Wilhelm Friedemann Bach

From Vero - Wikipedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Short description Template:Redirect Template:Distinguish Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox classical composer

Wilhelm Friedemann Bach (22 November 1710Template:Snd1 July 1784) was a German composer, organist and harpsichordist. He was the second child and eldest son of Johann Sebastian Bach and Maria Barbara Bach. Despite his acknowledged genius as an improviser and composer, his income and employment were unstable, and he died in poverty.

Life

Template:More citations needed

File:Wilhelm Friedemann Bach - Der Trost gehöret - British Library Add MS 50115 f1v.jpg
Manuscript copy of Template:Lang (Template:Nobreak)

Template:Listen

File:Halle-WFBachHs2.JPG
Wilhelm Friedemann Bach House (now a museum), where Friedemann lived in Halle

Wilhelm Friedemann (hereafter Friedemann) was born in Weimar, where his father was employed as organist and chamber musician to the Duke of Saxe-Weimar. In July 1720, when Friedemann was nine, his mother Maria Barbara Bach died suddenly; Johann Sebastian Bach remarried in December 1721. J. S. Bach supervised Friedemann's musical education and career with great attention. The graded course of keyboard studies and composition that J. S. Bach provided is documented in the Clavier-Büchlein vor Wilhelm Friedemann Bach (modern spelling: Klavierbüchlein für Wilhelm Friedemann Bach), with entries by both father and son. This education also included (parts of) the French Suites, (Two-Part) Inventions, (Three-Part) Sinfonias (popularly known as "Inventions"), the first volume of The Well-Tempered Clavier, and the six Trio Sonatas for organ. At the age of 16 he went to Merseburg to learn the violin with his teacher Johann Gottlieb Graun.

In addition to his musical training, Friedemann received formal schooling beginning in Weimar. When J. S. Bach took the post of Cantor of the St. Thomas Church in Leipzig (in 1723), he enrolled Friedemann in the associated Thomasschule. (J. S. Bach—who had himself been orphaned at the age of 10—said that he took the position in Leipzig partly because of the educational opportunities it afforded his children). On graduating in 1729, Friedemann enrolled as a law student in Leipzig University, a renowned institution at the time, but later moved on to study law and mathematics at the University of Halle. He maintained a lifelong interest in mathematics, and continued to study it privately during his first job in Dresden.<ref name="eb1911">Template:Cite EB1911</ref>

Friedemann was appointed in 1733 to the position of organist of the St. Sophia's Church at Dresden. In competing for the post he played a new version of his father's Prelude and Fugue in G Major, BWV 541. The judge described Friedemann as clearly superior to the other two candidates. He remained a renowned organist throughout his life. Among his many pupils in Dresden was Johann Gottlieb Goldberg, the keyboardist whose name is erroneously enshrined in the popular nickname given to J. S. Bach's 1742 publication, "Aria with Diverse Variations"—that is, "The Goldberg Variations." The scholar Peter Williams has discredited the story which links the work to Goldberg stating that J. S. Bach wrote the work for the Russian Ambassador Count Hermann Carl von Keyserlingk, who would ask his employee, Goldberg, to play the variations to entertain him during sleepless nights. Williams instead has argued that J. S. Bach wrote the variations to provide a display piece for Friedemann.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

In 1746 Friedemann became organist of the Liebfrauenkirche at Halle.<ref name="eb1911" /> In 1751, Friedemann married Dorothea Elisabeth Georgi (1721–1791), who was 11 years his junior and who outlived him by seven years. Dorothea was the daughter of a tax collector. The landed estates she inherited caused the family to be placed in a high tax bracket by Halle authorities, who were raising taxes to meet the revenue demands of the Seven Years' War. To raise cash for these payments, she sold part of her property in 1770. The couple produced two sons and a daughter, Friederica Sophia (born in 1757), who was the only one of their offspring to live past infancy. The descendants of Friederica Sophia eventually migrated to Oklahoma.<ref>Wolff, Christoph "Descendants of Wilhelm Friedemann Bach in the United States", Bach Perspectives: Volume 5: Bach in America Stephen A. Crist, ed. (University of Illinois Press, 2003)</ref>

Friedemann was deeply unhappy in Halle almost from the beginning of his tenure. In 1749 he was involved in a conflict with the Cantor of the Liebfrauenkirche, Gottfried Mittag, who had misappropriated funds that were due to Friedemann. In 1750 the church authorities reprimanded Friedemann for overstaying a leave of absence (he was in Leipzig settling his father's estate). In 1753 he made his first documented attempt to find another post, and thereafter made several others. All these attempts failed. Bach had at least two pupils, Friedrich Wilhelm Rust and Johann Samuel Petri.

