Publisher's Synopsis
The return of the Berlin Sing-Akademie's music archive from Kiev in December 2001 represents a significant addition to the Bach Collection of the Berlin Staatsbibliothek. The famous music archive, currently on loan to the music department of the Berlin Staatsbibliothek, was evacuated from Berlin in 1943 and regarded as missing for decades following the invasion by the Red Army. However, in 1999 it was discovered in Kiev by the musicologist Christoph Wolff. The collection of 241 boxes, currently housing the archive in Berlin, comprises several hundred thousand pages of autographs, copies and printed music, many of which are still unknown or hitherto regarded as missing. Of particular value is the Bach Collection which consists of some 26,000 pages and is now accessible for research through the extensive microfiche edition. The archive's Bach Collection contains pieces by 12 composers; all members of the Bach family. It was originally owned by Johann Sebastian Bach, and contains an exquisite collection of calligraphic motets and cantatas by the older Bach generation. Alone Johann Sebastian Bach concerned himself with the musical estate of his family by writing new covers and varying some of the compositions by adding embellishments, even rewriting some of them. He copied the motet 'Der Gerechte, ob er gleich zu zeitlich stirbt' in full. Among the works, known as the 'Archive of the Elder Bachs', are some unique creations of Baroque vocal music such as the cantata for 22 voices 'Es erhub sich ein Streit', by Johann Christoph Bach. Far more comprehensive, are the music collections of works by Bach's sons Wilhelm Friedemann, Carl Philipp Emanuel, Johann Christoph Friedrich and Johann Christian. Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach's work in particular, is well represented, as the archive comprises a major part of his musical estate. Carl Philipp Emanuel's late vocal work deserves special mention as it has remained in the dark ever since the composer's death in 1788 and almost nothing is known about it. None of these late works has ever been printed; hardly any survived at all outside the Sing-Akademie archive. Until now, these pieces were regarded as 'missing', although it was known that more than 20 passions, for example, had previously existed. Now, Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach's late religious work is available for general research and presentation in concerts. In addition to passions and oratorios, numerous autographed and authorized copies of cembalo concertos, piano sonatas and chamber music by Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach number among the highlights of this, the largest part of the Sing-Akademie's Bachiana collection. Covering almost two centuries of German music history, the extraordinary Bachiana series draws to a close with Wilhelm Friedrich Ernst, the only composer among Bach's grandsons. For this microfiche edition, the recently returned original Bach manuscripts were revised and filmed in the highest quality. In addition, they were examined, sorted and arranged in the correct order. Further, the compositions were identified using existing catalogues of works and numbered accordingly. The works were filmed in an order corresponding to rising shelf marks, based on Carl Friedrich Zelter's system, structuring the archive by genres such as oratorios, cantatas and piano concertos. A printed booklet lists works in the order of their filming, providing brief information on the composer, the title of the work, its catalogue number and a reference to the microfiche location. Numerous indexes further facilitate easy access to individual works. This edition of the Sing-Akademie's Bach manuscripts represents an inestimable addition to the Bach Collection already published by K. G. Saur in the series Musikhandschriften aus der Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin - Preussischer Kulturbesitz. At the same time, this is the first edition of a series of microfiche publications encompassing the entire body of this singular music archive.
