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Composer:
Bach, Johann Sebastian
Year Composed:
1739
Arranger:
Shaw, Lowell E.
Year Arranged:
1972
Original Instrumentation:
Organ
Type of Arrangement:
Transcription
Availability:
Commercial
Publisher:
Hornists Nest
Year Published:
1972 Catalogue Number:
HN 20
Sheet Music Format:
A4, Score (6) & parts (1,1,1,2,1 = 6, optional horn 6, 1, total = 7)
Approximate Duration:
3
Technical Difficulty:
Medium
Structure/Movements:
One movement.
Moderato
Clefs:
Treble, bass
Key signatures:
1b
Meters:
2/4
Range:
Horn 1: f1 - bb2
Horn 2: g - e2
Horn 3: c1 - ab2
Horn 4: Bb - c2
Horn 5: a - g2
Horn 6: F - g1
Horn 2: g - e2
Horn 3: c1 - ab2
Horn 4: Bb - c2
Horn 5: a - g2
Horn 6: F - g1
Performance Notes:
The chorale prelude BWV 680 is part of a series of harmonisations of Lutheran chorales Bach undertook in 1713-1714. They are written for organ, and this particular one is in A minor. Shaw’s arrangement however is in G minor (D minor horn pitch), which saves the first horn some c3’s. Apart from that it is a straight forward transcription, with an optional sixth horn part (that doubles other parts, and on occasion transposes them an octave down). The prelude is essentially a fugue, with an ending in the dominant (major) key. Shaw also provides alternate parts for the higher horns, which, if played, would reduce the level of difficulty considerably.
Credits:
Access to review score: Nancy Joy (NMSU)