The (, ; BWV) is a catalogue of compositions by Johann Sebastian Bach. It was first published in 1950, edited by Wolfgang Schmieder. The catalogue's second edition appeared in 1990 and the third edition in 2022.Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis (BWV). Thematisch-systematisches Verzeichnis der musikalischen Werke von Johann Sebastian Bach, 3rd expanded edn. Edited by Christine Blanken, Christoph Wolff and Peter Wollny
The catalogue groups compositions by genre. Even within a genre, compositions are not necessarily collated chronologically. In part this reflects the fact that some compositions cannot be dated. However, an approximate or precise date can be assigned to others: for example, BWV 992 was composed many years before BWV 1.
Alternative classifications The BWV classification is open to criticism, and the Bach scholar Christoph Wolff was involved in the design of an alternative, the Bach Compendium. Publication of the Bach Compendium began in 1985. The BWV, however, remains the standard reference, and Christoph Wolff has contributed to it as one of principal editors of the third edition.
BWV numbers were assigned to 1,126 compositions in the 20th century, and more have been added to the catalogue in the 21st century. The Annex of the BWV (BWV Anh.) lists over 200 lost, doubtful and spurious compositions. Occasionally works that have no BWV number can be identified by their BC number, e.g. BC C 8 for "Der Gerechte kömmt um", an arrangement attributed to Bach which was unmentioned in 20th-century editions of the BWV.
History
The first edition of the Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis was published in 1950. It allocated a unique number to every known composition by Bach. Wolfgang Schmieder, the editor of that catalogue, grouped the compositions by genre, largely following the 19th-century Bach Gesellschaft (BG) edition for the collation (e.g., BG cantata number = BWV number of the cantata): Kantaten (Cantatas), BWV 1–224 Motetten (Motets), BWV 225–231 Messen, Messensätze, Magnificat (Masses, Mass movements, Magnificat), BWV 232–243 Passionen, Oratorien (Passions, Oratorios), BWV 244–249 Vierstimmige Choräle (Four-part chorales), BWV 250–438 Lieder, Arien, Quodlibet (Songs, Arias and Quodlibet), BWV 439–524 Werke für Orgel (Works for organ), BWV 525–771 Werke für Klavier (Keyboard compositions), BWV 772–994 Werke für Laute (Lute compositions), BWV 995–1000 Kammermusik (Chamber music), BWV 1001–1040 Orchesterwerke (Works for orchestra), BWV 1041–1071, originally in two separate chapters: Concertos (BWV 1041–1065) and Overtures (BWV 1066–1071) Kanons (Canons), BWV 1072–1078 Musikalisches Opfer, Kunst der Fuge (Musical Offering, Art of the Fugue), BWV 1079–1080
The of the BWV listed works that were not suitable for the main catalogue, in three sections: I – lost works, or works of which only a tiny fraction had survived (Anh. 1–23) II – works of dubious authenticity (Anh. 24–155) III – works that were once attributed to Bach, but for which it had been established they were not composed by him (Anh. 156–189)
Within each section of the the works are sorted by genre, following the same sequence of genres as the main catalogue.
Schmieder published the BWV's second edition in 1990, with some modifications regarding authenticity discriminations, and more works added to the main catalogue and the . Several compositions were repositioned in the over-all structure of chapters organised by genre and sections. In 1998 Alfred Dürr and Yoshitake Kobayashi published a small edition of the catalogue, based on the 1990 second edition. This edition, known as BWV2a, contained a few further updates and collation rearrangements.
New additions () to BWV2/BWV2a included: BWV 1081–1126 BWV Anh. 190–213
Numbers above BWV 1126 were added in the 21st century.
The revised, third edition of the Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis (BWV3) was published in 2022. It was edited by Christine Blanken, Christoph Wolff and Peter Wollny with the Bach-Archiv Leipzig. (It was originally announced by the Bach Archive for publication in 2020, but was delayed.)
List of compositions by BWV number
The numbers assigned to compositions by Johann Sebastian Bach and by others in the Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis are widely used for the unique identification of these compositions. Exceptionally BWV numbers are also indicated as Schmieder (S) numbers (e.g. S. 225 = BWV 225).
