“Johann Sebastian Bach”, Volume 2 by Philipp Spitta

Completed on 27^th of April 2017.

Review: 

The second volume covers Bach’s activities in Kothen and Leipzig. It consists of over 600 pages of details with main focus on Bach’s cantatas.

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Notes:

Bach in Köthen

While in Köthen, Bach prepared a set of educational music for keyboard, called Inventions and Sinfonias. I have listened to them performed by Glenn Gould on piano.

On 7 July 1720, while Bach was away in Carlsbad with Prince Leopold, Bach's wife, Maria Barbara, suddenly died. Of the seven children that Johann Sebastian Bach had with her only three survived him. Two of these had musical careers of their own: Wilhelm Friedemann and Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach. Later in the year Sebastian visited Hamburg where he performed in St. Katharine Church, and was complemented by local famous composer Johann Reinken.

Also, it is suggested that in Köthen Bach composed six works for solo violin (BWV 1001, 1002, 1003, 1004, 1005 and 1006). They are very interesting melodically. The first part of BWV 1001 is very popular. In 1721 Bach composed his six Brandenburg concertos and sent them to Margrave of Brandenburg, who never had them played at his court. Spitta provides a detailed analysis of the concertos, starting on page 130.

In 1721 Bach married Anna Magdalena Wilcke, a 21 years old, highly gifted soprano, who performed at the court in Köthen. Together they had thirteen more children, six of whom survived into adulthood: Gottfried Heinrich; Elisabeth Juliane Friederica (1726–81), Johann Christoph Friedrich and Johann Christian, who both became significant musicians; Johanna Carolina (1737–81); and Regina Susanna (1742–1809).

The French Suites (BWV 812, 813, 814, 815, 816 and 817), are six suites which Johann Sebastian Bach wrote for the clavier between the years of 1722 and 1725. Again, they are best performed by Glenn Gould.

Bach in Leipzig

In 1723, Bach was appointed Thomaskantor, Cantor of the Thomasschule at the Thomaskirche (St. Thomas Church) in Leipzig, which provided music for four churches in the city, the Thomaskirche, the Nikolaikirche (St. Nicholas Church), and to a lesser extent the Neue Kirche (New Church) and the Peterskirche (St. Peter's Church). 

After having been offered the position, Bach was invited to Leipzig only after Georg Philipp Telemann indicated that he would not be interested in relocating to Leipzig, and the second successful candidate – Christoph Graupner, was refused a leave from his employer.

While in Leipzig Bach composed four orchestral suites (BWV 1066, 1067, 1068 and 1069). All deserve repeated hearings. The BWV 1068 contains the famous “Air” piece.

During his stay in Leipzig Bach composed 266 cantatas. I will limit myself to mentioning only those 

I found worth the second hearing:

Magnificat (BWV 243) prepared for the feast of Visitation in 1733,

Darzu ist erschienen der Sohn Gottes (For this the Son of God appeared), (BWV 40), composed for the second day of Christmas in 1723,

Christ lag in Todes Banden (BWV 4), is a cantata for Easter, and considered one of the earlier works, dated to 1707. Sounds very innovative to me.

Nimm, was dein ist, und gehe hin, (Take what is yours and go away) (BWV 144), composed for the third Sunday before Lent, and first performed on 6 February 1724. Liked the first aria.

Leichtgesinnte Flattergeister (Light-minded frivolous spirits), (BWV 181), was composed for the second Sunday before Ash Wednesday in 1724. The first aria sung by bass in staccato compares to the fowl feeding on the seeds in "nervous, jerky movement".

Herr, gehe nicht ins Gericht mit deinem Knecht, (Lord, do not pass judgment on Your servant), (BWV 105), composed it in Leipzig for the ninth Sunday after Trinity and first performed it on 25 July 1723. Described as one of "the most sublime descriptions of the soul in baroque and Christian art".

Ich liebe den Höchsten von ganzem Gemüte (I love the Highest with my entire being), (BWV 174) - Bach composed the cantata in Leipzig for the second day of Pentecost and first performed it on 6 June 1729. The cantata begins with a Sinfonia, which Bach derived from the first movement of his Brandenburg Concerto No. 3.

Herr, deine Augen sehen nach dem Glauben (Lord, your eyes look for faith), (BWV 102, is a church cantata composed in Leipzig for the tenth Sunday after Trinity and first performed on 25 August 1726.

Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen ("Shout for joy to God in all lands") (BWV 51), is Bach's only church cantata scored for a solo soprano and trumpet. He composed it for general use. The first known performance was on 17 September 1730 in Leipzig.

Ich habe genug (BWV 82), composed in 1727, is one of the best known of Bach's church cantatas, and my favourite.

Ich will den Kreuzstab gerne tragen ("I will gladly carry the Cross"), (BWV 56), is the solo cantata for bass in Leipzig for the 19th Sunday after Trinity Sunday and first performed it on 27 October 1726.


There are only six authorised Bach motets. The ones I have found worth repeated listening are:
1. Jesu, meine Freude, (BWV 227),
2. Komm, Jesu, komm (Come, Jesus, come), (BWV 229)