Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach

Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach (June 21, 1732 – January 26, 1795), the ninth son of Johann Sebastian Bach, sometimes referred to as the "Bückeburg Bach". He is not to be confused with Bach's first cousin once removed, Johann Christoph Bach.

Born at Leipzig, Germany, he was taught music by his father, and also tutored by his distant cousin Johann Elias Bach. He studied at the St. Thomas School, and some believe he studied law at the University there, but there is no record of that. In 1750, Count Wilhelm of Schaumburg-Lippe appointed Johann Christoph harpsichordist at Bückeburg, and in 1759, he became Konzertmeister. While there, Bach collaborated with Herder, who provided the texts for six vocal works; the music survives for only four of these.

Bach wrote keyboard sonatas, symphonies, oratorios, liturgical choir pieces and motets, operas and songs. Because of Count Wilhelm's predilection for Italian music, Bach had to adapt his style accordingly, but he retained stylistic traits of the music of his father and of his brother, C. P. E. Bach.

He married the singer Lucia Elisabeth Munchhusen (1728-1803) in 1755 and the Count stood as godfather to his son Wilhelm Friedrich Ernst Bach. J.C.F. educated his son in music as his own father had, and Wilhelm Friedrich Ernst went on to become music director to Frederick William II of Prussia.

In April 1778 he and Wilhelm travelled to England to visit Johann Christian Bach. The 1911 "Encyclopedia Britannica" says of him "He was an industrious composer, ... whose work reflects no discredit on the family name." He was an outstanding virtuoso of the keyboard, with a reasonably wide repertory of surviving works, including 20 symphonies, the later ones influenced by Haydn and Mozart and hardly a genre of vocal music was neglected by him [New Grove, p 312]

Professor Peter Schickele, in comparing his alter ego, the fictitious composer P. D. Q. Bach, to Johann Sebastian's other sons, said that P.D.Q. possessed "the obscurity of Johann Christoph Friedrich."

Sadly, a significant portion of J. C. F. Bach's output was lost in the WWII destruction of the Staatliches Institut für Musikforschung in Berlin, where the scores had been on deposit since 1917. Bach's work shows him to have been a transitional figure in the mold of his half-brother C. P. E., his brother Johnn Christian, the Grauns, and Georg Philipp Telemann, with some works in the style of the high Baroque, some in a galant idiom, and still others which combine elements of the two, along with traits of the nascent classical style.