In 1762, he negotiated for the post of Kapellmeister to the court of Darmstadt; although he protracted the negotiations for reasons that are opaque to historians and did not actively take the post, he nevertheless was appointed Hofkapellmeister of Hessen-Darmstadt, a title he used in the dedication of his Harpsichord Concerto in E minor.

In June 1764, Friedemann left the job in Halle without any employment secured elsewhere.<ref name="eb1911" /> His financial situation deteriorated so much that in 1768 he re-applied for his old job in Halle, without success. He thereafter supported himself by teaching. After leaving Halle in 1770, he lived for several years (1771–1774) in Braunschweig where he applied in vain for the post of an organist at the St. Catherine's church. Then he moved to Berlin, where he initially was welcomed by the princess Anna Amalia (the sister of Frederick the Great). Later, no longer in favor at court, he gave harpsichord lessons to Sarah Levy, the daughter of a prominent Jewish family in Berlin and an avid collector of Bach and other early 18th-century music, who was also a "patron" of Friedemann's brother C. P. E. Bach.<ref>Applegate, p. 14</ref> Friedemann died in Berlin.

Earlier biographers have concluded that his "wayward" and difficult personality reduced his ability to gain and hold secure employment, but the scholar David Schulenberg writes (in the Oxford Composer Companion: J. S. Bach, ed. Malcolm Boyd, 1999) that "he may also have been affected by changing social conditions that made it difficult for a self-possessed virtuoso to succeed in a church- or court-related position" (p. 39). Schulenberg adds, "he was evidently less willing than most younger contemporaries to compose fashionable, readily accessible music".

Friedemann Bach was renowned for his improvisatory skills. It is speculated that when in Leipzig his father's accomplishments set so high a bar that he focused on improvisation rather than composition. Evidence adduced for this speculation includes the fact that his compositional output increased in Dresden and Halle.

Friedemann's compositions include many church cantatas and instrumental works, of which the most notable are the fugues, polonaises and fantasias for clavier,<ref name="eb1911" /> and the duets for two flutes. He incorporated more elements of the contrapuntal style learned from his father than any of his three composer brothers, but his use of the style has an individualistic and improvisatory edge which endeared his work to musicians of the late 19th century, when there was something of a revival of his reputation.

Friedemann's students included Johann Nikolaus Forkel, who in 1802 published the first biography of Johann Sebastian Bach; Friedemann, as well as his younger brother Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, were major informants for Forkel. Friedemann has in earlier biographies been called a poor custodian of his father's musical manuscripts, many of which he inherited; however, more recent scholars are uncertain how many were lost. It is known that Friedemann sold some of his father's collection to raise cash to pay debts (including a large sale in 1759 to Johann Georg Nacke). Also, his daughter took some of the Sebastian Bach manuscripts with her when she moved to America, and these were passed on to her descendants, who inadvertently destroyed many of them. Others were passed on through his only known Berlin pupil, Sarah Itzig Levy, great-aunt of Felix Mendelssohn. Some of his scores were collected by Carl Friedrich Christian Fasch and his pupil Carl Friedrich Zelter, the teacher of Felix Mendelssohn and through them these materials were placed in the library of the Sing-Akademie zu Berlin, which Fasch founded in 1791 and of which Zelter took charge in 1800.

Friedemann is known occasionally to have claimed credit for music written by his father, but this was in keeping with common musical practices in the era.

Works

"BR-WFB" denotes "Bach-Repertorium Wilhelm Friedemann Bach". "Fk." denotes "Falck catalogue". Bach Digital Work (BDW) pages contain information about individual compositions.

