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

This second volume focuses on Johann Sebastian Bach’s organ chorales, including the Orgelbüchlein, the Schübler Chorales, and the Leipzig Autograph. Peter Williams provides a technical, piece-by-piece examination of these liturgical works, identifying their manuscript sources and tracing their historical transmission. He documents the structural relationship between the original hymn melodies and Bach’s polyphonic settings, often citing specific Lutheran texts to clarify the theological context of the music. The text analyzes compositional forms, rhythmic textures, and melodic ornamentation while documenting how contemporary aesthetic theories and German organ design influenced Bach’s writing.

Organists and musicologists consult this reference to ground their interpretations in archival evidence rather than modern conjecture. The reader gains specific data on keyboard fingerings, registration possibilities, and the practical challenges of performing these hymns on period-accurate instruments. By studying the detailed musical examples and historical commentary, a performer clarifies the intended character and tempo of each setting. The book functions as a technical guide for professionals looking to align their performance practice with eighteenth-century traditions and Bach’s specific development as a composer.

Deep and outward-looking; a demanding read.

Best for readers like The Systems Thinker. Which reader are you?