "Jesu, meine Freude" (s. 2) , SATB , data-sort-value="000.39: 066" , 39: 66 , data-sort-value="III/02 1: 032" , III/2.1: 28 , after Z 8032; text by Franck, J. , , - style="background: #F5F6CE;" , data-sort-value="0227.007" , 227/7 , chorale setting "Jesu, meine Freude" (s. 4) , SATB , data-sort-value="000.39: 075" , 39: 75 , data-sort-value="III/02 1: 021" , III/2.1: 22
III/2.2: 168 , after Z 8032; text by Franck, J. , , - , data-sort-value="0228.000" , 228 , data-sort-value="231.001" , 2. , data-sort-value="1715-07-01" , , Motet ''Fürchte dich nicht'' , A maj. , data-sort-value="SATBx2 +colla parte instruments?" , 2SATB (+''

'' instr.?) , data-sort-value="000.39: 087" , 39: 85 , data-sort-value="III/01: 107" , III/1: 105 , after Z 6461 (/2); text after Is. 41: 10 (/1), 43: 1 (/2), by

Gerhardt Gerhardt is a masculine name of German origin. It can refer to the following: As a first name * Ants Eskola (1908–1989), Soviet-Estonian actor and singer born Gerhardt Esperk * Gerhardt Knodel (born 1940), American textile artist, educator * G ...

(/2) , , - style="background: #F6E3CE;" , data-sort-value="0229.000" , 229 , data-sort-value="231.002" , 2. , data-sort-value="1730-07-01" , before 1731–1732 , Motet ''Komm, Jesu, komm'' , G min. , data-sort-value="SATBx2 +colla parte instruments" , 2SATB (+''

'' instr.) , data-sort-value="000.39: 109" , 39: 107 , data-sort-value="III/01: 127" , III/1: 125 , text by Thymich , , - style="background: #F5F6CE;" , data-sort-value="0230.000" , 230 , data-sort-value="232.002" , 2. , data-sort-value="1730-07-01" , 1723–1739? , Motet ''Lobet den Herrn, alle Heiden'' , C maj. , data-sort-value="SATB Bc +colla parte instruments?" , SATB Bc (+''

'' instr.?) , data-sort-value="000.39: 129" , 39: 127 , data-sort-value="III/01: 149" , III/1: 147 , text after Ps. 117 , , - , data-sort-value="0231.000" , 231 , data-sort-value="233.001" , ---- , ---- , data-sort-value="Motet Sei Lob und Preis mit Ehren" , ---- , ---- , ---- , ---- , ---- , see BWV 28/2a , , - style="background: #E3F6CE;" , data-sort-value="0118.100" , 118.1 , data-sort-value="233.003" , 2. , data-sort-value="1736-12-31" , 1736–1737 , Motet ''O Jesu Christ, meins Lebens Licht'' (funeral) , B♭ maj. , data-sort-value="SATB Hnx2 Cnt Tbnx3" , SATB 2Hn Cnt 3Tbn , data-sort-value="000.24: 185" , 24: 185 , data-sort-value="III/01: 163" , III/1: 163 , text by Behm; → BWV 118.2 , , - style="background: #E3F6CE;" , data-sort-value="0118.200" , 118.2 , data-sort-value="233.004" , 2. , data-sort-value="1746-12-31" , 1746–1747 , Motet ''O Jesu Christ, meins Lebens Licht'' (funeral) , B♭ maj. , data-sort-value="SATB Obx2 Tai Bas Hnx2 Str Bc" , SATB 2Ob Tai Bas 2Hn Str Bc , data-sort-value="000.67 1: 000" , NBG 17¹ , data-sort-value="III/01: 171" , III/1: 171 , text by Behm; after BWV 118.1 ,

Publication and recording

Publications

St. Thomas School, Leipzig St. Thomas School, Leipzig (; ) is a co-educational and public boarding school in Leipzig, Saxony, Germany. It was founded by the Augustinians in 1212 and is one of the oldest schools in the world. St. Thomas is known for its art, language and m ...

