Johann Ludwig Bach ( – 1 May 1731) was a German composer and violinist.
He was born in Thal (Ruhla) near Eisenach on 4 February 1677. At the age of 22 he moved to Meiningen eventually being appointed cantor there, and later Kapellmeister. He wrote a large amount of music and regularly oversaw performances, both at Meiningen and neighbouring courts.
He was a third cousin of Johann Sebastian Bach, who made copies of several of his cantatas and performed them at Leipzig. The cantata Denn du wirst meine Seele nicht in der Hölle lassen, BWV 15, once thought to be by Johann Sebastian, and listed as BWV 15 in Wolfgang Schmieder's catalogue of his works, is now thought to be by Johann Ludwig.
Bach died on 1 May 1731 in Meiningen.
Works, editions and recordings
The earliest lists of compositions by Johann Ludwig Bach appeared in the 19th century: Johann Theodor Mosewius listed 16 of his cantatas in 1852,Johann Theodor Mosewius. Johann Sebastian Bach's Matthaüs-Passion, musikalisch-aesthetisch dargestellt. Berlin: Guttentag (Trautwein), 1852; Republished by Michael Heinemann (editor) at Georg Olms Verlag, 2001 (), p. VI and Alfred Dörffel listed 17 cantatas and the Mass in E minor, with their incipits, in Vol. 41 of the Bach-Gesellschaft Ausgabe (1894). The Johann-Ludwig-Bach-Verzeichnis (catalogue of compositions by Johann Ludwig Bach, abbreviated JLB) contains 39 compositions, starting, in the same sequence, with the 17 cantatas listed by Dörffel:Hermann Max (editor). Johann Ludwig Bach: Ja, mir hast du Arbeit gemacht. Carus, 1982 Gott ist unser Zuversicht, sacred cantata for the fourth Sunday after Epiphany. Scored for soprano, alto, tenor and bass soloists (satb) and choir (SATB), with an accompaniment consisting of 2 violin parts and one viola part (Str), and basso continuo (Bc). Performed in Leipzig on .Gott ist unser Zuversicht, JLB 1 (Bach, Johann Ludwig) at IMSLP websiteBach Digital Work at Bach Digital website Der Gottlosen Arbeit, sacred cantata for the fifth Sunday after Epiphany. Scored for satbSATB, Str and Bc. Performed in Leipzig on .Der Gottlosen Arbeit, JLB 2 (Bach, Johann Ludwig) at IMSLP websiteBach Digital Work at Bach Digital website Darum will ich auch erwählen, sacred cantata for the third Sunday before Lent (Septuagesima). Scored for satbSATB, two oboes (2Ob), Str and Bc. Performed in Leipzig on .Darum will ich auch erwählen, JLB 3 (Bach, Johann Ludwig) at IMSLP websiteBach Digital Work at Bach Digital website Darum säet euch Gerechtigkeit, sacred cantata for the second Sunday before Lent (Sexagesima). Scored for satbSATB, Str and Bc. Performed in Leipzig on .Darum säet euch Gerechtigkeit, JLB 4 (Bach, Johann Ludwig) at IMSLP websiteBach Digital Work at Bach Digital website Ja, mir hast du Arbeit gemacht, sacred cantata for the last Sunday before Lent (Estomihi). Scored for satbSATB, Str and Bc. Performed in Leipzig on . Movements:Barbara Schlick, Mary Nichols, Wilfried Jochens, Jugendkantorei Dormagen, Das Kleine Konzert and Hermann Max (conductor). Johann Ludwig Bach: Kantaten. Carus, 1981Ja, mir hast du Arbeit gemacht, JLB 5 (Bach, Johann Ludwig) at IMSLP websiteBach Digital Work at Bach Digital website Part I Aria (bass): "Ja, mir hast du Arbeit gemacht" (Yes, you rather burden me, ) – Recitative (tenor): "Der Herr der Herrlichkeit" (The Lord of blessedness) – Duet (alto, tenor): "Ach, der Sünden Greul und Wust" (O, confusing sinfulness) – Recitative (bass): "Sehet, wir gehen hinauf" (Come now, we journey the path) Part II Aria (soprano): "Fließt, ihr Lieb- und Trauertränen" (Flow, my tears of love and mourning!, ) – Recitative (soprano): "Dies ist das Reis'geschenk" (With tears I follow you) – Arioso (alto): "O wundergroße Lieb" (O wondrous loving heart) – Chorus: "Zieh, teurer Jesus, hin" (My precious Lord, alas), concluding with two stanzas from Johannes Heermann's "Herzliebster Jesu, was hast du verbrochen" (tune by Johannes Crüger) Wie lieblich