Works by Wilhelm Friedemann Bach
BR-
WFB
Name Fk. Notes BDW

Keyboard works

A1 Keyboard Sonata in C major Add. 200 Template:BDW
A2a Keyboard Sonata in C major Template:01B earlier version Template:BDW
A2b Template:01A later version Template:BDW
A3 Keyboard Sonata in C major Template:02 Template:BDW
A4 Keyboard Sonata in D major Template:03 Template:BDW
A5 Keyboard Sonata in D major Template:04 Template:BDW
A6 Sonata for two harpsichords in D major Template:011 lost Template:BDW
A7 Keyboard Sonata in E-flat major Template:05 Template:BDW
A8 Keyboard Sonata in E-flat major Add. 201 Template:BDW
A9 Keyboard Sonata in E minor Add. 204 related to flute sonata B17 Template:BDW
A10 Keyboard Sonata in F major Add. 202 Template:BDW
A11a Keyboard Sonata in F major Template:06C earliest version Template:BDW
A11b Template:06B middle version Template:BDW
A11c Template:06 latest version Template:BDW
A11d deest alternative version; related to flute sonata B18 Template:BDW
A12 Concerto for two harpsichords in F major Template:010 = BWV Anh. 188 Template:BDW
A13a Concerto for harpsichord solo in G major deest earlier version Template:BDW
A13b Template:040 later version Template:BDW
A14 Keyboard Sonata in G major Template:07 Template:BDW
A15 Keyboard Sonata in A major Template:08 Template:BDW
A16 Keyboard Sonata in B-flat major Template:09 Template:BDW
A17 Fantasia in C major Template:014 not before 1770 Template:BDW
A18 2 Fantasias in C minor Template:015 composed for Georg von Behr around 1775 Template:BDW
A19 Template:016 Template:BDW
A20 Fantasia in D major Template:017 not before 1770 Template:BDW
A21 Fantasia in D minor Template:018 not before 1770 Template:BDW
A22 Fantasia in D minor Template:019 not before 1770 Template:BDW
A23 Fantasia in E minor Template:020 October 1770 Template:BDW
A24 Fantasia in E minor Template:021 not before 1770 Template:BDW
A25 Fantasia in G major Template:022 around 1763 Template:BDW
A26 Fantasia in C major/A minor Template:023 unfinished Template:BDW
A27 Twelve Polonaises Template:012 No. 1 in C major; composed between 1765–1770 Template:BDW
A28 No. 2 in C minor; composed between 1765–1770 Template:BDW
A29 No. 3 in D major; composed between 1765–1770 Template:BDW
A30 No. 4 in D minor; composed between 1765–1770 Template:BDW
A31 No. 5 in E-flat major; composed between 1765–1770 Template:BDW
A32 No. 6 in E-flat minor; composed between 1765–1770 Template:BDW
A33 No. 7 in E major; composed between 1765–1770 Template:BDW
A34 No. 8 in E minor; composed between 1765–1770 Template:BDW
A35 No. 9 in F major; composed between 1765–1770 Template:BDW
A36 No. 10 in F minor; composed between 1765–1770 Template:BDW
A37 No. 11 in G major; composed between 1765–1770 Template:BDW
A38 No. 12 in G minor; composed between 1765–1770 Template:BDW
A39 Harpsichord Suite in G minor Template:024 early work Template:BDW
A40 Two Allemandes in G minor for keyboard Add. 205 by W. F. and/or J. S. Bach; in Klavierbüchlein WFB; = BWV 836 Template:BDW
A41 by W. F. and/or J. S. Bach; in Klavierbüchlein WFB; frag.; = BWV 837 Template:BDW
A42 Minuet in G major deest by W. F. and/or J. S. Bach; in Klavierbüchlein WFB; frag.; = BWV 841 Template:BDW
A43 Minuet in G minor by W. F. and/or J. S. Bach; in Klavierbüchlein WFB; frag.; = BWV 842 Template:BDW
A44 Prelude in C major Add. 206 by W. F. and/or J. S. Bach; in Klavierbüchlein WFB; = BWV 924a Template:BDW
A45 Prelude in D major by W. F. and/or J. S. Bach; in Klavierbüchlein WFB; = BWV 925 Template:BDW
A46 Prelude in E minor by W. F. and/or J. S. Bach; in Klavierbüchlein WFB; = BWV 932 Template:BDW
A47 Prelude in A minor by W. F. and/or J. S. Bach; in Klavierbüchlein WFB; = BWV 931 Template:BDW
A48 Minuet in G minor Template:025/1 Template:BDW
A49a Presto in D minor Template:025/2 2 versions; A49b is variant of BWV 970 ("Toccatina" No. 6) Template:BDW
A49b Template:BDW
A49b var Toccatina No. 6 variant of A49b; = BWV 970 Template:BDW
A50a Minuet in F major with Trio in F minor Add. 208 2 versions Template:BDW
A50b Template:BDW
A51a Bourlesca in C major Template:026 Template:BDW
A51b L'imitation de la chasse in C major revision of A51a Template:BDW
