Johann Michael Bach (1648-1694): Complete Extant Organ Works

Recorded: December 2024 to February 2025

The complete extant organ works by Johann Michael Bach comprise 30 chorale preludes and two free pieces.

The extant organ works by Johann Michael Bach consist, for the most part, in a series of chorale preludes. By the end of the 19^th century, Spitta listed four or five held in manuscripts in Europe. Notwithstanding, about a dozen others were preserved as anonyms or under a different attribution. The discovery, in the 1980s, of the Neumeister manuscript held in Yale University Music Library shed new light on the matter, since most of the latter appear therein with clear attribution to J. M. Bach as well as several others never ever found in European music manuscripts. Nowadays, the total number of J. M. Bach chorale preludes amount to 26, and considering a few stylistically attributable to him, to 30. Even a few of those held in European manuscripts under different attributions had been published early in the 20^th century by Max Seiffert, namely in Denkmäler der Tonkunst in Bayern, 1903, ascribed to Johann Pachelbel. Among them n° 4, 7, 14, 17, 29, 30 of the present edition (see list below). Besides, two other chorale preludes were ascribed to Johann Sebastian Bach and published in Peters’ J. S. Bach Orgelwerke and later in the Bach Gesellschaft: In Dulci Jubilo as BWV 751 and Gelobet seist du as BWV 723 (n° 8 and 9 of this edition respectively). The research and further publications of the pieces contained in the Neumeister manuscript by Christoph Wolff clarified many of the incertitude about the bulk of J. M. Bach’s chorale preludes.

Johann Michael Bach proves himself outstandingly creative as a composer of organ music, and even quite independent from the influential Central German School represented by Johann Pachelbel. He applied the different treatments, namely figuration, variation, and imitation (fugal chorale) with great imagination and even introducing personal features. No performance indications, but few, are given neither in the manuscript nor in Wolff’s edition. It is up to the interpreter to uncover the potentiality of each chorale prelude to fit into a specific form. The possible forms these chorale preludes allow are here chosen according to my own experience as a performer:

A. Within the figurative treatment the following forms are possible:

a. Monodic chorale (included ornamented): n° 1, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 28, 29, 30.

b. Versus: n° 3, 5, 7, 9 (free combination), 13 (free combination), 22 (free combination), 23, 24, 25.

c. Versus cycle: n° 11.

B. Within the variated treatment:

a. Chorale variation: n° 2, 26.

C. Within the fugal treatment:

a. Fughetta: n° 18, 19, 27.

Only two free organ works are extant. A fugue in D is preserved in a manuscript held in Yale University Music Library which bears the title fuga and the attribution to Johann Michael Bach (as JMB). I published this piece in first edition in February 2025 together with a discussion about the attribution. Immediately following this fugue there is another fugue, also in D, which for musicological and stylistic reasons stands as been also by J. M. Bach. Both pieces appear published together in the same edition. Apart from a suite for harpsichord, also preserved in a manuscript in Yale Music Library, the two fugues in D are so far the only extant free organ works by J. M. Bach. They appear here in first performance.

Chorale Preludes

Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland (Now come, Savior of the Gentiles)

2. Meine Seele erhebt den Herren oder Gott, sei uns gnädig und barmherzig (My soul magnifies the Lord or God, be gracious and merciful to us); Magnificat

Chorale variation:

Var. 1;

Var. 2;

Var. 3

3. Herr Christ, der einig Gottes Sohn (Lord Christ, the only Son of God)

4. Nun freut euch, lieben Christen gmein (I) (Now rejoice, dear Christians)

5. Nun freut euch, lieben Christen gmein (II) Es ist gewißlich an der Zeit (Now rejoice, dear Christians, it is certainly time)

6. Gott hat das Evangelium (I) (God has the Gospel)

7. Gott hat das Evangelium (II) (God has the Gospel)

8. Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ (Praise be to you, Jesus Christ)

9. In dulci jubilo (In sweet joy)

10. Jesus Christus, unser Heiland, der den Tod überwand (Jesus Christ, our Savior, who conquered death)

11. O Herre Gott, Vater in Ewigkeit (O Lord God, Father in eternity)

Versus cycle:

Versus 1

Versus 2

Versus 3

12. Der du bist drei in Einigkeit (You are three in one)

13. Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr (Glory to God in the highest) Gloria

14. Mag ich Unglück nicht widerstahn (I cannot resist misfortune)

15. Dies sind die heilgen zehn Gebot (These are the holy ten commandments)

16. Auf meinen lieben Gott oder Wo soll ich fliehen hin (To my dear God or Where should I flee)

17. Nun laßt uns Gott dem Herren oder Wach auf, mein Herz, und singe (Now let us pray to God the Lord or Awake, my heart, and sing)

18. Kommt her zu mir, spricht Gottes Sohn (Come to me, says the Son of God)

19. Der Herr ist mein getreuer Hirt (The Lord is my faithful shepherd)

20. Warum betrübst du dich, mein Herz (Why are you sad, my heart)

21. Von Gott will ich nicht lassen (I will not let go of God)

22. Es spricht der Unweisen Mund wohl (The mouth of the foolish speaks well)

23. Wo Gott der Herr nicht bei uns hält oder Ach lieben Christen, seid getrost (Where the Lord God is not with us or Oh dear Christians, be confident)

24. Wenn mein Stündlein vorhanden ist (When my hour has come)

25. In dich hab ich gehoffet, Herr (In you I have hoped, Lord)

26. Wenn wir in höchsten Nöten sein (When we are in dire need)

Chorale variation:

Chotaliter

Trio

Duetto

Trio

Duetto

Choraliter

27. Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ (I) (I call to you, Lord Jesus Christ)

28. Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ (II) (I call to you, Lord Jesus Christ)