sind auf den Bergen, sacred cantata for the first Sunday after Easter (Quasimodogeniti). Scored for satbSATB, Str and Bc. Performed in Leipzig on .Wie lieblich sind auf den Bergen, JLB 6 (Bach, Johann Ludwig) at IMSLP websiteBach Digital Work at Bach Digital website Ich will meinen Geist, sacred cantata for the sixth Sunday after Trinity. Scored for satbSATB, two natural horns (2Hn), Str and Bc. Performed in Leipzig on . Movements:Ich will meinen Geist, JLB 7 (Bach, Johann Ludwig) at IMSLP websiteBach Digital Work at Bach Digital websiteMaria Zadori, Kai Wessel, David Cordier, Wilfried Jochens, Hans-Georg Wimmer, Stephan Schreckenberger, Harry van der Kamp, the Rheinische Kantorei, the Kleine Konzert and Hermann Max (conductor) Missa Brevis "Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr". Capriccio, 2004 Duet (soprano, alto): "Ich will meinen Geist in euch geben" Recitative (bass): "Das Gute, das ich kann" Aria (bass): "Lass mich deine Hilfe spüren" Arioso (alto, tenor): "An dem merken wir, dass wir ihn kennen" Aria (soprano): "Seele, wilst du Christum kennen" Recitative (soprano): "Dies ist die Prob', die er von dir begehrt" Chorus: "Hilf Jesu, hilf" – Chorale: "Die Werke kommen wahrlich her" Die mit Tränen säen, sacred cantata for the third Sunday after Easter (Jubilate). Scored for satbSATB, Str and Bc. Performed in Leipzig on . Movements:Bach Digital Work at Bach Digital websiteHans Hornung and Martin Gotthard Schneider (editors). Johann Ludwig Bach: Die mit Tränen säen. Carus, 1977 (21992)Susanne Gorzny, Steve Wächter, Michael Zabanoff, Biederitzer Kantorei, Telemann-Consort-Magdeburg and Michael Scholl (conductor). mitteldeutsche Barockkantaten. Amati, 2007 Chorus: "Die mit Tränen säen" (Who has sorrow planting, ) Recitative (alto): "Bei unverdrossnem Schweiß" (Alone by work and care) Aria (alto): "Tau und Tränen feuchten Saat und Herzen an" (Dew and weeping water seeds and faithful hearts) Duet (tenor, bass): "Denn ich halte es dafür" (This I strongly do maintain, ) Aria (soprano): "Dringt, ihr Qualen auf mich her" (Come, o torments, over me) Recitative (soprano): "Es kann die Seel kein besser Glück genießen" (The soul can know no higher satisfaction) Chorus: "O angenehmer Tausch" (O wonderful exchange), concluding with three stanzas from "Kommt her zu mir" by Georg Grünwald Mache dich auf, werde licht, sacred cantata for the feast of Purification. Scored for satbSATB, 2Ob, Str and Bc. Performed in Leipzig on . Movements:Bach Digital Work at Bach Digital websiteHermann Max (editor). Johann Ludwig Bach: Mache dich auf, werde licht. Carus, 1984 (21992) Part I Aria (bass): "Mache dich auf, werde licht" (Rise up and shine, be a light) – Duet (soprano, tenor): "Und die Heiden" (And the nations) – Recitative (alto): "Siehst du, verdüstert Aug'" (See now, most darkened eye) – Aria (soprano): "Weicht, ihr Schatten" (Flee, dark shadows) – Aria (tenor): "Herr, nun lässet du deinen Diener" (Lord, you let now your faithful servant) Part II Aria (alto): "Herr, dein Wort, das ist geschehen" (Lord, your word has been fulfilled now) – Recitative (soprano, alto, tenor, bass): "Dein Reich ist ja den Menschen zubereitet" (Your kingdom, Lord, is meant for ev'rybody) – Chorus: "Laß, Höchster, diesen Wunsch" (Most highest, may this wish) Er ist aus der Angst und Gericht genommen, sacred cantata for Easter Monday. Scored for satbSATB, 2Ob, Str and Bc. Performed in Leipzig on .Bach Digital Work at Bach Digital website Er machet uns lebendig, sacred cantata for Easter Tuesday. Scored for satbSATB, Str and Bc. Performed in Leipzig on . Movements:Bach Digital Work at Bach Digital website Chorus: "Er machet uns lebendig" Recitative: "Du hast gesiegt" Aria: "Soll ich vor dir, Herr" Duet: "So sind wir nun mit ihm begraben" Aria: "Geerbte Schuld" Recitative: "Nimm, Heiland, hin den Dank" Chorale: "Hilf, daß ich mit diesem Morgen" Und ich will ihnen einen einigen Hirten, sacred cantata for