BWV 1–1126 BWV numbers 1 to 1126 appear in the 1998 edition of the Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis. BWV 1 – Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern (cantata) BWV 2 – Ach Gott, vom Himmel sieh darein (cantata) BWV 3 – Ach Gott, wie manches Herzeleid (cantata) BWV 4 – Christ lag in Todes Banden (cantata): BWV 4.1BWV3 number according to Bach Digital website. – early version BWV 4.2 – Leipzig version BWV 5 – Wo soll ich fliehen hin (cantata) BWV 6 – Bleib bei uns, denn es will Abend werden (cantata) BWV 7 – Christ unser Herr zum Jordan kam (cantata) BWV 8 – Liebster Gott, wenn werd ich sterben? (cantata): BWV 8.1 – first version BWV 8.2 – second version BWV 8/6 – "Herrscher über Tod und Leben" (closing chorale) BWV 9 – Es ist das Heil uns kommen her (cantata) BWV 10 – Meine Seel erhebt den Herren (cantata) BWV 11 – Lobet Gott in seinen Reichen (oratorio) BWV 12 – Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen (cantata) BWV 13 – Meine Seufzer, meine Tränen (cantata) BWV 14 – Wär Gott nicht mit uns diese Zeit (cantata) BWV 15 – Denn du wirst meine Seele nicht in der Hölle lassen (cantata) BWV 16 – Herr Gott, dich loben wir (cantata) BWV 17 – Wer Dank opfert, der preiset mich (cantata) BWV 18 – Gleichwie der Regen und Schnee vom Himmel fällt (cantata): BWV 18.1 – early version BWV 18.2 – Leipzig version BWV 19 – Es erhub sich ein Streit (cantata) BWV 20 – O Ewigkeit, du Donnerwort (cantata) BWV 21 – Ich hatte viel Bekümmernis (cantata): BWV 21.1 – first version BWV 21.2 – second version BWV 21.3 – third version BWV 22 – Jesus nahm zu sich die Zwölfe (cantata) BWV 23 – Du wahrer Gott und Davids Sohn (cantata): BWV 23.1 – first version BWV 23.2 – second version BWV 23.3 – third version BWV 24 – Ein ungefärbt Gemüte (cantata) BWV 25 – Es ist nichts Gesundes an meinem Leibe (cantata) BWV 26 – Ach wie flüchtig, ach wie nichtig (cantata) BWV 27 – Wer weiß, wie nahe mir mein Ende? (cantata) BWV 28 – Gottlob! nun geht das Jahr zu Ende (cantata) BWV 28/2a (formerly BWV 231) – Sei Lob und Preis mit Ehren (motet, variant of second movement of BWV 28 and of BWV Anh. 160)Bach Digital Work at BWV 29 – Wir danken dir, Gott, wir danken dir (cantata) BWV 30: BWV 30.1 (previously 30a) – Angenehmes Wiederau (secular cantata)Bach's secular cantatas in BWV order, each followed by a link to the Bach Digital Work (BDW) page of the cantata at the Bach Digital website: BWV 30.2 (previously 30) – Freue dich, erlöste Schar (cantata) BWV 31 – Der Himmel lacht! Die Erde jubilieret (cantata): BWV 31.1 – Weimar version BWV 31.2 – Leipzig version BWV 32 – Liebster Jesu, mein Verlangen (cantata) BWV 33 – Allein zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ (cantata) BWV 34 – O ewiges Feuer, o Ursprung der Liebe (cantata): BWV 34.1 (previously 34) – for Pentecost BWV 34.2 (previously 34a) – for wedding BWV 35 – Geist und Seele wird verwirret (cantata) BWV 36: BWV 36.1 (previously 36c) – Schwingt freudig euch empor (secular cantata) BWV 36.2 (previously 36a) – Steigt freudig in die Luft (secular cantata) BWV 36.3 (previously 36b) – Die Freude reget sich (secular cantata) BWV 36.4 (previously 36 (1)) – Schwingt freudig euch empor (cantata), early version BWV 36.5 (previously 36 (2)) – Schwingt freudig euch empor (cantata) BWV 37 – Wer da gläubet und getauft wird (cantata) BWV 38 – Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir (cantata) BWV 39 – Brich dem Hungrigen dein Brot (cantata) BWV 40 – Darzu ist erschienen der Sohn Gottes (cantata) BWV 41 – Jesu, nun sei gepreiset (cantata) BWV 42 – Am Abend aber desselbigen Sabbats (cantata) BWV 43 – Gott fähret auf mit Jauchzen (cantata) BWV 43/11 – "Du Lebensfürst, Herr Jesu Christ" (closing chorale) BWV 44 – Sie werden euch in den Bann tun (cantata) BWV 45 – Es ist dir gesagt, Mensch, was gut ist (cantata) BWV 46 – Schauet doch und sehet, ob