Toccatas for Keyboard (Bach)

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]

History

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.

Composition

The 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

The beginning of the BWV 910 F♯ minor Toccata - from the Andreas Bach Book, in the hand of Johann Christoph Bach.

Toccata in D major, BWV 912

Performed on a piano by Randolph Hokanson

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Toccata in F-sharp minor, BWV 910
1. (Toccata)
2. [no tempo indication]
3. Presto e Staccato (Fuga)
4. [no tempo indication]
5. (Fuga)
Toccata in C-minor, BWV 911
1. (Toccata)
2. Adagio
3. (Fuga)
4. Adagio
5. (Fuga)
6. Adagio / Presto
Toccata in D-major, BWV 912
1. Presto
2. Allegro
3. Adagio
4. [no tempo indication]
5. Con Discrezione
6. Fuga
Toccata in D-minor, BWV 913
1. (Toccata)
2. [no tempo indication]
3. Presto
4. Adagio
5. Allegro
Toccata in E-minor, BWV 914
1. (Toccata)
2. Un Poco Allegro (a 4 voci.)
3. Adagio
4. Allegro – Fuga (a 3 voci.)
Toccata in G-minor, BWV 915
1. (Toccata)
2. Adagio
3. Allegro
4. Adagio
5. Fuga
Toccata in G-major, BWV 916
1. Presto
2. Adagio
3. Allegro (Fuga)

References

^ ^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.

Works cited

Schulenberg, 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 0-521-89115-9

External links

Toccatas 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.

[Schulenberg97-1] Schulenberg 2006, 97.

[Shulenberg98-2] Schulenberg 2006, 98.

[3] Schulenberg 2006, 7.

[4] Williams 2003, 160.

[5] Williams 2003, 131.

[6] Schulenberg 2006, 99.

[7] Williams 2003, 41.

[8] Williams 2003, 49.

[9] Williams 2003, 82.

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v t e Compositions for organ, keyboard and lute by Johann Sebastian Bach
Organ	Fugue in G minor, BWV 131a (doubtful) Sonatas, BWV 525–530 Prelude and Fugue in C major, BWV 531 Prelude and Fugue in D major, BWV 532 Fantasia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 537 Toccata and Fugue in D minor ("Dorian"), BWV 538 Toccata and Fugue in F major, BWV 540 Fantasia and Fugue in G minor ("Great"), BWV 542 Prelude and Fugue in A minor, BWV 543 Prelude and Fugue in B minor, BWV 544 Prelude and Fugue in C minor, BWV 546 Prelude and Fugue in E minor ("Wedge"), BWV 548 Eight Short Preludes and Fugues, BWV 553–560 (doubtful) Fantasia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 562 Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in C major, BWV 564 Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565 (doubtful) Prelude (Toccata) and Fugue in E major, BWV 566 Fantasia ("Pièce d'Orgue") in G major, BWV 572 Fugue in G minor ("Little"), BWV 578 Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 582 Concertos, BWV 592–597 Orgelbüchlein, BWV 599–644 Schübler Chorales, BWV 645–650 Great Eighteen Chorale Preludes, BWV 651–668 Chorale partita Sei gegrüßet, Jesu gütig, BWV 768 Canonic Variations on "Vom Himmel hoch da komm' ich her", BWV 769 Neumeister chorales, BWV 1090–1120 Chorale fantasia Wo Gott der Herr nicht bei uns hält, BWV 1128
Keyboard	Inventions and Sinfonias, BWV 772–801 English Suites, BWV 806–811 French Suites, BWV 812–817 Partitas, BWV 825–830 No. 2 No. 4 No. 6 Overture in the French style, BWV 831 Well-Tempered Clavier, BWV 846–893 Book 1 No. 1 in C major No. 2 in C minor No. 3 in C♯ major No. 4 in C♯ minor No. 7 in E♭ major No. 10 in E minor No. 16 in G minor No. 21 in B♭ major No. 22 in B♭ minor Book 2 No. 1 in C major No. 2 in C minor No. 3 in C♯ major No. 4 in C♯ minor No. 5 in D major No. 6 in D minor No. 12 in F minor No. 13 in F♯ major No. 18 in G♯ minor No. 22 in B♭ minor No. 24 in B minor Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue Fantasia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 906 Toccatas, BWV 910–916 Six Little Preludes, BWV 933–938 Italian Concerto Harpsichord solo concertos Goldberg Variations discography Gould recording Aria variata alla maniera italiana Capriccio on the departure of a beloved brother
Lute	Suite in G minor, BWV 995 Suite in E minor, BWV 996 Bourrée Suite in C minor, BWV 997 Prelude, Fugue and Allegro in E♭ major, BWV 998 Prelude in C minor, BWV 999 Fugue in G minor, BWV 1000
Mixed collections	Clavier-Übung III: Prelude and Fugue in E♭ major ("St. Anne"), BWV 552, Chorale preludes, BWV 669–689, Duets, BWV 802–805 Concerto transcriptions, BWV 592–596 and 972–987 Klavierbüchlein W. F. Bach Notebook A. M. Bach Twelve Little Preludes
List of compositions by Johann Sebastian Bach List of fugal works by Johann Sebastian Bach List of concertos by Johann Sebastian Bach