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Bach Organ Works

Welcome

Welcome to the Bach Organ Works Site

This website offers free downloads of the complete extant organ works of Johann Sebastian Bach, recorded by Dr. James Kibbie on original baroque organs in Germany.

  • Click Search to find a specific work, collection or venue. Pages for individual works include the venue and registrations.
  • Click Familiar Masterworks to begin with a selection of audience favorites.
  • Click Download in Groups to download multiple audio files.
  • Click Organs for stop lists and photos of the organs used.
J. Barry Sloat

J. Barry Sloat
(1940-2005)

This project is sponsored by the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance with generous support from Dr. Barbara Furin Sloat in honor of J. Barry Sloat. Additional support has been provided by the Office of Vice-President for Research, the University of Michigan.

On-site recording:
Christian Cerny, Leipzig, Germany

Editing and mastering:
David Lau, Brookwood Studio, Plymouth, Michigan, USA

On This Page

Project Overview

Exactly which works should be recorded? More than 250 years after Bach’s death, it is by no means certain exactly what he composed. The selection of works for this series draws on the Bach Werke Verzeichnis, Kleine Ausgabe (Breitkopf & Härtel, 1998), supplemented by other recent scholarship, including the work of Profs. Christoph Wolff, George Stauffer and Peter Williams, and the research of the Johann-Sebastian-Bach-Institut Göttingen. Bach’s organ transcriptions of works by other composers have been included. Dr. Kibbie has also recorded those works which survive only as fragments, leaving these works incomplete as they exist in the manuscript sources.

For the “dubious” works which may or may not be by Bach, Dr. Kibbie has chosen which to record, including especially those long associated with the Bach canon, such as the Pedal-Exercitium and the Kleines harmonisches Labyrinth. On the other hand, some works long identified with Bach are now widely regarded as spurious, and so have not been included (for example, the Eight “Little” Preludes and Fugues).

Bach composed for organs ranging from the 17th-century North German instruments he admired in his youth to the mid-18th-century organs he himself helped design during his Leipzig years. For these recordings, Dr. Kibbie has selected seven historically significant instruments matched to the varying stylistic requirements of the Bach repertoire.

David Lau of Brookwood Studio, Plymouth, Michigan, directed the recording, editing and mastering of this series. Christian Cerny of Leipzig, Germany, served as on-site recording technician throughout the series. The website was produced by the Internet Publication Task Force and Block M Records of the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance.

Special thanks are due to Helmut Schick and Dr. Felix Friedrich for their help in planning the recording venues, to Dr. Karl Schrock for advising on textual corrections and for editing the realizations of Bach’s figured-bass chorales, to Greg Laman for website production, to Dr. Jonah Johnson for translations, and to Joseph Balistreri for assistance with translations, the Dresden recordings and many other details.

Recording technician Christian Cerny on-site at St. Wilhadi, Stade

Recording technician Christian Cerny on-site at St. Wilhadi, Stade

The Organs

Kathedrale - Dresden, Germany

Kathedrale organ - Dresden, Germany

Kathedrale – Dresden, Germany

Gottfried Silbermann, Zacharias Hildebrandt and others, 1755

I. Brustwerk (C, D-d’’’):

Gedackt. 8F.
Principal. 4F.
Rohrflöt. 4F.
Nassat. 3F.
Octava. 2F.
Qvinta. 1 1/2F.
Sufflöt. 1F.
Sesqvialtera. [4/5’, 1 3/5’ from c’]
Mixtur. [1’, III]
Chalumeaux. [8’, from g]

II. Hauptwerk (C, D-d’’’):

Principal. 16F.
Bordun. 16F.
Principal. 8F.
Violdigamba. 8F.
Rohrflöt. 8F.
Octava. 4F.
Spitzflöt. 4F.
Qvinta. 3F.
Octava. 2F.
Tertia. [1 3/5’]
Cornett. [V, from c’]
Mixtur. [2’, IV]
Zimbeln. [1 1/2’, III]
Fagott. 16F.
Trompet. 8F.

III. Oberwerk (C, D-d’’’):

Qvintadehn. 16F.
Principal. 8F.
Gedackt. 8F.
Qvintadehn. 8F.
Undamaris. 8F. [from g]
Octava. 4F.
Rohrflöt. 4F.
Nassat. 3F.
Octava. 2F.
Tertia. [1 3/5’]
Flaschflöt. 1F.
Echo. [Cornet V, from c’]
Mixtur. [IV]
Vox humana. [8’]

Pedal (C, D-d’, originally C, D-c’):

Untersatz. 32F.
Princ[ipal].Bass. 16F.
Octavbass. 8F.
Octavbass. 4F.
Ped[al].Mixtur [3’, VI]
Posaun[en]bass. 16F.
Tromp[eten].Bass. 8F.
Clar[in].Bass. 4F.