A51c La Caccia in C major revision of A51b; last version Template:BDW
A52 La Reveille in C major Template:027 Template:BDW
A53a Gigue in G major Template:028 earlier version Template:BDW
A53b later version; also final movement of flute duet B2 Template:BDW
A54a keyboard Piece/Prelude in C minor Template:029 earlier version; incomplete Template:BDW
A54b later version; completion possibly by Johann Nikolaus Forkel Template:BDW
A55 Scherzo in E minor deest not ascertained; also in "Toccatina"; = BWV 844a Template:BDW
A56 March in E-flat major Template:030 Template:BDW
A57 March in F major deest Template:BDW
A58 Polonaise in C major with trio in C minor Template:013 Template:BDW
A59 Ouverture for harpsichord in E-flat major deest not before 1770 Template:BDW
A60 Andante for harpsichord in E minor Add. 209 Berlin period; originally middle movement of A13 Template:BDW
A61 Allegro non troppo in G major Add. 203 Berlin period 1775–1785; lost Template:BDW
A62 Un poco allegro in C major deest Berlin period Template:BDW
A63 Template:Ill Add. 207 No. 1 in G major; not before 1763; = BWV Anh. 133 Template:BDW
A64 No. 2 in G major; not before 1763; = BWV Anh. 134 Template:BDW
A65 No. 3 in A minor; not before 1763; = BWV Anh. 135 Template:BDW
A66 No. 4 in A minor; not before 1763; = BWV Anh. 136 Template:BDW
A67 No. 5 in E-flat major; not before 1763; = BWV Anh. 137 Template:BDW
A68 No. 6 in E-flat major; not before 1763; = BWV Anh. 138 Template:BDW
A69 No. 7 in D major; not before 1763; = BWV Anh. 139 Template:BDW
A70 No. 8 in D minor; not before 1763; = BWV Anh. 140 Template:BDW
A71 No. 9 in F major; not before 1763; = BWV Anh. 141 Template:BDW
A72 No. 10 in A minor; not before 1763; = BWV Anh. 142 Template:BDW
A73 No. 11 in E minor; not before 1763; = BWV Anh. 143 Template:BDW
A74 No. 12 in A minor; not before 1763; = BWV Anh. 144 Template:BDW
A75 No. 13 in C major; not before 1763; = BWV Anh. 145 Template:BDW
A76 No. 14 in F major; not before 1763; = BWV Anh. 146 Template:BDW
A77 No. 15 in G major; not before 1763; = BWV Anh. 147 Template:BDW
A78 No. 16 in G minor; not before 1763; = BWV Anh. 148 Template:BDW
A79 No. 17 in G major; not before 1763; = BWV Anh. 149 Template:BDW
A80 No. 18 in G minor; not before 1763; = BWV Anh. 150 Template:BDW
A81 Eight fugues Template:031 No. 1 in C major; Berlin period Template:BDW
A82 No. 2 in C minor; Berlin period Template:BDW
A83 No. 3 in D major; Berlin period Template:BDW
A84 No. 4 in D minor; Berlin period Template:BDW
A85 No. 5 in E-flat major; Berlin period Template:BDW
A86 No. 6 in E minor; Berlin period Template:BDW
A87 No. 7 in B-flat major; Berlin period Template:BDW
A88 No. 8 in F minor; Berlin period Template:BDW
A89 Fugue in C minor Template:032 probably late 1740s Template:BDW
A90 Fugue in F major Template:033 Template:BDW
A91 Fugue for organ in F major Template:036 authenticity doubted Template:BDW
A92 Fugue for organ in G minor Template:037 authenticity doubted Template:BDW
A93 Seven chorale preludes for organ Template:038, 1 Nun komm der Heiden Heiland; authenticity doubted Template:BDW
A94 Christe, der du bist Tag und Licht; authenticity doubted Template:BDW
A95 Jesu, meine Freude; authenticity doubted Template:BDW
A96 Durch Adams Fall ist ganz verderbt; authenticity doubted Template:BDW
A97 Wir danken dir, Herr Jesu Christ; authenticity doubted Template:BDW
A98 Was mein Gott will; authenticity doubted Template:BDW
A99 Wir Christenleut; authenticity doubted Template:BDW
A100 Trio for organ Template:038, 2 on "Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr"; lost Template:BDW
A101 Four chorale preludes for organ deest Christus, der ist mein Leben Template:BDW
A102 Die Seele Christi heilige mich Template:BDW
A103 Sei Lob und Ehr dem höchsten Gut Template:BDW
A104 Nun freut euch, lieben Christen Template:BDW
A105 Two fantasias deest D minor Template:BDW
A106 G major Template:BDW
A107 Two keyboard pieces deest D major Template:BDW
A108 D minor Template:BDW
A109 Minuet in C major with Trio in C minor deest Template:BDW
A110 Minuet with 13 variations in G major deest Berlin period Template:BDW