Works list

Keyboard Works
BR A 1 Keyboard Sonata in F major (Wf XI:1)
BR A 2 Keyboard Sonata in C major (Wf XI:2)
BR A 3 Keyboard Sonata in C major (Wf XI:3/1)
BR A 4 Keyboard Sonata in F major (Wf XI:3/2)
BR A 5 Keyboard Sonata in E major (Wf XI:3/3)
BR A 6 Keyboard Sonata in D major (Wf XI:3/4)
BR A 7 Keyboard Sonata in A major (Wf XI:3/5)
BR A 8 Keyboard Sonata in E flat major (Wf XI:3/6)
BR A 9 Keyboard Sonata in C major (Wf XI:4)
BR A 10 Keyboard Sonata in G major (Wf XI:5)
BR A 11 Keyboard Sonata in F major (Wf XI:6)
BR A 12 Keyboard Sonata in A minor (Wf XI:7)
BR A 13 Keyboard Sonata in D major (Wf XI:8/1)
BR A 14 Keyboard Sonata in A major (Wf XI:8/2)
BR A 15 Keyboard Sonata in E major (Wf XI:8/3)
BR A 16 Keyboard Sonata in D major
BR A 17 Keyboard Sonata in A major
BR A 18 Keyboard Sonata in F major (Wf XI:9)
BR A 19 Keyboard Sonata in B flat major
BR A 20 Keyboard Sonata in G major
BR A 21 Keyboard Sonata in E flat major
BR A 22-25 4 Keyboard Sonatas (lost)
BR A 26 Keyboard Sonata in E flat major
BR A 27 Keyboard Sonata in F major
BR A 28-30 3 Keyboard Sonatas (lost) (I)
BR A 31 Keyboard Sonata in D major
BR A 32-34 3 Keyboard Sonatas (lost) (II)
BR A 35-37 3 Keyboard Sonatas (lost) (III)
BR A 38-39 2 Keyboard Sonatas (lost)
BR A 40 Sonata for keyboard-4 hand in A major (Wf XIII:1)
BR A 41 Sonata for keyboard-4 hand in C major (Wf XIII:2)
BR A 42-43 2 Sonatas for 2 keyboards (lost)
BR A 44 Variations in A major (Wf XII: 1) (lost)
BR A 45 Variations on "Ah vous dirais-je Maman" in G major (Wf XII: 2)
BR A 46 Menuet in D major (Wf XII: 3)
BR A 47 Menuet in F major (Wf XII: 4)
BR A 48 2 Menuets in D major (Wf XII: 5)
BR A 49 Alla polacca in F major (Wf XII: 6)
BR A 50 Alla polacca in G major (Wf XII: 7)
BR A 51-119 69 pieces for keyboard (Wf XII:13)
BR A120 Fughette on HCFBBACH in C major (Wf XII:14)
BR A121 Polonaise in G major (Wf XII: 8)
BR A122 Menuet in F major (Wf XII: 9)
BR A123 Polonaise in F major (Wf XII:10)
BR A124 Menuet in G major (Wf XII:11)
BR A125 Menuet in A major (Wf XII:12)
BR AInc1 Partia for keyboard in C major
BR AInc2 Fugue for keyboard in G minor (lost)
BR AInc3 Fugue for keyboard in E minor (lost)
BR AInc4 Fugue for keyboard in C major (lost)
BR AInc5 Fugue for keyboard in F major
BR AInc6 Fugue for keyboard in D major (lost)
BR AInc7 Fugue for keyboard in C major (lost)
BR AInc8 Galanterie-Stücke for keyboard

Chamber Music
BR B 1 Cello Sonata in A major (Wf X:3)
BR B 2 Cello Sonata in G major (Wf X:1)
BR B 3 Trio Sonata for flute, violin & bc in A major (Wf VII:1)
BR B 4 Trio Sonata for flute, viola & bc in E minor
BR B 5-10 6 Sonatas for 2 flutes & continuo (lost)
BR B11 Trio Sonata for 2 violins & b.c. in A major (Wf VII:2)
BR B12 Trio Sonata for 2 violins & b.c. in F major (Wf VII:3)
BR B13 Trio Sonata for 2 violins & b.c. (lost)
BR B14 Flute Sonata in E flat major (Wf VIII:2)
BR B15 Flute Sonata No.1 in D minor (Wf VIII:3/1)
BR B16 Flute Sonata No.2 in D major (Wf VIII:3/2)
BR B17 Flute Sonata No.3 in D major (Wf VIII:3/3)
BR B18 Flute Sonata No.4 in C major (Wf VIII:3/4)
BR B19 Flute Sonata No.5 in A major (Wf VIII:3/5)
BR B20 Flute Sonata No.6 in C major (Wf VIII:3/6)
BR B21 Violin Sonata in G major (Wf IX:2)
BR B22 Violin Sonata in D major (Wf IX:3)
BR B23-24 2 Flute Sonatas (lost)
BR B25 Flute Sonata in F major (Wf VIII:1)
BR B26 Violin Sonata in F major
BR B27 Violin Sonata in D major
BR B28 Violin Sonata in G major (Wf IX:1) (lost)
BR B29 Keyboard Trio in D major (Wf VII:4)
BR B30 Keyboard Trio No.1 (lost)
BR B31 Keyboard Trio No.2 in G major (Wf VII:5)
BR B32 Keyboard Trio No.3 in A major (Wf VII:6)
BR B33 Keyboard Trio No.4 (lost)
BR B34 Keyboard Trio No.5 in C major (Wf VII:7)
BR B35 Keyboard Trio No.6 (lost)
BR B36 Cello Sonata in A major (Wf X:4) (lost)
BR B37 Flute Quartet No.1 in C major (Wf VI:1)
BR B38 Flute Quartet No.2 in G major (Wf VI:2)
BR B39 Flute Quartet No.3 in C major (Wf VI:3)
BR B40 Flute Quartet No.4 in A major (Wf VI:4)
BR B41 Flute Quartet No.5 in F major (Wf VI:5)
BR B42 Flute Quartet No.6 in B major (Wf VI:6)
BR B43 String Quartet No.1 in E flat major
BR B44 String Quartet No.2 in B flat major
BR B45 String Quartet No.3 in A major
BR B46 String Quartet No.4 in D major
BR B47 String Quartet No.5 in G major
BR B48 String Quartet No.6 in F major
BR B49 Wind Septet in E flat major (Wf IV) (lost)
BR B50-53 4 Marches for wind band (lost)
BR BInc1 Trio Sonata for 2 violins & b.c. in B major (Wf XX:3)
BR BInc2 Trio Sonata for 2 flutes & b.c. in C major (lost)
BR BInc3 Cello Sonata in D major (Wf X:2) (lost)
BR BInc4 Violin Sonata (lost)

