Johann Sebastian Bach: The Unseen Vocal Legacy

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Referred to as “the greatest harmonist of all times and nations” and “the pinnacle of composers of all time in the Western tradition,” Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) is easily one of the most influential composers on the evolution of music. Bach wrote a great number of works during his lifetime, but not much of his vocal music was published because his main focus was writing for professional musicians. A sacred motet that was originally composed for five voices then was transformed into a double choir format, BWV 160 Anhang Jauchzet dem Herrn, alle Welt is probably his least known of all vocal pieces. Anhang means appendix, and this particular one is filled with Bach’s works that are believed to be incomplete, not authentic to his own …show more content…

Surprisingly, Bach’s only completely original composition in this work is the second movement, Sei Lob und Pries mit Ehren. The second movement “is listed individually as BWV 231 in Schmieder's catalogue and also was included in the Peters edition of the Bach motets.” It stands separately unlike the other two movements and was considered to be a motet itself without the association of the others. Although it does not have the double choir quality that most of Bach’s other motets do, it is still very characteristic of his writing. “The third and final movement Amen, Lob und Ehre und Weisheit und Dank, for double choir was published in volume III of Röchlitz’s publication Sammlung vorzüglicher Gesangstücke (1835), where it is listed as a separate piece by Telemann.” Each of the three pieces has a clearly different style from the others so it is obvious to see how they were each published separately under each composer name. It was not shocking to see their work put together though, because “there are indeed features in his [Bach’s] choruses and solo pieces which have a certain air of Telemann about them.” The three movements are not usually performed all together, and are in fact, entirely rarely performed by …show more content…

“Dienet dem Herrn” (serve the Lord) sounds joyous in every other setting in this work, but in this section it almost seems like the two voices are battling against each other. This section leads right into the exchange in rhythmic texture, which creates resolution to this section of the work. J.S. Bach’s motets stand out from all the rest, even this one. Having performed the work, I can attest that While some of his motets are more popular and more commonly performed in the present day, Jauchzet dem Herrn, alle Welt stands out above the rest as a good work to analyze particularly because of the peculiarities in the history of the work and the use of text painting and melodic and rhythmic imitation

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