Complete Book Of Bach Chorales

This book presents 375 of J.S. Bach's surviving chorale harmonizations with singable English translations of the original German text by choral conductor Henry S. Drinker. Printed in an easy-to-read format, this edition was designed to facilitate both analysis of Bach's musical genius in voice leading and renewed performance of these works by congregations. It is hoped that this user-friendly edition will inspire students and congregations alike to take a fresh look at this priceless musical treasure. Today they remain some of the finest examples of voice leading and harmonic movement, making them appropriate study material for any student of music theory and harmony. Chorales are also the root of traditional hymnody, especially from the Lutheran tradition. the chorales were originally text and melody sung a cappella, and were for congregational singing. Chorales were set in four parts for choir use, and are still appropriate for performance in worship services today. Many of the melodies will be familiar to those who sing traditional hymns. Choirs will love singing these beautifully written settings.

A collection of all the known chorales of J.S. Bach in one easy to read format. This is a paperback version of these pieces designed for the musician. Each chorale is given it's own page with plenty of room for notes and large, easy to read notation. There is plenty of room for the music student to write in their own notes and analysis.A helpful index of existing versions of the 371 and 389 Bach chorales as well as BWV numbers is included in the preface for those who might wish to compare or cross reference these versions of the chorales as they appear in this volume of 413.

Matthew Dirst examines the leading role of Bach's keyboard works in the creation of his historical legacy.

In 2007, the great Bach scholar Anne Leahy died at the age of 46. She was a leading light in Bach studies and lecturer at the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) Conservatory of Music and Drama. Posthumously edited by renowned Bach scholar Robin A. Leaver, Leahy's dissertation research forms the basis for this original study of the preludes to Bach's Leipzig chorales. Originally composed in Weimar and later revised in Leipzig, Bach's compositions have been a source of some puzzlement. As Leahy notes, "the original intentions of Bach and the possible purpose of this collection might be regarded as speculative." Working from available sources, however, she argues that through the careful examination of the links among the music, hymn texts, and theological sources some answers may be had. From Bach's personal and deep interest in Lutheran theology to his enormous musical passion, Leahy considers closely a series of critical questions: does the original manuscript for the chorales simply reflect a random gathering of compositions or is there a common theme in setting? How critical is the order of the chorales and what is the theological significance of that order? Were the chorales a unified collection, and if so, which parts were to be included and which not? Indeed, were the chorales themselves part of a possibly larger corpus? As Leahy makes evident, there are no simple answers, which is why she considers critical the relationship the texts of the hymns to the chorales and to one another, outlining a theological pattern that is vital to fully grasping the guiding philosophy of these compositions. J. S. Bach's "Leipzig" Chorale Preludes: Music, Text, Theology is ideally suited for Bach scholars and those with a general interest in the intricate connections between text and music in the composition of religious music.