, appears to have kept the motets in the repertory of its

Thomanerchor The Thomanerchor (English: St. Thomas Choir of Leipzig) is a boys' choir in Leipzig, Germany. The choir was founded in 1212. The choir comprises about 90 boys from 9 to 18 years of age. The members, called ''Thomaner'', reside in a boarding scho ...

after Bach's death. It is documented that the choir performed ''Singet dem Herrn'' for Mozart in 1789. The director on this occasion was the ''

Thomaskantor (Cantor at St. Thomas) is the common name for the musical director of the , now an internationally known boys' choir founded in Leipzig in 1212. The official historic title of the Thomaskantor in Latin, ', describes the two functions of Cantor ( ...

Johann Friedrich Doles Johann Friedrich Doles (23 April 1715 – 8 February 1797) was a German composer and pupil of Johann Sebastian Bach. Doles was born in Steinbach-Hallenberg. He attended the University of Leipzig. He was Kantor at the Leipzig Thomasschule, cond ...

, a pupil of Bach. The interest in Bach motets was sufficient for six of them to be printed for the first time in 1802/1803. They appeared in two volumes from the Leipzig publisher

Breitkopf & Härtel Breitkopf & Härtel () is a German Music publisher, music publishing house. Founded in 1719 in Leipzig by Bernhard Christoph Breitkopf, it is the world's oldest music publisher. Overview The catalogue contains over 1,000 composers, 8,000 works ...

. The editor is not credited on the title page;Johann Gottfried Schicht, editor
''Joh. Seb. Bach's Motetten in Partitur''.
Leipzig:

Breitkopf und Härtel Breitkopf may refer to: * Bernhard Christoph Breitkopf, (1695-1777) founder of Breitkopf & Härtel * Johann Gottlob Immanuel Breitkopf, (1719-1794) son of Bernhard Cristoph Breitkopf * Michael Breitkopf, member of German band Die Toten Hosen * Breit ...

. 1802 (Vol. 1: BWV 225, 228, Anh. 159); 1803 (Vol.2: BWV 229, 227, 226). however, it has been suggested that the person responsible was

Johann Gottfried Schicht Johann Gottfried Schicht (29 September 1753 – 16 February 1823) was a German composer and conductor. Schicht was born in Reichenau, in the Electorate of Saxony. He studied Law in Leipzig before becoming the conductor of the Leipzig Gewan ...

, who was active in the city as a choral and orchestral conductor. Book I consisted of *''Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied'' (BWV 225) *''Fürchte dich nicht'' (BWV 228) *''Ich lasse dich nicht'' (BWV Anh. 159) Book II consisted of *''Komm, Jesu, komm'' (BWV 229) *''Jesu, meine Freude'' (BWV 227) *''Der Geist hilft unser Schwachheit auf'' (BWV 228) In 1892 the motets were published as part of the

Bach-Gesellschaft-Ausgabe Joh. Seb. Bach's Werke () is the Bach Gesellschaft's collected edition of Johann Sebastian Bach's compositions, published in 61 volumes in the second half of the 19th century. The series is also known as Bach-Gesellschaft edition (; BGA), or as ''B ...

, the first edition of the composer's complete works. The editor was

Franz Wüllner Franz Wüllner (28 January 1832 – 7 September 1902) was a German composer and conductor. He led the premieres of Wagner's ''Das Rheingold'' and ''Die Walküre'', but was much criticized by Wagner himself, who greatly preferred the more celebrate ...

, who did not accept Bach's authorship of ''Ich lasse dich nicht''.Melamed, Daniel R. “The Authorship of the Motet ‘Ich Lasse Dich Nicht’ (BWV Anh. 159).” Journal of the American Musicological Society, vol. 41, no. 3, 1988, pp. 491–526. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/831462. Accessed 30 Mar. 2020 (subscription required). The motet volume of the

New Bach Edition The New Bach Edition (NBE) (; NBA), is the second complete edition of the music of Johann Sebastian Bach, published by Bärenreiter. The name is short for Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750): New Edition of the Complete Works (''Johann Sebastian ...

