Bach for Band: A Repertoire List

No student can have a proper music education without having the chance to perform the music of J.S. Bach. Luckily, there are many transcriptions, at all levels, that can be programmed for our ensembles. Baroque music works very well for band.

A frustration

Why do arrangers (or their publishers) feel the need to change the titles of pieces, or present them in a more dumbed-down way. For example, take Christmas Music from Bach, arranged by Frank Erickson. Is there a valid reason not to call it what Bach did, the Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248? Or, in this case, Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 (excerpts). And wouldn’t it be educational to also include the original German: Weihnachts-Oratorium, BWV 248?

Tips for conductors

As with playing any transcription, playing Bach is not only an opportunity for the students, but also an opportunity for the conductor to better their practice. Always listen to the works in their original form and watch videos of the great Bach interpreters.

The best conductors, for as long as I can remember, have advocated the use of Bach chorales for improving their band: for working on tone, intonation, phrasing, singing. A very useful resource for this is Bach and Before for Band, arranged by David Newell (Neil A. Kjos). This collection presents each line of the chorale (SATB) transposed for all instruments, therefore all instruments can play the soprano line, or all instruments could play the bass line. Unison playing is very useful for teaching students melodic inflection and playing in tune. However, Bach himself used the chorales to teach the interpretation of emotion.

Standard Repertoire

Level 1 and 2

At Level 1 and 2 I can’t think of any Bach arrangements that are considered standard repertoire and receive consistent performances.

Level 3 and 4

At Levels 3 and 4, the series of works by Alfred Reed are a must for every band library. The combination of JS Bach and Percy Grainger is too tantalising to ignore (O Mensch Bewein Dein Sunde). The Preludes and Fugues arranged by Moehlmann would also be considered standard repertoire.

Level 5 and 6

At levels 5 and 6 the Donald Hunsberger transcription of the Toccata and Fugue in D Minor is a standout. Grainger’s arrangement of Sheep May Safely Graze, entitled Blithe Bells, is available in two different editions, one by Robert Jager and one by Kevin Kastens. The Goldman transcription of the Fantasia in G Major would be considered standard repertoire at this level.

New Additions

David Whitwell’s new transcription of the Chaconne in D Minor is a tour de force and a must for high level bands. And finally available in a new edition is his transcription of the Bach Capriccio, BWV 992 ‘On the Departure of a Friend’.

Level 1 – Very Easy

Level 2 – Easy

plus many more

Level 3 – Medium Easy

Level 4 – Medium

Level 5 – Medium Advanced

Level 6 – Advanced