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Technical & Musical Terms & Abbreviations |
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This section of the Bach Cantatas Website (BCW) contains Technical & Musical Terms & Abbreviations, used by various contributors across the the BCW.
If there is any Term or Abbreviation regarding the BCW and/or relating to Bach & his music, which you do not understand and you want it to be explained, please send a message to the Bach Cantatas Mailing List (BCML). If you are not yet a member of the BCML, you are invited to join. The instructions how to join the BCML and how to post messages appear at: How to contribute.
If you want to contribute an explanation to a Term/Abbreviation, and/or have any corrections and/or additions to the Terms & Abbreviations section, please send a message to me in accordance with the guidelines at: How to contribute |
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Contents |
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Terms & Abbreviations with Bach connection
General Abbreviations
Voices & Instruments
Musical Terms
Acronyms of Performers
Abbreviations used for the Chorales
Use of Concerto, J.J. and SDG in Bach's Sacred Works |
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Part 1: Terms & Abbreviations with Bach Connection |
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Abbreviation |
Full Words |
Explanation |
Source |
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AF |
Art of Fugue |
Art of Fugue BWV 1080 |
Braatz |
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AMB |
Anna Magdalena Bach |
J.S. Bach’s 2nd wife |
Lehman |
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AMN |
Anna Magdalena Notenbüchlein |
Anna Magdalena Notenbüchlein |
Oron |
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Anh |
Anhang |
Usually used for a composition which isn't included in the "normal" catalogue because of doubtful authenticity |
Veen |
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AOF |
Art of Fugue |
Art of Fugue BWV 1080 |
Oron |
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AT |
Actus tragicus |
Cantata BWV 106 |
Braatz |
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BC |
Bach Compendium Schulze/Wolff |
Begun in 1985, by 1989 4 vols. had appeared, gives source-critical and bibliographical information on all of Bach's works |
Braatz |
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BCML |
Bach Cantatas Mailing List |
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Oron |
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BCW |
Bach Cantatas Website |
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Oron |
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BDok |
Bach-Dokumente 3 vols. 1963, 1969, 1972 |
Contains all important documents by Bach and by his contemporaries about Bach |
Braatz |
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BG / BGA |
Gesamtausgabe der Bach-Gesellschaft |
The first complete edition of JSB's works published in Leipzig 1851-1899. Many cheap reprints are available from this edition (Dover, etc.) |
Braatz / Veen |
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BJ, BJb |
Bach-Jahrbuch |
1904 ff. The scholarly Bach Yearbook collection of articles on Bach's works |
Braatz |
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BK |
Brandenburgische Konzerte |
The Brandenburg Concertos BWV 1046-1051 |
Braatz |
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BMM |
B Minor Mass |
English abbreviation for Mass in B minor BWV 232 |
Oron |
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BRML |
Bach Musicology Mailing List |
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Oron |
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BRML |
Bach Recordings Mailing List |
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Oron |
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BWV |
Bach Werke Verzeichnis |
Thematisch-systematisches Verzeichnis der musikalischen Werke von Johann Sebastian Bach, Wolfgang Schmieder, Leipzig, 1950, 1990, the standard reference number system, the equivalent to the Köchel-Verzeichnis for the works of W.A. Mozart |
Braatz |
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CB |
Clavierbüchlein |
Little keyboard works. Three well-known manuscripts from the Bach family are cutomarily referred to by this word: one for Wilhelm Friedemann Bach and two for J.S. Bach’s second wife, Anna Magdalena |
Braatz / Oxford |
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CC |
Coffee Cantata |
Cantata BWV 212 |
Braatz |
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CM |
Chorale Melody |
Chorale Melody used in Bach's Works
See: Chorale Melodies used in Bach's Vocal Works |
Oron |
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CO |
Christmas Oratorio |
English abbreviation for Weihnachts-Oratorium BWV 248 |
Oron |
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CPEB, CphE, CPE, |
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach |
2nd surviving son of J.S. Bach and Maria Barbara Bach. Composer, keyboard player, and writer on music |
Lehman |
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CT |
Chorale Text |
Chorale Texts used in Bach's Vocal Works.