irgend ein Schmerz sei (cantata) BWV 47 – Wer sich selbst erhöhet, der soll erniedriget werden (cantata) BWV 48 – Ich elender Mensch, wer wird mich erlösen (cantata) BWV 49 – Ich geh und suche mit Verlangen (cantata) BWV 50 – Nun ist das Heil und die Kraft (cantata) BWV 51 – Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen (cantata) BWV 52 – Falsche Welt, dir trau ich nicht (cantata) BWV 53 – Schlage doch, gewünschte Stunde (cantata) BWV 54 – Widerstehe doch der Sünde (cantata) BWV 55 – Ich armer Mensch, ich Sündenknecht (cantata) BWV 56 – Ich will den Kreuzstab gerne tragen (cantata) BWV 57 – Selig ist der Mann (cantata) BWV 58 – Ach Gott, wie manches Herzeleid (cantata): BWV 58.1 – early version BWV 58.2 – later version BWV 59 – Wer mich liebet, der wird mein Wort halten (cantata) BWV 60 – O Ewigkeit, du Donnerwort (cantata) BWV 61 – Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland (cantata) BWV 62 – Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland (cantata) BWV 63 – Christen, ätzet diesen Tag (cantata) BWV 64 – Sehet, welch eine Liebe hat uns der Vater erzeiget (cantata) BWV 65 – Sie werden aus Saba alle kommen (cantata) BWV 66: BWV 66.1 (previously 66a) – Der Himmel dacht auf Anhalts Ruhm und Glück (secular cantata) BWV 66.2 (previously 66) – Erfreut euch, ihr Herzen (cantata) BWV 67 – Halt im Gedächtnis Jesum Christ (cantata) BWV 68 – Also hat Gott die Welt geliebt (cantata) BWV 69 – Lobe den Herrn, meine Seele (cantata): BWV 69.1 (previously 69a) – for the 12th Sunday after Trinity BWV 69.2 (previously 69) – for council election BWV 70 – Wachet! Betet! Betet! Wachet! (cantata): BWV 70.1 (previously 70a) – for the 2nd Sunday of Advent BWV 70.2 (previously 70) – for the 26th Sunday after Trinity BWV 71 – Gott ist mein König (cantata) BWV 72 – Alles nur nach Gottes Willen (cantata) BWV 73 – Herr, wie du willt, so schicks mit mir (cantata) BWV 74 – Wer mich liebet, der wird mein Wort halten (cantata) BWV 75 – Die Elenden sollen essen (cantata) BWV 76 – Die Himmel erzählen die Ehre Gottes (cantata) BWV 77 – Du sollt Gott, deinen Herren, lieben (cantata) BWV 78 – Jesu, der du meine Seele (cantata) BWV 79 – Gott der Herr ist Sonn und Schild (cantata) BWV 80: BWV 80.1 (previously 80a) – Alles, was von Gott geboren (cantata), Weimar version BWV 80.2 (previously 80b) – Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott (cantata), first Leipzig version BWV 80.3 (previously 80) – Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott (cantata), second Leipzig version BWV 81 – Jesus schläft, was soll ich hoffen? (cantata) BWV 82 – Ich habe genug (cantata): BWV 82.1 – first version BWV 82.2 – second version BWV 82.3 – third version BWV 83 – Erfreute Zeit im neuen Bunde (cantata) BWV 84 – Ich bin vergnügt mit meinem Glücke (cantata) BWV 85 – Ich bin ein guter Hirt (cantata) BWV 86 – Wahrlich, wahrlich, ich sage euch (cantata) BWV 87 – Bisher habt ihr nichts gebeten in meinem Namen (cantata) BWV 88 – Siehe, ich will viel Fischer aussenden (cantata) BWV 89 – Was soll ich aus dir machen, Ephraim (cantata) BWV 90 – Es reißet euch ein schrecklich Ende (cantata) BWV 91 – Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ (cantata): BWV 91.1 – early version BWV 91.2 – later version BWV 92 – Ich hab in Gottes Herz und Sinn (cantata) BWV 93 – Wer nur den lieben Gott läßt walten (cantata) BWV 94 – Was frag ich nach der Welt (cantata) BWV 95 – Christus, der ist mein Leben (cantata) BWV 96 – Herr Christ, der einge Gottessohn (cantata) BWV 97 – In allen meinen Taten (cantata) BWV 98 – Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan (cantata) BWV 99 – Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan (cantata) BWV 100 – Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan (cantata) BWV 101 – Nimm von uns, Herr, du treuer Gott (cantata) BWV 102 – Herr, deine Augen sehen nach dem Glauben (cantata)