(the second edition of the composer's complete works) came out in 1965. It includes ''O Jesu Christ, mein Lebens Licht'' (which had been included among the cantatas in the Bach-Gesellschaft-Ausgabe) and ''Lobet den Herrn''. The motets were published by

Carus-Verlag Carus-Verlag is a German music publisher founded in 1972 and based in Stuttgart. Carus was founded by choral conductor Günter Graulich and his wife Waltraud with an emphasis on choral repertoire. the catalogue includes more than 26,000 works ...

in 1975, edited by

Günter Graulich Günter Graulich (born 2 July 1926)Klaus Hofmann: Carus-Verlag. In Ludwig Finscher (edit.): ''Die Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart''. Second edition, Sachteil, volume 2 (Bolero – Encyclopedie). Bärenreiter/Metzler, Kassel u. a. 1995, Online-Aus ...

, and again in 2003, seven compositions edited by

Uwe Wolf Uwe Wolf (born 10 August 1967 in Neustadt an der Weinstraße) is a German football coach and former professional player. Honours Necaxa * Primera División de México Liga MX, also known as Liga BBVA MX for sponsorship reasons, is a profess ...

Recordings

Most recordings of the Bach motets have been made since the Second World War. The Thomanerchor, for example, recorded a set in the 1950s. However, there were several pre-War recordings of the motets. The first recording of a Bach motet was a 1927 version of ''Jesu, meine Freude''. A single CD can contain the set of six motets (BWV 225–230) plus other works. One of the decisions which needs to be made is which motets to include. Another decision is how many voices to use per part. The motets have been recorded with one voice per part by

Konrad Junghänel Konrad Junghänel (born 27 February 1953) is a German lutenist and Conducting, conductor in the field of historically informed performance, the founder and director of the vocal ensemble Cantus Cölln. Career Junghänel studied at the Hochschule ...

. Most recordings deploy more than one singer per part; for example,

Masaaki Suzuki is a Japanese organist, harpsichordist, conductor, and the founder and music director of the Bach Collegium Japan. With this ensemble he is recording the complete choral works of Johann Sebastian Bach for the Swedish label BIS Records, for whi ...

and his

Bach Collegium Japan Bach Collegium Japan (BCJ) is composed of an orchestra and a chorus specializing in Baroque music, playing on period instruments. It was founded in 1990 by Masaaki Suzuki with the purpose of introducing Japanese audiences to European Baroque musi ...

use a chorus of eighteen singers.

References

Sources

* * * *

External links

* *

, editor
''Joh. Seb. Bach's Motetten in Partitur''.
Leipzig:

. 1802 (Vol. 1: BWV 225, 228, Anh. 159); 1803 (Vol.2: BWV 229, 227, 226) *

"Zur Schichtschen Typendruck-Ausgabe der Motetten Johann Sebastian Bachs und zu ihrer Stellung in der Werküberlieferung"
i
''Musikalische Quellen, Quellen zur Musikgeschichte: Festschrift für Martin Staehelin zum 65. Geburtstag''.
Edited by Jürgen Heidrich,

Hans Joachim Marx Hans Joachim Marx (born 16 December 1935) is a German music historian. He has been professor of European music history at the University of Hamburg. Life Born in Leipzig, Marx first studied music at the Academy of Music in Leipzig. In 1956 he es ...

and

Ulrich Konrad Ulrich Aloysius Konrad (born 14 August 1957) is a German musicologist and professor at the Institute for Music Research of the University of Würzburg. He is considered an expert on European music of the 17th to 20th centuries, especially the work ...

. Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht. 2002. , {{Johann Sebastian Bach * Motets by Johann Sebastian Bach, List of