Editions of Music by Wilhelm Friedemann Bach
This page offers links to scores and audio files for a number of works that are not yet available otherwise or that are singled out for special attention in my book on the composer’s music (The Music of Wilhelm Friedemann Bach, University of Rochester Press, 2010). Listed separately, at the end of this page, are additional pieces from a large manuscript whose contents, some of them unique, became available only after the publication of my book.
Most of these scores are accompanied by textual commentaries of varying detail, but they are not intended to serve as critical editions of the works in question. The audio files are synthesized versions of the scores and do not represent actual performances of the works. These sound files ignore ornament signs and make all appoggiaturas short, placing them before the beat, contrary to eighteenth-century practice.
Most of these compositions are for solo keyboard; the concertos are for keyboard and strings, and one work is a serenata or secular cantata for four voices and orchestra composed in 1758 in honor of King Frederick II “the Great” of Prussia.
F. brief title score audio file commentary
13 Polonaise in C F13.pdf F13.mid
22 Fantasia in G F22.pdf F22.mid
25 Two minuets F25-30.pdf F25.mid F25-30_commentary.pdf
25A Presto in D minor F25-30.pdf F25_2A.mid F25-30_commentary.pdf
26C La caccia F25-30.pdf F26C.mid F25-30_commentary.pdf
26B L’imitation de la chasse F25-30.pdf F26.mid F25-30_commentary.pdf
26A Bourlesca F25-30.pdf F26A.mid F25-30_commentary.pdf
27 Reveille F25-30.pdf F27.mid F25-30_commentary.pdf
28 Gigue in G F25-30.pdf F28.mid F25-30_commentary.pdf
29 Praeludium in C minor F25-30.pdf F29.mid F25-30_commentary.pdf
29 [same, early version] F25-30.pdf F29A.mid F25-30_commentary.pdf
30 March in E-flat F25-30.pdf F30.mid F25-30_commentary.pdf
202 Sonata in F F202.pdf F202.mid* commentary at end of score
*video of performance here at 43:35
42 Concerto in E-flat F42.pdf F42.mid F42_commentary.pdf
44 Concerto in F F44.pdf F44.mid F44_commentary.pdf
45 Concerto in A minor F45.pdf F45.mid F45_commentary.pdf
— Concerto in G minor St174.pdf St174.mid St174_commentary.pdf
— Flute Concerto in D Bach_WF_flute_concerto.pdf
90 O Himmel, schone F90.pdf
1. Recit., O Himmel F90_1.mid
2. Aria, Öfnet, Metalle F90_2.mid
3. Recit., Der Waffen F90_3.mid
4. Aria, Blüht noch Hoffnung F90_4.mid
5. Recit., Er siegt F90_5.mid
6. Duet, Was meines Namens Ehre F90_6.mid
7. Recit., Monarch! F90_7.mid
8. Chorus, Heut jauchzet F90_8.mid
Pieces without Falck numbers from Vilnius, National Library of Lithuania, MkGrn-7 (for commentary, see the update file for my book, accessible from here):
BR A title (click for score) (click for audio file)
50 Two minuets, F / f audio file
57 March, F audio file
59 Overture, E-flat audio file
101-4 Four chorales audio file
105 Fantasia, d audio file
106 Fantasia, G audio file
107-8 Two allegros, D / d audio file
109 Minuet and trio, C / c audio file
110 Minuet, G, with 13 variations audio file