the second Sunday after Easter (Misericordias Domini). Scored for satbSATB, Str and Bc. Performed in Leipzig on .Bach Digital Work at Bach Digital website Der Herr wird ein Neues im Lande, sacred cantata for the feast of Visitation. Scored for satbSATB, 2Ob, Str and Bc. Performed in Leipzig on . Movements:Bach Digital Work at Bach Digital website Chorus: "Der Herr wird ein Neues im Lande erschaffen" Recitative (alto): "Hat Gott nicht alles gut gemacht?" Aria (alto): "Evens Kinder aus der Schuld zu reißen" Aria (soprano): "Meine Seele erhebt den Herrn" Arioso (tenor, bass): "Gesegnet ist der Leib, der Jesum hat getragen" Recitative (alto, tenor, bass): "Muss alle Welt die Mutter selig preisen" Chorus: "Verschmähe nicht den Preis" – Chorale: "Nun lob', mein Seel', den Herren" Die Weisheit kömmt nicht, sacred cantata for the fourth Sunday after Easter (Cantate). Scored for sabbSATB, 2Ob, Str and Bc. Performed in Leipzig on . Movements:Bach Digital Work at Bach Digital website Chorus: "Die Weisheit kömmt nicht in eine boshafte Seele" Recitative (tenor): "Wie stehen Tag und Finsternis zusammen" Aria (tenor): "Licht und Recht muss die Brust der Seelen weisen" Arioso (bass): "Wenn derselbige kommt, der die Welt wird strafen" Aria (soprano): "Streu ein Fünklein reiner Flammen" Recitative (soprano): "Wie kann ich sonst vor seinem Recht bestehn?" Chorale (chorus): "O du allersüß'ste Freude" Durch sein Erkenntnis, sacred cantata for the 11th Sunday after Trinity. Scored for satbSATB, 2Ob, Str and Bc. Performed in Leipzig on .Bach Digital Work at Bach Digital website Ich aber ging für dir über, sacred cantata for the 13th Sunday after Trinity. Scored for satbSATB, 2Ob, Str and Bc. Performed in Leipzig on .Bach Digital Work at Bach Digital website Siehe, ich will meinen Engel senden, sacred cantata for the feast of St. John the Baptist. Scored for satbSATB, 2Ob, Str and Bc. Performed in Leipzig on .Bach Digital Work at Bach Digital website Klingt vergnügt, ihr holden Saiten, secular cantata.Bach Digital Work 10563 at Bach Digital website O Herr, ich bin dein Knecht, funeral music (Trauermusik) for Ernst Ludwig I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen (died 24 November 1724).Bach Digital Work at Bach Digital website Movements:Maria Zadori, Lena Susanne Norin, Guy de Mey, Klaus Mertens, Veronika Winter, Gundula Anders, Hans Jörg Mammel, Hans-Joachim Weber, Annette Schneider, Rheinische Kantorei, Das Kleine Konzert and Hermann Max (conductor). Johann Ludwig Bach: Trauermusik (für Soli, Doppelchor, 2 Orchester). Capriccio, 2011 Part I: "O Herr, ich bin dein Knecht" (Chorus) – Recitative: "Du Gottes Ebenbild" (Soprano) – Aria: "Ach ja, die Ketten" (Soprano) – Recitative: "Dein Will kann nicht das?" (Alto) – Aria: "O Herr, ich bin dein Knecht" (Alto) – Recitative: "So kannstu aus dem Diensthaus" (Tenor) – Aria: "Ob gleich aller Treiber Wut" (Tenor) – Recitative: "Ja, der, dem alle Macht" (Bass) – "Meine Bande sind zurissen" (Chorus) Part II: Duet and Aria: Ich suche nur das Himmelleben (Soprano, Alto, Bass) – Chorale: Herr Jesu Christ (Chorus) – Duet: Drum will ich auch Dankopfer bringen (Alto, Tenor) – Aria: Das, was ich meinem Gott versprochen (Bass) – Chorale: Herr Jesu Christ (Chorus) – Duet: Drum Welt, ade, ich bin dein müde (Soprano, Alto) – Aria and Chorale: Jerusalem, ich tu verlangen (Tenor, Bass, Chorus) Part III: Dir Will Ich Dank Opfern (Chorus) – Recitative: Was Ist Der Mensch, Herr (Alto) – Aria: Dies Macht Dein Sohn (Alto) – Recitative: Befreit Mich Nun Der Sohn (Tenor) – Aria: Lob Und Dank Zum Opfer Geben (Tenor) – Recitative: Doch Eines Weiss Ich Noch (Soprano) – Aria: Da, Da Will Ich Dir Bezahlen (Soprano) – Accompagnato: Die Herrschaft, Welche Nur (Bass) – So Viel Gnadengaben (Bass) – Finale: In Dir, Jerusalem (Chorus) – Chorale: Preis, Lob, Ehr, Ruhm, Dank, Kraft Und Macht (Chorus) Ouvertüre à 4 in G major.Bach Digital Work 10960 at Bach Digital website