Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach

Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach (21 June 1732 – 26 January 1795) was a harpsichordist and composer, the fifth son of Johann Sebastian Bach, sometimes referred to as the "Bückeburg Bach".

Born in Leipzig in the Electorate of Saxony, he was taught music by his father, and also tutored by his distant cousin Johann Elias Bach [de]. He studied at the St. Thomas School, and some believe he studied law at the university there, but there is no record of this. In 1750, William, Count of Schaumburg-Lippe appointed Johann Christoph harpsichordist at Bückeburg, and in 1759, he became concertmaster. While there, Bach collaborated with Johann Gottfried 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 Münchhausen (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. J. C. F. Bach died 1795 in Bückeburg, aged 62.

The 1911 Encyclopædia 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 twenty symphonies, the later ones influenced by Haydn and Mozart; hardly a genre of vocal music was neglected by him.

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. Musicologists Hansdieter Wohlfahrth, who catalogued his works, and Ulrich Leisinger consider Bach a transitional figure in the mold of his half-brother C. P. E., his brother Johann Christian, the Grauns (Carl and Johann), 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.

"BR-JCFB" denotes "Bach-Repertorium Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach". "Wf" denotes "wohlfahrt verzeichnis". Bach Digital Work (BDW) pages contain information about individual compositions.

Two Sonatas from "Musikalisches Vielerley" collection of works made by CPE Bach - not after 1770.

"Six easy Sonatas for Clavier or Pianoforte" - composed before December 26, 1783.

Three Sonatas and Sonatina from "Musikalische Nebenstunden" Collection of works made by JCF Bach - Not after 1787/88

"Three easy Sonatas for Clavier of Pianoforte" - composed before October 1788, published in 1789

Six easy Sonatas - composed around 1785 - perhaps composed for Christoph Ernst Abraham Albrecht von Boineburg, at that time the judiciary in Rinteln.

Six Sonatas - composed around 1785 - probably like A 16 - 21 for C.E.A.A von Boineburg.

Seven Sonatas - Composed before around and not after March 1789, only one Sonata survived.

Five Pieces from "Musikalisches Vielerley" - not after 1770

Seventy pieces from "Musikalische Nebenstunden" - The keyboard pieces belong to different genre traditions and are likely to come from different creative periods. (Wf XII/13)

Five Pieces - composed around 1745/49, at least before taking up service in Bückeburg.

Six fugues - published under Telemann name - not after 1758

The "Sonatas" denotes the Trio Sonata form.

Two trios for two Violins and Basso Continuo - Composed before December 23, 1768.

Six Sonatas for Keyboard and flute (violin) - one of the most widely performed work by composer - published 1777

versions 16b and 18b were versions made after the published collection, meaning that 16a and 18a are those found in the collection Two Sonatas for keyboard and violin from Musikalische Nebenstunden

Three Sonatas for keyboard and flute (violin) - composed around 1770/80

Six Sonatas with keyboard - composed around 1780 not before 1777 - for Keyboard, Flute, Violin and Viola

Six Quartet for Flute, Violin, Viola and Basso Continuo - composed around 1768/69 and not before 1766

Six Quartet for 2 Violins, viola and Basso Continuo - composed in England around 1778

Seven Symphonies - composed before December 23, 1768

Three Symphonies - composed by 1770

Three Symphonies à 6- composed until 1770

Six Symphonies à 8 or à 10 - composed by 1792

Six Keyboard Concerto - Composed in England around 1778 or immediately after his return.

Liturgical Works Oratorios

Cantata

Mass/ Mass set/ Magnificat

Cantatas

Arias, cantatas and incidental music

Songs

Works not referenced in any catalogue

Notes

Sources