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 pre-eminent polyphonic forms of Renaissance music. According to Marga ...

Johann Sebastian Bach Johann Sebastian Bach (28 July 1750) was a German composer and musician of the late Baroque period. He is known for his orchestral music such as the ''Brandenburg Concertos''; instrumental compositions such as the Cello Suites; keyboard wo ...

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 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. An abbreviated version of that second edition, known as BWV ...

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, appears to be at least partly by J.S. Bach, and if so was probably composed during his Weimar period. BWV 228 is another motet which appears to have been written at

Weimar Weimar is a city in the state (Germany), state of Thuringia, Germany. It is located in Central Germany (cultural area), Central Germany between Erfurt in the west and Jena in the east, approximately southwest of Leipzig, north of Nuremberg an ...

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

Leipzig Leipzig ( , ; Upper Saxon: ) is the most populous city in the German state of Saxony. Leipzig's population of 605,407 inhabitants (1.1 million in the larger urban zone) as of 2021 places the city as Germany's eighth most populous, as ...

. 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 '' Johann Sebastian Bach: His Life, Art, and Wor ...

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 :''See Historically informed performance for a more detailed explanation of this topic.'' The general discussion of how to perform music from ancient or earlier times did not become an important subject of interest until the 19th century, when Eu ...

. 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: : Many transposing i ...

scored for two four-part choirs (

SATB SATB is an initialism that describes the scoring of compositions for choirs, and also choirs (or consorts) of instruments. The initials are for the voice types: S for soprano, A for alto, T for tenor and B for bass. Choral music Four-part ...

) which was first performed in

around 1727. This motet uses Psalm 149:1–3 for its first movement, the third stanza of " Nun lob, mein Seel, den Herren" (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 ...

after Psalm 103 by Johann Gramann) for the second movement, and Psalm 150:2 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 Saxon philosopher, Lutheran theologian, Latin classicist and poet. He was rector of the Thomasschule, and Professor of Poetry at Leipzig University. He gained fame through his wri ...

. 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 is offered through the gospel of J ...

() and

Martin Luther Martin Luther (; ; 10 November 1483 – 18 February 1546) was a German priest, theologian, author, hymnwriter, and professor, and Augustinian friar. He is the seminal figure of the Protestant Reformation and the namesake of Luther ...

'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. Its relative major is G major and its parallel major is E major. The E natural minor scale is: : Changes nee ...

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 in 1650, with a melody, 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 enemie ...

" 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 vi ...

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 (1653). The German text is by

, and dates from . * (Do not fear), BWV 228, is a motet in A major for a funeral, set for double chorus and unspecified instruments playing

colla parte A variety of musical terms are likely to be 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 mu ...

. The work in two movements draws its text from the Book of Isaiah and a hymn by

Paul Gerhardt Paul Gerhardt (12 March 1607 – 27 May 1676) was a German theologian, Lutheran minister and hymnodist. Biography Gerhardt was born into a middle-class family at Gräfenhainichen, a small town between Halle and Wittenberg. His father died in ...

. 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. According to Paolo Pietropaolo, it is the ...

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 (or the key of C) 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 a ...

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 ''Laudate Dominum''. Consisting of only two verses, Psal ...

: 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 In Christian music, a Passion is a setting of the Passion of Christ. Liturgically, most Passions were intended to be performed as part of church services in the Holy Week. Passion settings developed from Medieval intoned readings of the Gospe ...

, is a

parody A parody, also known as a spoof, a satire, a send-up, a take-off, a lampoon, a play on (something), or a caricature, is a creative work designed to imitate, comment on, and/or mock its subject by means of satiric or ironic imitation. Often its su ...

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 o ...

. 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 min ...

scored for double chorus (

–SATB) and unspecified instruments playing

. The motet, which was formerly attributed to Bach's older cousin Johann Christoph Bach, appears to be one of Bach's earlier works, possibly composed during his

period around 1712. Consequently, the motet was moved from

BWV Anh. BWV Anh., abbreviation of (German for Bach works catalogue annex), is a list of lost, doubtful, and spurious compositions by, or once attributed to, Johann Sebastian Bach. History First edition of the ''Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis'' (1950) In 1950 ...

