Bach, Johann Sebastian - Organ chorales for five voices for 2 violins, viola and 2 violoncellos (and double bass ad lib.)

Bach, Johann Sebastian
Organ chorales for five voices

for 2 violins, viola and 2 cellos (and double bass ad lib.)


In An Wasserflüssen Babylon, the cantus firmus (c.f.) in violin I is lower than violin II and viola in some passages. In dir ist Freude, a type of chorale fantasy, does not feature the cantus firmus in its entirety which instead appears split into individual motifs spread through all voices of the music. Kyrie, Gott heiliger Geist, the third of the so-called Kyrie pieces, counterpoints the c.f. in long note values in the bass with a motivically very dense motet-like movement of the four upper parts. The original version of Meine Seele erhebt den Herren (Magnificat) is an organ work in the form of a loosely woven fugue with the cantus firmus as the subject. As this theme does not appear in the bass line (in extended note values) until bar 98, the second cello already participates in the previous musical action. Sei gegrüßet, Jesu, gütig forms the eleventh variation of an organ partita.

If wished, a double bass can also be employed which would highlight the cantus firmus in the bass line in the third and fourth movements and underscore the solemnity of the full texture in the final movement.


2Vl, Va, 2Vc, Kb
For string quintet (and double bass ad lib.) arranged by Claus-D. Ludwig
score & 6 parts / 46 pages