Horn 1: b - a2
Horn 2: e - e2
Horn 3: g - g2
Horn 4: F# - e1
Horn 5: d - f2
Creator's Comments
Performance Notes
The motet no.3 in e minor BWV 277 is part of six funeral motets, BWV 225-230, and was written for the funeral of Johanna Maria Kasin, the wife of Leipzig’s city postmaster. Some of the movements have an added 2nd soprano, and this is why the transcription has five rather than the usual four voices.
The two choruses arranged are no.5 (Trotz dem alten Drachen) and no.6 (Ihr aber seid nicht fleischlich), in the key of e minor. The transcription is also in e minor, but horn pitch (so a minor sounding pitch). As the two choruses are adjacent (attacca) they also have the same key. In the first part we have a 5-part chorus and variations, while the second part is a double fugue.
The parts are organised in an orchestral section fashion, with the first four horns in the standard 1-3-2-4, and the fifth in between 1 and 3. This gives an interesting effect, with the alternation of high and low parts. The combination of chorus and fugue works very well in concert, and is a good alternative to other transcriptions of works by Bach that contain only one or the other.