Provisional Editions of Music by Wilhelm Friedemann Bach

Although a collected edition of the works of W. F. Bach is in progress, a number of compositions singled out for special attention in my book on the composer's music (The Music of Wilhelm Friedemann Bach, University of Rochester Press, 2010) have yet to appear in this and, in some cases, in any edition. The present page therefore links to provisional editions of these works that can be consulted by readers of the book and others.

Unlike my editions of a number of concertos by C. P. E. Bach, these editions are “provisional” in the sense that they are not intended to serve as critical texts of the works in question. That purpose will be served by the printed collected edition, which will include a comprehensive critical report. These editions are accompanied generally by brief commentaries that identify the sources that I have consulted and only in some instances list variant readings.

The scores are also accompanied by synthesized audio (midi) files that can be downloaded separately. Needless to say, these files do not represent actual performances of the works and are intended only to give a general impression of them. In particular, these sound files ignore ornament signs and make all appoggiaturas short, placing them before the beat, contrary to eighteenth-century practice.

The following scores, audio files, and commentaries are available, listed below according to the numbers in the thematic catalog by Martin Falck. The first two items are for solo keyboard; the concertos are for keyboard and strings; and the last work is a serenata or secular cantata for four voices and orchestra composed in 1758 in honor of King Frederick II “the Great” of Prussia.

F. brief title score audio file commentary

13 Polonaise in C F13.pdf F13.MID

22 Fantasia in G F22.pdf F22.MID

25 Two minuets F25-30.pdf F25.MID F25-30_commentary.pdf

25A Presto in D minor F25-30.pdf F25_2A.MID F25-30_commentary.pdf

26 L'imitation de la chasse F25-30.pdf F26.MID F25-30_commentary.pdf

26A Bourlesca F25-30.pdf F26A.MID F25-30_commentary.pdf

27 Reveille F25-30.pdf F27.MID F25-30_commentary.pdf

28 Gigue in G F25-30.pdf F28.MID F25-30_commentary.pdf

29 Praeludium in C minor F25-30.pdf F29.MID F25-30_commentary.pdf

29 [same, early version] F25-30.pdf F29A.MID F25-30_commentary.pdf

30 March in E-flat F25-30.pdf F30.MID F25-30_commentary.pdf