The Toccatas for Keyboard, BWV 910–916, are seven pieces for clavier written by Johann Sebastian Bach. Although the pieces were not originally organized into a collection by Bach himself (as were most of his other keyboard works, such as the Well Tempered Clavier and the English Suites), the pieces share many similarities, and are frequently grouped and performed together under a collective title.[1]
The toccatas represent Bach's earliest keyboard compositions known under a collective title.[1] The earliest sources of the BWV 910, 911 and 916 toccatas appear in the Andreas-Bach Book,[2] an important collection of keyboard and organ manuscripts of various composers compiled by Bach's oldest brother, Johann Christoph Bach between 1707 and 1713. An early version of the BWV 912 (known as the BWV 912a) also exists in another collection compiled by Johann Christoph Bach known as the "Möller manuscript", from around 1703 to 1707.[3] This indicates that most of these works originated no later than Bach's early Weimar years, though the early northern-German style indicates possible Arnstadt origin.
Though the specific instrumentation is not given for any of the works, they are all strictly manualiter, as none of them call for pedal parts.[1] Like Bach's other clavier works, these toccatas are frequently performed on the piano. Because of some of the organ-like textures, the pieces are sometimes performed on the organ.[6] In fact, the opening motifs of the BWV 912, 914 and 916 toccatas resemble the ones on the BWV 532,[7] 534[8] and 541[9] organ preludes respectively.
The Seven Toccatasedit
The beginning of the BWV 910 F# minor Toccata - from the Andreas Bach Book, in the hand of Johann Christoph Bach.
toccatas, keyboard, bach, toccatas, keyboard, seven, pieces, clavier, written, johann, sebastian, bach, although, pieces, were, originally, organized, into, collection, bach, himself, were, most, other, keyboard, works, such, well, tempered, clavier, english, . The Toccatas for Keyboard BWV 910 916 are seven pieces for clavier written by Johann Sebastian Bach Although the pieces were not originally organized into a collection by Bach himself as were most of his other keyboard works such as the Well Tempered Clavier and the English Suites the pieces share many similarities and are frequently grouped and performed together under a collective title 1 The Bach Harpsichord in the Berlin Musical Instrument Museum Contents 1 History 2 Composition 2 1 The Seven Toccatas 3 References 4 Work cited 5 External linksHistory editThe toccatas represent Bach s earliest keyboard compositions known under a collective title 1 The earliest sources of the BWV 910 911 and 916 toccatas appear in the Andreas Bach Book 2 an important collection of keyboard and organ manuscripts of various composers compiled by Bach s oldest brother Johann Christoph Bach between 1707 and 1713 An early version of the BWV 912 known as the BWV 912a also exists in another collection compiled by Johann Christoph Bach known as the Moller manuscript from around 1703 to 1707 3 This indicates that most of these works originated no later than Bach s early Weimar years though the early northern German style indicates possible Arnstadt origin Composition editThe works bear an early northern German influence 2 with distinct contrasting sections and fugal passages ingrained into the rhapsodic material as opposed to the more familiar two movement prelude and fugue format Other early Bach works that follow this sectional Buxtehude influenced format include the Prelude Toccata and Fugue in E major BWV 566 4 and Prelude and Fugue in A minor BWV 551 5 Though the specific instrumentation is not given for any of the works they are all strictly manualiter as none of them call for pedal parts 1 Like Bach s other clavier works these toccatas are frequently performed on the piano Because of some of the organ like textures the pieces are sometimes performed on the organ 6 In fact the opening motifs of the BWV 912 914 and 916 toccatas resemble the ones on the BWV 532 7 534 8 and 541 9 organ preludes respectively The Seven Toccatas edit nbsp The beginning of the BWV 910 F minor Toccata from the Andreas Bach Book in the hand of Johann Christoph Bach nbsp Toccata in D major BWV 912 source source Performed on a piano by Randolph Hokanson Problems playing this file See media help Toccata in F sharp minor BWV 910 Toccata no tempo indication Presto e Staccato Fuga no tempo indication Fuga Toccata in C minor BWV 911 Toccata Adagio Fuga Adagio Fuga Adagio Presto Toccata in D major BWV 912 Presto Allegro Adagio no tempo indication Con Discrezione Fuga Toccata in D minor BWV 913 Toccata no tempo indication Presto Adagio Allegro Toccata in E minor BWV 914 Toccata Un Poco Allegro a 4 voci Adagio Allegro Fuga a 3 voci Toccata in G minor BWV 915 Toccata Adagio Allegro Adagio Fuga Toccata in G major BWV 916 Presto Adagio Allegro Fuga References edit a b c Schulenberg 2006 97 a b Schulenberg 2006 98 Schulenberg 2006 7 Williams 2003 160 Williams 2003 131 Schulenberg 2006 99 Williams 2003 41 Williams 2003 49 Williams 2003 82 Work cited editSchulenberg David 2006 The Keyboard Music of J S Bach 2nd ed Routledge ISBN 0 521 89115 9 Williams Peter 2003 The Organ Music of J S Bach 2nd ed Cambridge University Press ISBN 0 521 89115 9External links editToccatas for Clavichord BWV 910 916 Scores at the International Music Score Library Project IMSLP AllMusic links for BWV 910 BWV 911 BWV 912 BWV 913 BWV 914 BWV 915 and BWV 916 Netherlands Bach Society links for BWV 911 BWV 912 BWV 913 and BWV 914 Portal nbsp Classical Music Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Toccatas for Keyboard Bach amp oldid 1181798641, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
