Johann Christoph Bach

Johann Christoph Bach (1642–1703) may have been the most important Bach before Johann Sebastian. In 1663, at the age of twenty-one, he was appointed organist of the Arnstadt castle chapel. Two years later, he was appointed organist at St. Georg in Eisenach, as well as harpsichordist in the court Kapelle of the Duke of Eisenach. He retained both positions until his death. J.S. Bach, in his genealogy of the family, called his cousin a “profound” composer. His music, within the style of the time, was thoughtful, singable, full-textured, complex, polyphonic. Surprisingly, for a keyboard player, he composed only a few pieces for keyboard. His vocal compositions, however, are many and varied. The concerti were particularly interesting, with elaborate and technically demanding instrumental parts. His twenty-two-part concerto for Michaelmas, Es erhub sich ein Streit, for example, is one of the greatest vocal works of the time.

Vocal Works Performed by the San Francisco Bach Choir

Ach, daß ich Wassers gnug hätte
Der Gerechte, ob er gleich zu zeitlich stirbt
Der Mensch, vom Weibe geboren
Es ist nun aus
Herr, nun läßest du deinen Diener in Friede fahren
Lieber Herr Gott, wecke uns auf
Unsers Herzens Freude hat ein Ende
Sei getreu bis in den Tod