III (spurious works) to BWV Anh. II (doubtful works) in BWV^2a. The final chorale of the motet is an adaptation of

BWV 421 Johann Sebastian Bach's chorale harmonisations, alternatively named four-part chorales, are Lutheran hymn settings that characteristically conform to the following: * four-part harmony * SATB vocal forces * pre-existing hymn tune allotted to the ...

, 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 ; Hebrew: בְּרֵאשִׁית ''Bəreʾšīt'', "In hebeginning") is the first book of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament. Its Hebrew name is the same as its first word, ( "In the beginning" ...

, from the scene of

Jacob's Ladder Jacob's Ladder ( he, סֻלָּם יַעֲקֹב ) is a ladder 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 th ...

(), combined with the third stanza of the

Warum betrübst du dich, mein Herz "Warum betrübst du dich, mein Herz" (Why are you afflicted, my heart) is a Lutheran hymn. According to some sources, both hymn writer and composer are anonymous. The melody, Zahn No. 1689a, appeared on broadsides from the mid-16th century i ...

" 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 genre number, ...

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, o ...

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. Almost completely self-taught in music, he became a composer against his family's wishes. After studying in Magdeburg, Zellerfeld, and Hi ...

. 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 (or the key of D) is a major scale based on D, consisting of the pitches D, E, F, G, A, B, and C. Its key signature has two sharps. Its relative minor is B minor and its parallel minor is D minor. The D major scale is: : ...

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 Wahrenbrü ...

), 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 orchestra including trumpets and timpani. It is the ...

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 See also * George (disambiguation) George may refer to: People * George (given name) * G ...

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

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 bei ...

, 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 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 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,

143 143 may refer to: *143 (number), a natural number *AD 143, a year of the 2nd century AD *143 BC, a year of the 2nd century BC *143 (EP), ''143'' (EP), a 2013 EP by Tiffany Evans *143 (album), ''143'' (album), a 2015 album by Bars and Melody *143 (2 ...

, 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 (/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 Behm is a surname of Germanic origin. The name refers to: *Alexander Behm (1880–1952), German physicist *Art Behm (b. 1932), American politician from North Dakota; state legislator *Charles Behm (1883–?), Luxembourgian Olympic gymnast *Corneli ...

; → 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

; after BWV 118.1 ,

Publication and recording

Publications

St. Thomas School, Leipzig St. Thomas School, Leipzig (german: Thomasschule zu Leipzig; la, Schola Thomana Lipsiensis) 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 ...

, 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 sc ...

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, 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 the world's oldest music publishing house. The firm was founded in 1719 in Leipzig by Bernhard Christoph Breitkopf. The catalogue currently contains over 1,000 composers, 8,000 works and 15,000 music editions or books ...

. 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 * B ...

. 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 trained as a lawyer, studying from 1776 at Leipzig. He was the conductor ...

, 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 (german: Bach-Gese ...

, 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) (german: Neue Bach-Ausgabe; 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 Wo ...

(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 currently includes more than 26,0 ...

in 1975, edited by Günter Graulich, and again in 2003, seven compositions edited by Uwe Wolf.

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 In music, one voice per part (OVPP) is the practice of performing choral music with a single voice on each vocal line. In the specific context of Johann Sebastian Bach's works it is also known as the Rifkin hypothesis, set forth in Joshua Rifkin' ...

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

Masaaki Suzuki is a Japanese organist, harpsichordist and 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 mus ...

use a chorus of eighteen singers.

References

Sources

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External links

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

. 1802 (Vol. 1: BWV 225, 228, Anh. 159); 1803 (Vol.2: BWV 229, 227, 226) * Uwe Wolf
"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 and Ulrich Konrad. Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht. 2002. , {{Johann Sebastian Bach * Motets by Johann Sebastian Bach, List of