Johann Ernst Bach II
| Born | 28 January 1722 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Eisenach, Saxe-Weimar | |||
| Died | 1 September 1777 | ||
Johann Ernst Bach (28 January 1722 – 1 September 1777) was a German composer of the Bach family. He was the son of Johann Bernhard Bach.
Life
Bach, the son of Johann Bernhard Bach, was born in Eisenach and baptized on January 30, 1722. On January 16, 1737, he entered the Thomasschule in Leipzig, where he then became a pupil of his uncle Johann Sebastian Bach. After studying law at the university, he returned to Eisenach in 1742 and filled in for his ailing father as a choirmaster and organist. He continued to practice law as well. In 1756, he was appointed Hofkapellmeister "in view of his well known skill and musical knowledge". Due to the fusion of the courts, he frequently travelled between Weimar, Gotha, and Eisenach; during this time, he worked with Georg Benda of the reorganization of the Hofkapelle. When it was dissolved in 1758, after the death of Duke Ernst August, he retained his title and took over duties in the administration of the ducal finances. He died on September 1, 1777.[1]
Works
As a composer, Johann Ernst was abreast of the stylistic innovations of his time, although he did not exclude contrapuntal writings. His works are often highly dramatic and full of effects. His songs depend on the past tradition of Görner, Gräfe, and Mizler; he often wrote galant melodies filled with lively basses and elaborate accompaniments.
Vocal
- O Seele, deren Sehnen (Passion oratorio), 1764
- 2 Passions, lost
Sacred cantatas
- Ach Herr, strafe mich nicht
- Alles was Odem hat
- Auf und säumt euch nicht, ihr Frommen
- Der Herr ist nahe bei denen, for the funeral of Duke Ernst August Constantin
- Der Meer ist nahe
- Die Liebe Gottes ist ausgegossen
- Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott
- Herzlich lieb hab ich dich, o Herr, on Schalling's hymn
- Kein Stündlein geht dahin
- Kommt herzu, lasset uns frohlocken
- Magnificat
- Mass on Es wolle Gott uns gnädig sein
- Mein Odem ist schwach, BWV 222, choral movements also as motet, Unser Wandel ist im Himmel, BWV Anh. 165
- Meine Seele erhebet den Herrn (i)
- Meine Seele erhebet den Herrn (ii)
- Meine Seele erhebet den Herrn (iii)
- Nach dir, Herr, verlanget mich
- Sei willkommen, mächtiger Herrscher
- Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied
- So gehst du nun, mein Jesu, hin
- Straf mich nicht in deinem Zorn, on the hymn by Albinus
- Wenn Donnerwolken über dir sich türmen (Das Vertrauen der Christen auf Gott)
- Wünschet Jerusalem Glück
- Wie der Hirsch schreiet, lost
- Lobe den Herrn, meine Seele, lost
- several other lost cantatas (for the annual cycle 1766)
Other sacred works
- Aus der Tiefen, motet, SATB
- Mein Odem ist schwach, motet, SATB
- Unser Wandel ist im Himmel (= bwv Anh. 165), motet, SATB
- 11 motets, ARk [? by C. P. E. Bach, H865]
Secular cantatas
- Gesegneten Auftritt, for birthday of Duke Friedrich of Saxe-Gotha, 1756, lost
- Wer sagt mir doch, was für Entzücken, lost
- Sammlung auserlesener Fabeln.
- part 1, Nuremberg, 1749
- part 2, unpublished
- Lächerliche Mammonshüter (An die Geizigen), 1770
Instrumental
- Sinfonia in B
- Other lost sinfonias
- 3 Sonaten (Kbd/Vn), part 1, Eisenach, 1770
- 3 Sonaten (Kbd/Vn), part 2, Eisenach, 1772
- Sonata in A (Fl/Vn/Bc)
Keyboard works
- Sonata in G, harpsichord
- Sonata in F, harpsichord
- Sonata in G, harpsichord
- Sonata in A, harpsichord
- Fantasia and fugue in D
- Fantasia and fugue in A
- Fantasia and fugue in F
- Chorale Valet will ich dir geben
References
- ^ 'Wolff', 'Cristoph' (1984). The New Grove Bach Family. Hong Kong: W. W. Norton & Company. pp. 307–308. ISBN 0-393-30088-9.
Sources
- H. Kühn: Vier Organisten Eisenachs aus Bachischem Geschlecht, Bach in Thüringen, 1950
- C. Oefner: Die Musikerfamilie Bach in Eisenach, Eisenach, 1984
- H. Max: Verwandtes im Werk Bachs, seiner Schüler und Söhne, 1986
- E. Odrich and P. Wollny: Die Briefkonzepte des Johann Elias Bach, 2000
External links
- Free scores by Johann Ernst Bach II at the International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP)
- Sammlung auserlesener Fabeln, hrsg. v. Hermann Kretzschmar in der Reihe Denkmäler deutscher Tonkunst (I. Folge, Bd. 42), Leipzig 1910
- Passionsoratorium, edited by Joseph Kromolicki in Denkmäler deutscher Tonkunst (I. Folge, Bd. 48), Leipzig 1914
- Diskografie der Werke Bachs und der Bach-Familie with several info
