Johann Sebastian Bach: Six Brandenburg Concertos BWV 1046–1051

Johann Sebastian Bach: Six Brandenburg Concertos BWV 1046–1051

Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

Title: Six Brandenburg Concertos BWV 1046–1051

Publication type: study score (Studienpartitur)

Catalogue number: TP9

ISMN: M-006-20008-5

Description: Johann Sebastian Bach’s Six Brandenburg Concertos BWV 1046–1051 comprise a set of six orchestral concertos, probably composed between 1718 and 1721 and dedicated to Margrave Christian Ludwig of Brandenburg in 1721. The cycle is one of the supreme achievements of Baroque instrumental music. Bach employs a wide variety of combinations of solo instruments and ensemble, creating brilliant dialogues, contrasting instrumental colours and richly developed contrapuntal textures.

Concertos Nos. 2, 3, 4 and 5 are particularly popular works of the early-music repertoire and are frequently performed and recorded, especially by ensembles specializing in historically informed performance. The complete cycle presents a wide range of concerto styles, from intimate chamber-like dialogue between solo instruments to more elaborate solo writing against the ensemble.

The TP9 edition is a study score intended for following and analysing the musical structure of all six concertos. The edition was prepared by Heinrich Besseler and includes a supplement by Alfred Dürr devoted to Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D major, BWV 1050. This publication is a score and does not contain a complete set of performance parts.