Orchestral Works
BR C 1 Symphony in D major (Wf I: 5) (lost)
BR C 2-3 2 Symphonies (1765) (lost)
BR C 4 Symphony in D minor (Wf I: 3) (by 1768)Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach in Nolte, Ewald V., ed., Google books|S5UgX2BSs2UC|Four early sinfonias. Dates based on early copies by Johann Friedrich Peter. Madison, Wis.: A-R Editions, 1982. Preface page xi. ISBN 0895791706. OCLC|9203471.]
BR C 5 Symphony in F major (Wf I: 1) (by 1768)
BR C 6 Symphony in B flat major (Wf I: 2) (by 1768)
BR C 7 Symphony in E major (Wf I: 4) (by 1769)
BR C 8-9 2 Symphonies (1770) (lost)
BR C10 Symphony in C major (Wf I: 6)
BR C11 Symphony in D major (Wf I: 7) (lost)
BR C12 Symphony in G major (Wf I: 8) (lost)
BR C13 Symphony in D major (Wf I: 9) (lost)
BR C14 Symphony in E flat major (Wf I:10)
BR C15-17 3 Symphonies (lost)
BR C18 Symphony (lost)
BR C19 Symphony in D major (Wf I:11) (lost)
BR C20 Symphony in F major (Wf I:12) (lost)
BR C21 Symphony in D major (Wf I:13) (lost)
BR C22 Symphony in C major (Wf I:14) (lost)
BR C23 Symphony in G major (Wf I:15) (lost)
BR C24 Symphony in E flat major (Wf I:18) (lost)
BR C25 Symphony in E flat major (Wf I:19) (lost)
BR C26 Symphony in D minor (Wf I:16) (lost)
BR C27 Symphony in C major (Wf I:17) (lost)
BR C28 Symphony in B flat major (Wf I:20)
BR C29 Keyboard Concerto in E flat major
BR C30 Keyboard Concerto in A major
BR C31 Keyboard Concerto "London No.1" in G major
BR C32 Keyboard Concerto "London No.2" in F major
BR C33 Keyboard Concerto "London No.3" in D major
BR C34 Keyboard Concerto "London No.4" in E flat major
BR C35 Keyboard Concerto "London No.5" in B flat major
BR C36 Keyboard Concerto "London No.6" in C major
BR C37 Keyboard Concerto in E major (Wf II:1)
BR C38 Keyboard Concerto (1766) (lost)
BR C39 Keyboard Concerto (1788) (lost)
BR C40 Keyboard Concerto in F major (Wf II:4)
BR C41 Keyboard Concerto in D major (Wf II:2)
BR C42 Keyboard Concerto in A major (Wf II:3) (lost)
BR C43 Keyboard Concerto in E flat major (Wf II:5)
BR C44 Concerto for piano & viola in E flat major
BR C45 Concerto for piano & oboe in E flat major (Wf III)