Chamber music

B1 Six duets for two flutes Template:054 No. 1 in E minor; 1740–1745; supplement by J. S. Bach (1745) Template:BDW
B2 Template:059 No. 2 in G major; 1740–1745; only one with four movements Template:BDW
B3 Template:055 No. 3 in E-flat major; 1740–1745 Template:BDW
B4 Template:057 No. 4 in F major; 1740–1745 Template:BDW
B5 Template:056 No. 5 in E-flat major; Berlin period Template:BDW
B6 Template:058 No. 6 in F minor; Berlin period Template:BDW
B7 Three duets for two violas Template:060 No. 1 in C major; Berlin period (& older material) Template:BDW
B8 Template:061 No. 2 in G major; Berlin period (& older material) Template:BDW
B9 Template:062 No. 3 in G minor; Berlin period (& older material) Template:BDW
B10 Three sonatas for flute and continuo Template:051 No. 1 in F major; likely Dresden period; lost Template:BDW
B11 Template:052 No. 2 in A minor; likely Dresden period; lost Template:BDW
B12 Template:053 No. 3 in D major; likely Dresden period; lost Template:BDW
B13 Trio in D major Template:047 for two flutes and continuo; Template:Circa (Dresden) Template:BDW
B14 Trio in D major Template:048 for two flutes and continuo; Template:Circa (Dresden) Template:BDW
B15 Trio in A minor Template:049 for two flutes and continuo; Template:Circa (Dresden); unfinished Template:BDW
B16 Trio in B-flat major Template:050 for two violins (or flute, violin) and continuo; probably Halle period Template:BDW
B17 Sonata in E minor for flute and continuo deest probably Dresden period; middle movement also in A10 Template:BDW
B18 Sonata in F major for flute and continuo deest probably Dresden period; movements also in A11b, A2a and A11d Template:BDW
B‑Inc.19 Trio in B major unsicher for violin and harpsichord; authorship unlikely Template:BDW

Orchestral works

C1 Sinfonia in C major Template:063 likely before 1740 Template:BDW
C2 Sinfonia in F major Template:067 likely before 1740; Minuet also in A50a–b, A2b and A11c Template:BDW
C3 Sinfonia in G major Template:068 likely before 1740 Template:BDW
C4 Sinfonia in G major Template:069 likely before 1740 Template:BDW
C5 Sinfonia in B-flat major Template:071 likely before 1740 Template:BDW
C6 Sinfonia in A major Template:070 likely before 1740; fragment Template:BDW
C7 Sinfonia in D minor Template:065 likely for liturgical use, written in Dresden around or after 1740 Template:BDW
C8 Sinfonia in D major Template:064 Template:Circa (Halle); used as overture to F13 (and to G1, BWV 205a?) Template:BDW
C9 Harpsichord Concerto in D major Template:041 two versions: likely Template:Circa (Dresden), and copy from Template:Circa Template:BDW
C10 Harpsichord Concerto in E-flat major Template:042 unfinished; reused in F14 Template:BDW
C11 Concerto for two harpsichords Template:046 in E-flat major; likely Template:Circa Template:BDW
C12 Harpsichord Concerto in E minor Template:043 probably around 1767 Template:BDW
C13 Harpsichord Concerto in F major Template:044 probably around 1740 Template:BDW
C14 Harpsichord Concerto in A minor Template:045 before 1740 Template:BDW
C15 Concerto for flute and orchestra in D major unecht probably made in Berlin after 1775 Template:BDW
C‑Inc.16 Sinfonia in D major deest authenticity doubtful; 1730s? Template:BDW
C17 Harpsichord Concerto in G minor unsicher by C. P. E. Bach?; probably late Dresden period Template:BDW