See: Texts & English Translations of Chorales used in Bach's Vocal Works |
Oron |
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CU1 |
Clavier-Übung 1 |
Including Partitas |
Braatz |
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CU2 |
Clavier-Übung 2 |
Including Italian Concerto |
Braatz |
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CU3 |
Clavier-Übung 2 |
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Braatz |
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CU4 |
Clavier-Übung 2 |
Including Goldberg Variations |
Braatz |
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Deest |
(=de-est; Latin). Often used to indicate that a composition isn't included in the catalogue |
Veen |
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DürrC |
Chronologie der Leipziger Vokalwerke, Alfred Dürr, 1976 |
A standard reference to determine the chronology of Bach's vocal works composed in Leipzig |
Braatz |
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DürrK |
Die Kantaten, Alfred Dürr, 1971-1985 |
A thorough reference work for all of Bach's cantatas |
Braatz |
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EKG |
Evangelisches Kirchengesangbuch |
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Veen |
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EO |
Easter Oratorio |
English abbreviation for Oster-Oratorium BWV 249 |
Oron |
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ES |
Englische Suiten |
The English Suites BWV 806-811 |
Braatz |
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FS |
Französische Suiten |
The French Suites BWV 812-817 |
Braatz |
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GV |
Goldberg Variationen |
The Goldberg Variations BWV 988 |
Braatz |
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HC |
Hunting Cantata |
Cantata BWV 208 |
Braatz |
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HO |
Himmelfahrts-Oratorium |
Ascension Oratorio BWV 11 |
Braatz |
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I&S |
Inventions & Sinfonias |
2-Part Inventions BWV 772-786 & 3-Part Inventions BWV 787-801 |
Oron |
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IC |
Italian Concerto |
Italian Concerto BWV 971 |
Braatz |
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JSB |
Johann Sebastian Bach |
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Oron |
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JP |
Johannes-Passion |
St. John Passion BWV 245 |
Braatz |
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KB |
Kritischer Bericht |
The critical reports that accompany the NBA musical scores |
Braatz |
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KBT |
Keyboard Toccatas |
Toccatas for Keyboard BWV 910-916 |
Oron |
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KdF |
Kunst der Fuge |
Art of Fugue BWV 1080 |
Veen |
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KF |
Die Kunst der Fuge |
Art of Fugue BWV 1080 |
Braatz |
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LCY |
The Lutheran Church Year |
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Oron |
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LM |
Lutheran Masses |
The Lutheran Masses BWV 233-236 |
Oron |
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LP |
Lukas-Passion |
St. Luke Passion BWV 246 |
Braatz |
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LW |
Lute Works |
Solo Works for Lute BWV 995-1000, 1006a |
Oron |
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MA, MAG |
Magnificat |
Magnificat BWV 243 |
Braatz |
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MB |
H-moll Messe |
The Mass in B-Minor BWV 232 |
Braatz |
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MBM |
Mass in B minor |
English abbreviation for Mass in B minor BWV 232 |
Oron |
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MO |
Musikalisches Opfer |
The Musical Offering BWV 1079 |
Braatz |
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MP |
Matthäus-Passion |
St. Matthew Passion BWV 244 |
Braatz |
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NBA |
Neue Bach-Ausgabe |
The most recent effort by Bärenreiter - Kassel 1954-?? to publish a critical edition of JSB's entire musical oeuvre. It replaces the BG that was published over a century ago. It is almost complete! |
Braatz |
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OO |
Oster-Oratorium |
Easter Oratorio BWV 249 |
Braatz |
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OS |
Orchestral Suites |
Orchestral Suites BWV 1066-1069 (use a number after the acronym if referring to a specific one) |
Braatz |
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PC |
Peasant Cantata |
Cantata BWV 211 |
Braatz |
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PT |
Partitas |
Partitas (for Klavier) BWV 825-830 |
Braatz |
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PT |
Piano Trancription |
Piano Transcription of Bach's work |
Oron |
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S&P |
Sonats & Partitas |
Sonatas & Partitas for Violin BWV 1001-1006 |
Oron |
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SJP |
St. John Passion |
English abbreviation for Johannes-Passion BWV 245 |
Oron |
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SLP |
St. Lukas Passion |
English abbreviation for Lukas-Passion BWV 246 |
Oron |
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SMP |
St. Matthew Passion |
English abbreviation for Matthäus-Passion BWV 244 |
Oron |
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SRP |
St. Mark Passion |
English abbreviation for Markus-Passion BWV 247 |
Oron |
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WFB, WF |
Wilhelm Friedemann Bach |
1st surviving son of J.S. Bach and Maria Barbara Bach. Composer |
Oron |
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WFN |
Wilhelm Friedemann Notenbüchlein |
Wilhelm Friedemann Notenbüchlein |
Oron |
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WK |
Das Wohltemperierte Klavier |
Well-tempered Clavier BWV 846-893 |
Braatz |
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WO |
Weihnachts-Oratorium |
Christmas Oratorio BWV 248 |
Braatz |
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WTC |
Wohltemperirtes Clavier |
Well-tempered Clavier BWV 846-893 |
Veen |
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WTC 1 |
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Well-tempered Clavier, Book 1, BWV 846-869 |
Oron |
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WTC 2 |
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Well-tempered Clavier, Book 1I, BWV 870-893 |
Oron |
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WTK |
Wohltemperirtes Klavier |
Well-tempered Clavier BWV 846-893 |
Oron |
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WZ |
Wasserzeichen, watermark |
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Braatz |
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XO |
Christmas Oratorio |
English abbreviation for Weihnachts-Oratorium BWV 248 |
Oron |
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2I |
2-Part Inventions |
2-Part Inventions BWV 772-786 |
Braatz |
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3I |
3-Part Inventions |
3-Part Inventions BWV 787-801 |
Braatz |
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48 |
48 Preludes & Fugues |
Well-tempered Clavier BWV 846-893 |
Oron |
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Abbreviations used by Bach |
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Abbreviations used by Bach in his personal invocations that appear at the top of the first page and at the end of the autograph scores that have survived: |
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J. J. |
Jesu Juva |
Jesus, help [me] ! See: Use of Concerto, J.J. and SDG in Bach's Sacred Works |
Braatz |
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J. N. J. A |
In Nomine Jesu Amen |
in the name of Jesus, Amen [BWV 16] |
Braatz |
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In N. Dom. J. C. |
In Nomine Domini Jesu Christi |
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ [BWV 20 - the beginning of Bach's 2nd Cantata Cycle] |
Braatz |
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S.D.G. |
Soli Deo Gloria |
to God alone be the glory. See: Use of Concerto, J.J. and SDG in Bach's Sacred Works |
Braatz |
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D.S.G. |
Deo Soli Gloria |
to God alone the glory |
Braatz |
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Laus Deo |
Praise be to God! [BWV 71] |
Braatz |
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The technical terms & abbreviations in this page are mostly compiled from the following sources:
Common – Common use, especially in e-mail correspondence
Alec Robertson's book 'The Church Cantatas of J.S. Bach' (Cassell - London, 1972)
New Harvard Dictionary of Music
Thomas Braatz - Member of the BCML
Frank Fogliati - Member of the BCML
Bradley Lehman - Member of BCML
Aryeh Oron - Member of the BCML
Johan van Veen - Member of the BCML |
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Prepared by Aryeh Oron (December 2000 - September 2009) |
