Bach's Vocal Music

      Article:  Bach's Choir and Orchestra


      The Art of the Fugue, BWV 1080 

            The Art of Fugue, or The Art of the Fugue (German: Die Kunst der Fuge), BWV 1080, is an
      incomplete musical work of unspecified instrumentation by Johann Sebastian Bach. Written in 
      the last decade of his life, The Art of Fugue is the culmination of Bach's experimentation with 
      monothematic instrumental works.

            This work consists of fourteen fugues and four canons in D minor, each using some variation 
      of a single principal subject, and generally ordered to increase in complexity. "The governing idea 
      of the work", said Bach specialist Christoph Wolff, "was an exploration in depth of the contrapuntal 
      possibilities inherent in a single musical subject. The word "contrapunctus" is often used for each 
      fugue.

                           Contrapunctus 1  -  Netherlands Bach Society  (3:30)


      List of Bach's Songs and Arias

      List of Bach's Chorale Collections  (4 part harmonizations)

          Chorales are the basis of Protestant hymns.  They began in the 1520s with Martin Luther
          being an important hymn composer.  Bach wrote chorale collections and also used
          chorales in his major religious works (oratorios and masses).

          He also used the four part harmonization techniques in non-vocal organ compositions.

                     "Christus, der ist mein Leben"  BWV 282 - Netherlands Bach Society  (1:30) 

                    "O Haupt Voll Blut und Wunden" (Oh Head Full of Blood and Wounds)  
                              from St. Mathew Passion  (Text)   (4:00)

                                 Rheinische Kantorei, Hermann Max (Conductor)

                           "O Sacred Head, Now Wounded" is a Christian Passion hymn based on a Latin text 
                           written during the Middle Ages.  Paul Gerhardt (1607 - 1676) wrote a German version 
                           which is known by its incipit, "O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden".


      List of Bach's Motets

           Motets are polyphonic group vocal performances without vocal solos (recitatives or arias),
           duets or trios.  Occasionally they have instrumental backing of a couple instruments.  

           Motet composing began in the 13th century and while they continue to be used today,
           they have been less common since Bach's era.

                   Motet  'Jesu, meine Freude'  BWV 227   


      List of Bach's Cantatas

            Cantatas can be seen as a mini-oratorio, usually about 30 minutes and a smaller chorus. 
            They were new to the Baroque era but developed out of Renaissance madrigals.  They 
            can have solos, duets, trios or larger group vocal forms.  They have instrumental 
            accompaniment, often an orchestra.  They can be religious or secular.  


            Church Cantatas

                    Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, BWV 140 ("Awake, calls the Voice to Us")
                                              or "The Sleepers Wake" (1731)  


            Secular Cantatas

                     Schweigt stille, plaudert nicht, BMV 211 ("Be Still, Stop Chattering")  (c. 1732 - 1735)

                     AKA, "The Coffee Cantata".  A sort of mini opera, often performed in costume. 

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   Bach's Masses and Mass Movements, Magnificats,  Passions and Oratorios


Magnificat  (a "song of Mary" or "Canticle of Mary") 

       Magnificat (1723: BMV 243a, 1733: BMV 243)  (in Latin, not German)  (1733)  (30:00)


Oratorios

       Oratorios are large, complex works for soloists, choir, and orchestra.  They are much like operas except 

       there is no acting, costumes, scenery.  They are just sung straight-forwardly.  The most famous oratorio 

       is Handel's Messiah, although Bach's St. Mathew Passion is very famous, too.

               Christmas Oratorio (German: Weihnachts-Oratorium), BWV 248  (1734)

               Easter Oratorio  (German: Oster-Oratorium), BWV 249  (1725)

               Ascension Oratorio  -  Lobet Gott in seinen Reichen  (Laud to God in all his kingdoms), BWV 11 (1735)
                                            


       Discussion - What is consonance and dissonance?  (online piano)

       Video -  Handel vs. Bach vocal music

       Video -  Bach's "Modern" Harmonies  (mention St. John's Passion at end)


Passion oratorios  -  Oratorios specifically on the death of Jesus

      Bach wrote passions on all four gospels.  Only the two on Mathew & John remain in complete form.

 

 
      Passio secundum Joannem, BWV 245  ("St. John Passion")  (1724)

             "Herr, unser Herrscher"  Karl Richter  (9:30)


      Matthäus-Passion, BWV 224  ("St. Matthew Passion")  (1727)

Mass   (What is a musical Mass?)


       Mass in B minor, BMV 232  (completed 1749)  

         Choir and Orchestra of the English Concert, Harry Bicket, cond, Royal Albert Hall 8/2/20012

              Joélle Harvey, soprano, Carolyn Sampson, soprano, Iestyn Davies, counter-tenor
              Ed Lyon, tenor, Matthew Rose, bass

                   Play on YouTube  (1 hour, 50 minutes) 



              IV.  Agnus Dei ("Osanna, Benedictus, Agnus Dei and Dona Nobis Pacem")

                     Osanna in excelsis
                     Benedictus, Osanna (repetatur)    (7:00)
                     Agnus Dei  (Lamb of God)  (3:00)
                     Dona nobis pacem?  (Grant us peace?)  (4:00)