Tremulant [HW]
Schwebung [OW Tremulant]
Bassventil [HW/Ped]
BW/HW shove coupler
OW/HW shove coupler
Klingel

Pitch: Kammerton (a’ = approx. 415 Hz)

Georgenkirche - Rötha, Germany

Georgenkirche organGeorgenkirche – Rötha, Germany
Gottfried Silbermann, 1721

I. Hauptwerk (C, D-c’’’):

BORDUN. 16.Fuß.
PRINCIPAL 8. Fuß.
Rohr.Flöte. 8. Fuß.
OCTAVA. 4. Fuß.
Spitz.Flöte. 4. Fuß.
QUINTA. 3. Fuß.
OCTAVA. 2. Fuß.
CORNET. [III, from c’]
MIXTUR. [III]
Cymbeln. [II]

II. Oberwerk (C, D-c’’’):

Gedackt. 8. Fuß.
QUINTADENA. 8. Fuß.
PRINCIPAL. 4. Fuß.
Rohr.Flöte. 4. Fuß.
Nasat. 3. Fuß.
OCTAVA.2. Fuß.
TERTIA. [1 3/5’]
QUINTA. 1 1/2. Fuß.
SIFFLET. 1. Fuß.
MIXTUR. [III]

Pedal (C, D-c’):
PRINCIPAL:Bass. 16. Fuß.
Posaune. 16. Fuß.
Trommete. 8. Fuß.

OW/HW shove coupler
PEDAL-COPPEL [HW/Ped,, added 1796]
TREMULANT

Pitch: Chorton (a’ = approx. 465 Hz)

Marienkirche - Rötha, Germany

Marienkirche organMarienkirche – Rötha, Germany

Gottfried Silbermann, 1722

Manual (C, D-c’’’):

PRINCIPAL. 8.Fuß.
Gedackt. 8.Fuß.
OCTAVA. 4.Fuß.
Rohr Flöte. 4.Fuß.
NASSAT. 3.Fuß.
OCTAVA. 2.Fuß.
TERTIA. [1 3/5’]
QUINTA. 1 1/2.Fuß.
SUFFLET. 1.Fuß.
Cymbeln. [II]

Pedal (C, D-c’):

SUBBASS [16’]

PEDAL-COPPEL (added 1833-34)

Pitch: Chorton (a’ = approx. 465 Hz)

St. Walpurgis - Großengottern, Germany

St. Walpurgis organ

St. Walpurgis organSt. Walpurgis – Großengottern, Germany

Tobias Heinrich Gottfried Trost, 1717

I. Man[ual] (C, D-c’’’):

Quintatön 16 Fuß.
Principal 8 Fuß.
Violdigambe 8 Fuß.
Bordun. 8 Fuß.
Octave. 4 Fuß.
Gemshorn 4 Fuß.
Quinta. 3 Fuß.
Nassat 3 Fuß.
Octave 2 Fuß.
Sesquialter 1 3/5 Fuß.
Mixtur 2 Fuß 4 Chörig.
Trompete 8 Fuß.

II. Posit[iv] (C, D-c’’’):

Lieblichgedackt 8 Fuß.
Principal 4 Fuß.
Flötuse 4 Fuß. [II]
Quinte 2 2/3 Fuß.
Octave 2 Fuß.
Mixtur 1 Fuß 3 Chörig.

Ped[al] (C, D-c’):

Subbaß 16 Fuß.
Violonbaß 16 Fuß.
*Quintatönbaß 16 Fuß.
Octavenbaß 8 Fuß.
*Bordunbaß 8 Fuß.
*Octavenbaß 4 Fuß.
Posaunenbaß 16 Fuß.
*Trompetenbaß 8 Fuß.

*Ableit[ung] (Manual to Pedal transmission)

Man: Koppel. (Pos/Man)
Pedal Koppel. (Man/Ped)
Pedalkoppel 2 (Pos/Ped)

Glocken-Accord C. (Zimbelstern in C)
Glocken-Accord G. (Zimbelstern in G)
Tremulant.
Sperr-Ventil
Calcantenwecker.

Pitch: Chorton

Ss. Cosmae et Damiani - Stade, Germany

Ss. Cosmae et Damiani organSs. Cosmae et Damiani – Stade, Germany

Behrendt Huß and Arp Schnitger, 1675

I. Rückpositiv (C,D,E,F,G,A-c’’’):

Prinzipal 8’
Quintadena 8’
Rohrflöt 8’
Octav 4’
Waldflöt 2’
Sieflöt 1 1/2’
Sesquialter [II]
Scharff [V]
Dulcian 16’
Trechter Regal 8’

II. Oberwerk (C,D,E,F,G,A-c’’’):

Prinzipal 16’
Quintadena 16’
Octav 8’
Gedackt 8’
Octav 4’
Rohrflöt 4’
Nassat 3’
Octav 2’
Mixtur [VI]
Cimbel [III]
Trommett 16’
Trommet 8’

III. Brustwerk (C,D,E,F,G,A-c’’’):

Gedackt 8’
Querflöt 8’ [from c’]
Flöt 4’
Octav 2’
Tertia [1 3/5’]
Nassat Quint 1 1/2’
Sedetz 1’
Scharff [III]
Krumphorn 8’
Schalmey 4’

Pedal (C,D,E-d’):

Prinzipal 16’
Sub=Bass 16’
Octav 8’
Octav 4’
Nachthorn 1’
Mixtur [V-VI]
Posaun 16’
Dulcian 16’
Trommet 8’
Cornet 2’

BW/OW
Tremulant
Glockenspiel [late 18th-c.]

