J.S. Bach: the Vocal Texts in English Translation with Commentary

J.S. Bach: the Vocal Texts in English Translation with Commentary
Author: Z. Philip Ambrose
Publisher: Xlibris Corporation
Total Pages: 1019
Release: 2020-08-27
Genre: Music
ISBN: 1664119841

Prof. Ambrose has revised and enlarged into one volume his 2006 two-volume English translations of virtually all the vocal works of Johann Sebastian Bach. By preserving the meter and key-word placement of the original, J.S. Bach: The Vocal Texts in English Translation with Commentary is a good guide to the poetics of Bach's music and will help listeners and interpreters perceive more clearly Bach's own "translation" of text into music.

The Complete Church and Secular Cantatas

The Complete Church and Secular Cantatas
Author: Johann Sebastian Bach
Publisher: Scarecrow Press
Total Pages: 408
Release: 2000
Genre: Music
ISBN: 9780810839335

This volume contains parallel texts and translations of all Bach's church and secular cantatas that have come down to us complete. The volume also includes a short glossary of geographical and mythological names, a list of dedicatees of the secular cantatas, a list of the poets with their dates, and an introduction to the cantatas by Martin Neary, formerly organist of Winchester Cathedral and Westminster Abbey.

Complete Book of Bach Chorales

Complete Book of Bach Chorales
Author: Jerry Silverman
Publisher: Mel Bay Publications
Total Pages: 433
Release: 2011-03-04
Genre: Music
ISBN: 1610650662

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.

Handbook to Bach's Sacred Cantata Texts

Handbook to Bach's Sacred Cantata Texts
Author: Melvin P. Unger
Publisher: Scarecrow Press
Total Pages: 796
Release: 1996-04-16
Genre: Music
ISBN: 1461659051

The German church cantata of the eighteenth century was the culmination of a long tradition of Lutheran "sermon music" that used the proclamation, amplification, and interpretation of scripture to teach and persuade the listener. Bach's cantatas also served this didactic purpose and typically incorporate numerous allusions to scriptural passages or themes in their librettos. Unfortunately, many of these passages remain obscure to the twentieth-century musician because they demand a much closer familiarity with the Bible than is common today. The Handbook to Bach's Sacred Cantata Texts identifies scriptural references for the wording, imagery, and themes that Bach's listeners would have known. In addition, the religious or literary theme of each text is summarized within the specific context of the cantata as a whole. With interlinear translations and a full complement of indexes.