Liturgical works

E1 Kyrie–Gloria Mass in G minor 100 Gloria in German; early Halle period; = BWV Anh. 168 Template:BDW
E2 Kyrie–Gloria Mass in D minor Template:098 partially in German Template:BDW
E3 Heilig ist Gott, der Herr Zebaoth Template:078a chorus; probably Template:Circa; adapted to F24 Template:BDW
E4 Agnus Dei in D minor Template:098b parody of E2, movement 5 Template:BDW
E5 Amen and Alleluja Template:099 chorus; parody of E2, movement 5; probably Halle period Template:BDW
E6 chorus; parody of F6, movement 1b; probably Halle period Template:BDW

Sacred cantatas

F1 Template:Lang Template:080 cantata for 1st Sunday of Advent (30 November 1749) Template:BDW
F2 Template:Lang Template:092 cantata for 1st Christmas Day; Template:Circa?; mvt. 6 = F11, mvt. 6 Template:BDW
F3 Template:Lang Template:093 cantata for 1st Christmas Day; probably after 1755; variant: F15 Template:BDW
F4 Template:Lang Add. 250 cantata for 1st Christmas Day; Template:Circa? Template:BDW
F5 Template:Lang Template:073 cantata for New Year/Circumcision; probably Template:Circa or earlier Template:BDW
F6 Template:Lang Template:074 cantata for 2nd Sunday of Epiphany; parody of F8 Template:BDW
F7 Template:Lang Template:082 cantata for 6th Sunday of Epiphany (12 Feb 1764?); ↔ F6, F17, E6 Template:BDW
F8 Cantata Template:074a cantata for Palm Sunday; lost; adapted to F6 Template:BDW
F9 Template:Lang Template:083 cantata for 1st Easter Day Template:BDW
F10 Template:Lang Template:075 cantata for Ascension Day Template:BDW
F11 Template:Lang Template:091 cantata for Ascension Day Template:BDW
F12 Template:Lang Template:072 cantata for 1st Day of Pentecost Template:BDW
F13 Template:Lang Template:085 cantata for 1st Day of Pentecost Template:BDW
F14 Template:Lang Template:088 cantata for 1st Day of Pentecost Template:BDW
F15 Template:Lang Template:093 cantata for 1st Day of Pentecost; parody of F3 Template:BDW
F16 Template:Lang Template:089 cantata for St. John's Day (24 June) Template:BDW
F17 Template:Lang Template:081 cantata for Visitation (2 July) Template:BDW
F18 Template:Lang Template:096 cantata for 10th Sunday after Trinity Template:BDW
F19 Template:Lang Template:076 cantata for unknown purpose Template:BDW
F20 Introduction to a catechism sermon Template:077 pasticcio, partially based on BWV 170/1 and 147.1/1 Template:BDW
F21 Template:Lang Template:086 cantata for leave-taking of pastor Herrnschmidt (3 October 1756) Template:BDW
F22 Template:Lang Template:087 cantata for 7th Sunday after Trinity (24 Juli 1757) Template:BDW
F23 Template:Lang Template:095 cantata for the end of the Seven Years' War (1762 or 1763) Template:BDW
F24 Template:Lang Template:078b chorus; after Template:Circa; parody of E3 Template:BDW
F25 Template:Lang Template:084 chorus; likely 1755 Template:BDW
F26 Der Trost gehöret nur für Kinder Template:089/3 aria; after F16, mvt. 3 Template:BDW
F27 Zerbrecht, zerreist, ihr schnöden Banden Template:094 song Template:BDW
F28 Laß dein Wehen in mir spielen Template:096/4 song; after F18, mvt. 4 Template:BDW
F29 aria "... Gnaden ein, ..." Template:079 fragment Template:BDW
F30 Template:Lang Template:095 cantata for unknown purpose; after F23 Template:BDW

Secular Cantata and Opera

G1 Template:Lang Template:090 cantata for Frederick II's birthday (24 January 1758); mostly parody Template:BDW
G2 Template:Lang 106 opera; Template:Circa; lost (likely unfinished) Template:BDW

Song

H1 Template:Lang Template:097 Template:Lang; wedding; after 1774; reuses keyboard music Template:BDW