Oratorios
BR D 1 Die Pillgrimme auf Golgatha
BR D 2 Der Tod Jesu (Wf XIV:1)
BR D 3 Die Auferstehung und Himmelfahrt Jesu (Wf XIV:10) (lost)
BR D 4 Die Hirten bey der Krippe Jesu (Wf XIV:9) (lost)
BR D 5 Die Kindheit Jesu (Wf XIV:2)
BR D 6 Die Auferweckung Lazarus (Wf XIV:3)
BR D 7 Der Fremdling auf Golgotha (Wf XIV:7) (lost)
BR D 8 Mosis Mutter und ihre Tochter (Wf XVII:3) (fragment)

Liturgical Works
BR E 1 Miserere

Sacred Works
BR F 1 Pfingskantate (Wf XIV:4) (lost)
BR F 2 Sieh, Bückeburg, was Gott an Dir getan (lost)
BR F 3 Himmelfahrts-Musik (Wf XIV:8)
BR F 4 Michaels Sieg (Wf XIV:5)
BR F 5 Nun, teures Land, der Herr hat dich erhört (lost)
BR F 6 Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied (Wf XIV:11) (lost)
BR F 7 Gott wird deinen Fuss nicht gleiten lassen (Wf XIV:12)
BR FInc1 Funeral Music for Count Philipp Ernst (lost)
BR FInc2 Heut ist der Tag des Dankens, ihr Völker (lost)

Arias, Cantatas & Incidental Music
BR G 1 Luci amate ah non piangete (Wf XVIII:8)
BR G 2-11 10 Italian Arias (lost)
BR G12-26 15 Italian Cantatas (lost)
BR G27 L'Inciampo (Wf XVIII:2)
BR G28-44 18 Italian Cantatas (lost)
BR G45 Scenes for Il pastor fido (lost)
BR G46 Cassandra (Wf XVIII:1)
BR G47 Die Amerikanerin (Wf XVIII:3)
BR G48 Ino (Wf XVIII:4)
BR G49 Prokris und Cephalus (Wf XVIII:6)
BR G50 Pygmalion (Wf XVIII:5)
BR G51 Ariadne auf Naxos (lost)
BR G52 Brutus (Wf XVII:1) (lost)
BR G53 Philoktetes (Wf XVII:2) (lost)
BR GInc1 Stimmt an, greift rasch in eure Saiten (lost)
BR GInc2 Va crescendo il mio tormento

Songs
BR H 1 Lied: Ein dunkler Feind (Wf XIX:1/1)
BR H 2 Lied: Die Gespenster (Wf XIX:1/2)
BR H 3 Lied: Die Zeit (Wf XIX:1/3)
BR H 4 Lied: Der Sieg über sich selbst (Wf XIX:1/4)
BR H 5 Lied: Der Nachbarin Climene (Wf XIX:1/5)

Other Works in Wohlfarth's catalogue
Wf V Sextet for piano, winds & strings in C major (lost)
Wf XV:1 Ich lieg und schlafe ganz mit Frieden
Wf XV:2 Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme
Wf XV:3 Dem Erlöser
Wf XV:4 Unsere Auferstehung durch die Auferstehung Jesu
Wf XVI:1 5 Geistliche Lieder
Wf XVI:2 50 Geistliche Lieder
Wf XVIII:7 O, wir bringen gerne dir
Wf XVIIII:2 24 Lieder
Wf XX:1 Keyboard Concerto in C minor
Wf XX:2 Keyboard Concerto in G major
Wf XX:4 Fugue for keyboard in C minor
Wf XXI:1 Arrangement of CPE Bach's "Weynachtslied"
Wf XXI:2 Arrangement of CPE Bach's "Dancklied"
Wf XXI:3 Arrangement of CPE Bach's "Der thätige Glaube"

Works not referenced in any catalogue
Cello Sonata in G major

Notes

References

*Ulrich Leisinger, "Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach," "Grove Music Online", accessed 26 August 2006, .
*Eugene Helm, "Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach" "The New Grove Bach Family" Macmillan 1985 pp309-314

External links

*IckingArchive|idx=J.C.F.Bach|name=Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach
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