Pitch: approximately one whole step above modern pitch

St. Wilhadi - Stade, Germany

St. Wilhadi organ

St. Wilhadi organ

St. Wilhadi – Stade, Germany

Erasmus Bielfeldt, 1736

I. Positiv [Hinterwerk] (C,D-c’’’):

Octave 8 Fuß
Rohrflöte 8 Fuß
Quintadena 8 Fuß
Octave 4 Fuß
Quinta 3 Fuß
Octave 2 Fuß
Sesquialtera [II]
Scharff [III-IV]
Fagott 16 Fuß
Vox humana 8 Fuß

II. Hauptwerk (C,D-c’’’)

Principal 16 Fuß
Quintatön 16 Fuß
Octave 8 Fuß
Viol da Gamba 8 Fuß
Gedact 8 Fuß
Octave 4 Fuß
Nashat 3 Fuß
Octave 2 Fuß
Mixtur [IV-VI]
Cimbel [III]
Trompete 16 Fuß
Trompete 8 Fuß

III. Brustwerk (C,D-c’’’):

Flute douce 8 Fuß
Octave 4 Fuß
Flute douce 4 Fuß
Superoctave 2 Fuß
Quinta 1 1/2 Fuß
Scharff [III-IV]
Dulcian 8 Fuß
Schalmey 4 Fuß

Pedal (C,D-d’):

Principal 16 Fuß
Subbaß 16 Fuß
Octave 8 Fuß
Octave 4 Fuß
Rauschquinte [II]
Mixtur [IV-V]
Posaune 16 Fuß
Trompete 8 Fuß
Trompete 4 Fuß
Cornett 2 Fuß

BW/HW
Tremulant
Cymbelstern
Sperrventil Brustwerk
Sperrventil Positiv

Pitch: approximately 3/4 step above modern pitch

Stadtkirche - Waltershausen, Germany

Stadtkirche “Zur Gotteshilfe” organStadtkirche “Zur Gotteshilfe” – Waltershausen, Germany

Tobias Heinrich Gottfried Trost, 1724-1730

I. Brustwerk (C-c’’’):

Gedackt 8 Fuß
Nachthorn 8 Fuß
Principal 4 Fuß
Flöte douce 4 Fuß
Nachthorn 4 Fuß
Gemshorn 4 Fuß
Spitz-Qvinta 3 Fuß
Nassad Qvinta 3 Fuß
Octava 2 Fuß
Sesqvialtera 2 fach 1 3/5 Fuß
[+3’ from c]
Mixtura 4 fach 2 Fuß
Hautbous 8 Fuß

II. Hauptwerk (C-c’’’):

Portun-Untersatz 16 Fuß
Groß Qvintadena 16 Fuß
Principal 8 Fuß
Gemshorn 8 Fuß
Viol d’Gambe 8 Fuß
Portun 8 Fuß
Qvintadena 8 Fuß
Unda maris 8 Fuß
Octava 4 Fuß
Salicional 4 Fuß
Röhr-Flöta 4 Fuß
Celinder-Qvinta 3 Fuß
Super-Octava 2 Fuß
Sesqvialtera 3 Fuß-1 3/5 Fuß
Mixtura 8 fach 2 Fuß
Fagott 16 Fuß
Trompetta 8 Fuß

III. Oberwerk (C-c’’’):

Flöte Dupla 8 Fuß
Vagarr 8 Fuß
Flöte travers 8 Fuß [overblown to 4’]
liebl. Principal 4 Fuß
Spitz-Flöte 4 Fuß
Gedackt Qvinta 3 Fuß
Wald-Flöte 2 Fuß
Hohl-Flöte 8 Fuß
Vox humana 8 Fuß [sounds only
when Hohl-Flöte also drawn]
Zum O. Clavier Geigen-Principal
4 Fuß [separate ventil windchest]

Pedal (C-d’):

Groß Principal 16 Fuß
Sub-Bass 16 Fuß
Violon-Bass 16 Fuß
*Qvintadenen-B. 16 Fuß
Octaven-Bass 8 Fuß
*Viol d’Gamben-B. 8 Fuß
*Portun-Bass 8 Fuß
Celinder-Qvinta 6 Fuß
*Super Octava 4 Fuß
*Röhr-Flöten-Bass 4 Fuß
*Mixtur-Bass 6 fach
Posaunen Bass 32 Fuß
Posaunen-Bass 16 Fuß
Trompetten-Bass 8 Fuß

*Hauptwerk to Pedal transmission
(C-c#’)

OW/HW
BW/HW
Wind-Coppel [HW/Ped, C-c#’]
Brust-Coppel [BW/Ped, C-d’]

Cymbel-Stern in C
Cymbel-Stern in G
Tremulant zum ganzen Werck
Tremulant z. Vox humana
Sperr-Ventile [non-functioning]
Calcant

Pitch: Chorton

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