Miscellaneous works

I1 Canons and contrapuntal studies Template:039 by W. F. and J. S. Bach; Template:Circa Template:BDW
I2 Four Triple Canons for 6 voices deest published by J. P. Kirnberger in 1777 (Template:Lang II/2) Template:BDW
I3 Template:BDW
I4 Template:BDW
I5 Template:BDW
I6 Fugal exposition for organ in C major Template:035 1771 Template:BDW
I7 Fugue exposition on B-A-C-H for organ deest 1773 Template:BDW
I8 Template:Lang deest Music theory (Treatise on the harmonic triad); 1750s; lost Template:BDW
I9 Rechtmäßige Vertheidigung deest Defense against Template:Ill; 1750 Template:BDW

Doubtful and spurious works

YA21 Arioso con Variazioni in G minor for keyboard; doubtful Template:BDW
YA149 Three fugues for organ Add. 211 No. 1 in C minor; doubtful Template:BDW
YA150 No. 2 in B-flat major; doubtful Template:BDW
YA151 No. 2 in A minor; doubtful Template:BDW
YB1 Trio in G major unecht for two traversos and viola; also attributed to W. F. E. Bach Template:BDW
YB2 Trio in C major unecht for two traversos and continuo; also attributed to W. F. E. Bach Template:BDW
YB3 Sonata or Trio in F major unsicher for flute/violin and harpsichord/continuo; attr. to several Bachs Template:BDW
YB5 Sextet in E-flat major for winds and strings; also attributed to W. F. E. Bach Template:BDW
YB6 Sonata in E-flat major for violin and harpsichord; doubtful Template:BDW
YC1 Harpsichord Concerto in C minor unecht attributed to C. Schaffrath Template:BDW

More lost, doubtful and spurious works

Template:More citations needed

  • Fk. 34 – Fugue in B-flat major: not by any Bach family member
  • Fk. 66 – Sinfonia in D minor: spurious
  • Fk. 101–105 – lost cantatas
  • Orchestral Suite in G Minor, BWV 1070 (possibly spurious)
  • Scherzo in D minor, BWV 844, attributed to both W. F. and J. S. Bach.<ref>Template:BDh</ref>

Reception

Use by later composers

Template:More citations needed Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's set of six Preludes and Fugues for string trio, K. 404a, contains five fugues transcribed from The Well-Tempered Clavier by Johann Sebastian Bach while the sixth fugue in F minor, is a transcription of one of the Eight Fugues (Falck 31) of Wilhelm Friedemann Bach. The preludes in K. 404a are Mozart's own,Template:Efn except for 4 (from BWV 527) and 5 (second movement from BWV 526).

Film

Template:Unreferenced section Friedemann Bach is a 1941 German historical drama film directed by Traugott Müller and starring Gustaf Gründgens, Leny Marenbach and Johannes Riemann. The film depicts the life of Johann Sebastian Bach's son Wilhelm Friedemann Bach. It is based on Albert Emil Brachvogel's novel Friedemann Bach. Wilhelm Friedemann Bach is shown as a gifted son trying to escape his father's shadow.

Notes

Template:Notelist

References

Template:Reflist

Sources

Further reading

  • Borysenko, Elena. The Cantatas of Wilhelm Friedemann Bach. Thesis (Ph.D.) Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester, 1981. In 2 volumes. ("Vol. II ... consists primarily of selected movements from the cantatas of W.F. Bach, followed by translations of the texts of these movements and a critical commentary.")
  • Falck, Martin. Wilhelm Friedemann Bach; Sein Leben und seine Werke, mit thematischem Verzeichnis seiner Kompositionen und zwei Bildern. Leipzig: C. F. Kahnt, 1919.
  • Helm, Eugene. "Wilhelm Friedemann Bach", in Christoph Wolff et al., The New Grove Bach Family. NY: Norton, 1983 (Template:ISBN), pp. 238–50.
  • Kahmann, Ulrich. Wilhelm Friedemann Bach. Der unterschätzte Sohn. Bielefeld: Aisthesis, 2010.
  • WF Bach – the neglected son Biography, major works and recommended recordings. Gramophone, April 2010
  • Schulenberg, David. The Music of Wilhelm Friedemann Bach. Rochester: University of Rochester Press, 2010.
  • Daniel Hensel: Wilhelm Friedemann Bach. Epigone oder Originalgenie, verquere Erscheinung oder großer Komponist?; Stuttgart: ibidem, April 2011, Template:ISBN

Template:Commons category

Template:Bach family

Template:Authority control