History#

The toccatas represent Bach’s earliest keyboard compositions known under a collective title. an important collection of keyboard and organ manuscripts of various composers compiled by Bach’s oldest brother, Johann Christoph Bach between 1707 and 1713. An early version of the BWV 912 (known as the BWV 912a) also exists in another collection compiled by Johann Christoph Bach known as the “Möller manuscript”, from around 1703 to 1707. This indicates that most of these works originated no later than Bach’s early Weimar years, though the early northern-German style indicates possible Arnstadt origin.

Composition#

The works bear an early northern-German influence, and Prelude and Fugue in A minor, BWV 551. Though the specific instrumentation is not given for any of the works, they are all strictly manualiter, as none of them call for pedal parts. In fact, the opening motifs of the BWV 912, 914 and 916 toccatas resemble the ones on the BWV 532, 534 and 541 organ preludes respectively.

The Seven Toccatas#

• Toccata in F-sharp minor, BWV 910

• (Toccata)#

• no tempo indication#

• Presto e Staccato (Fuga)#

• no tempo indication#

• (Fuga)#

• Toccata in C minor, BWV 911

• (Toccata)#

• Adagio#

• (Fuga)#

• Adagio#

• (Fuga)#

• Adagio / Presto#

• Toccata in D major, BWV 912

• Presto#

• Allegro#

• Adagio#

• no tempo indication#

• Con Discrezione#

• Fuga#

• Toccata in D minor, BWV 913

• (Toccata)#

• no tempo indication#

• Presto#

• Adagio#

• Allegro#

• Toccata in E minor, BWV 914

• (Toccata)#

• Un Poco Allegro (a 4 voci.)#

• Adagio#

• Allegro – Fuga (a 3 voci.)#

• Toccata in G minor, BWV 915

• (Toccata)#

• Adagio#

• Allegro#

• Adagio#

• Fuga#

• Toccata in G major, BWV 916

• Presto#

• Adagio#

• Allegro (Fuga)#

Works cited#

• Schulenberg, David (2006), The Keyboard Music of J.S. Bach (2nd ed.), Routledge,
• Williams, Peter (2003), The Organ Music of J. S. Bach (2nd ed.), Cambridge University Press,

External links#

• AllMusic links for BWV 910, BWV 911, BWV 912, BWV 913, BWV 914, BWV 915, and BWV 916.
• Netherlands Bach Society links for BWV 911, BWV 912, BWV 913, and BWV 914.