The Organ Music of J. S. Bach


Book Description

This is a completely revised 2003 edition of volumes I and II of The Organ Music of J. S. Bach (1980), a bestselling title, which has subsequently become a classic text. This edition takes account of Bach scholarship of the 25 years prior to publication. Peter Williams's piece-by-piece commentary puts the musical sources of the organ works in context, describing the form and content of each work and relating them to other music, German and non-German. He summarises the questions about the history, authenticity, chronology, function and performance of each piece, and points out important details of style and musical quality. The study follows the order of the Bach catalogue (BWV), beginning with the sonatas, then the 'free works', followed by chorales and ending with the doubtful works, including the 'newly discovered chorales' of 1985.




The Organ Music of J. S. Bach: Volume 2


Book Description

Bach's organ works--the best-known of all music ever written for the instrument--have been the subject of a great variety of interpretations, all too often based on subjective opinion and conjecture. What the author does in this piece-by-piece commentary is to combine a performer's insight and experience with the fruits of scholarly research. He is concerned throughout to reconstruct for the modern performer and listener the original context of the work: its sources and history; its place in the composer's development; the implications of contemporary instruments and performing practice, and of the musical and aesthetic theories of the time; and the background which shaped Bach's view of the original chorale melodies. Each of the collections of organ chorales is examined as an entity in a preliminary essay. Then for each piece the author discusses the important sources and their relationship; quotes the underlying chorale melody and one or more verses of the text (with a literal translation) and describes its importance in the life of Bach's church; and analyses the form and style of the organ setting, with many musical examples and frequent allusions to the views of other commentators.




The Organ Music of J. S. Bach: Volume 1, Preludes, Toccatas, Fantasias, Fugues, Sonatas, Concertos and Miscellaneous Pieces (BWV 525-598, 802-805 etc)


Book Description

These paperback editions makes Peter Williams's influential scholarship available to a wider field of readers, including those with an interest in the ever-expanding discussions of original instrumentation and its implications for modern performance. Professor Williams examines Bach's organ works piece-by-piece, reconstructing for the present-day performer and listener the original context of the work. Form and style are analysed, with abundant musical examples and frequent allusions to the views of other commentators. Each volume contains a preface, calendar, lists of musical sources and references, and an index.




The Organs of J.S. Bach


Book Description

"Published in cooperation with the American Bach Society."







J. S. Bach as Organist


Book Description

" . . . a valuable book of scholarly yet highly readable studies . . . every organist and anyone interested in the music of J. S. Bach should have it." —Early Keyboard Journal " . . . a very perceptive and informative guide . . . " —Early Music " . . . this book is a must." —The American Organist " . . . invaluable and entertaining . . . " —American Music Teacher " . . . among the most important and accomplished studies on eighteenth-century performance. Its comprehensiveness, clarity, and scholarship make it indispensable." —Performance Practice Review In J. S. Bach as Organist, specialists from six countries explore Bach's relationship to his favorite instrument during all periods of his career. J. S. Bach as Organist is a book for scholars, performers, and students. Authoritative and wide-ranging.




The Biggs Book of Organ Music


Book Description

A top-selling organ music book. Edited and arranged by E. Power Biggs (1906-1977). Includes a biographical sketch of the very influential Mr. Biggs. Titles: * Adagio for the Glass Harmonica or Musical Glasses (W.A. Mozart) * All Glory Be To God On High (Festival Prelude for Organ) (J.S. Bach) * Andante from Concerto No. 3 in B-flat * Prelude on Ave Verum Corpus (W.A. Mozart) * A Christmas Pastorale from The Christmas Concerto (G. Valentini) * The Cuckoo (L.C. d’Aquin) * The Emperor’s Fanfare from Sixth Double Concerto (A. Soler) * The Faithful Shepherd (Pastorale) (George Frideric Handel)* The Fifers (F. Dandrieu) * Firework Music (Suite from the Music for the Royal Fireworks) (George Frideric Handel) * Fugue in C Major, The "Fanfare" Fugue (J.S. Bach) * God’s Time is the Best (Sinfonia to Cantata No. 106) (J.S. Bach) * I Stand at the Threshold (Sinfonia to Cantata No. 156) (J.S. Bach) * Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring (from Cantata No. 147) (J.S. Bach) * The Musical Clocks (from a Suite of Twelve Pieces) ( F.J. Haydn) * Offertoire for Easter (On the Melody "O Filii et Filiae") (F. Dandrieu) * Sheep May Safely Graze (In G) (From Cantata No. 208 -- The "Birthday Cantata") (J.S. Bach) * The Shepherds At The Manger (From the Piano Suite "The Christmas Tree) (F. Liszt) * Sinfonia, Chorale and Variation (From the Easter Cantata -- No. 4 -- "Christ Lay in Death’s Dark Prison) (J.S. Bach) * Slow Movement from Concerto in D Minor (A. Vivaldi/J.S. Bach) * A Solemn Prelude (From Cantata No. 21 -- "Sighing, Weeping, Sorrow, Need) (J.S. Bach) * The Trophy (F. Couperin)







The Organ Music of J. S. Bach: Volume 3, A Background


Book Description

This book, first published in 1984, is the third volume of Peter Williams' important reference work, The Organ Music of J. S. Bach. In this volume, Peter Williams lays before the reader the salient points that serve as an appropriate bckground to the pieces: notes on the church services of the area in question (Thuringia - Saxony), the fitful tradition of recitals, the duties of organists, the composer's indebtedness to former and contemporary styles in music, his knowledge of organs, the relevance (often over-valued today) of theorists, details of the instruments he was acquainted with and what can be assumed about the way they were registered and played. Throughout, the author has aimed to present a background to this music and its playing and has avoided stepping into areas of high conjecture, such as chronology or how specific pieces are to be played.




A treasury of organ music for manuals only


Book Description

Features works for organists who prefer to play without pedals, including J. S. Bach's Partite diverse sopra, O Gott, du frommer Gott!; Pachelbel's Canon in D; plus works by Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, Handel, Liszt, and others.