Bwv 4

General
1

Does anyone have a score with a figured bass for the duet (Versus 2) of
Bach’s Cantata BWV 4 they’d be willing to share?

Many thanks.

2

Is it unfigured by Bach, is that the point of the query? All the IMSLP versions seem to have no figures.

3

Le 15/02/2024 11:32, Andrew Bernard via The Jackrail écrit :

Is it unfigured by Bach, is that the point of the query? All the IMSLP
versions seem to have no figures.

Yes, Bach’s score is unfigured. Which is why I’m after figures.

4

Try to write in the figures yourself. That’s what I did for the Fourth Brandenburg Concerto.

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5

Le 15/02/2024 12:23, Frank Mento via The Jackrail écrit :

Try to write in the figures yourself.

Thank you, Frank. I’ve already done this. Even twice, since I can’t
manage to find the score I’d figured five or ten years ago now that I
need it again. There are obviously places where there are several
possibilities, and I’d like to compare different versions.

6

Compare what? Different realized versions?

The score is the score, so whatever is there harmony wise as you interpret it is as good as any one else’s.

I just looked on IMSLP. There are two sets of parts with realized organ/harpsichord parts. (Bach Gesellschaft and Michel Rondeau) So you could compare what they came up with. Also seeing what the multiple vocal scores show might be worthwhile.

Good luck.

7

Yes, that’s a good idea.

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8

Le 15/02/2024 13:18, Dongsok Shin via The Jackrail écrit :

Compare what? Different realized versions?

No, compare different figurings, in particular where the bass plays
alone, or when the voices don’t suggest an obvious harmony.

The score is the score, so whatever is there harmony wise as you
interpret it is as good as any one else’s.

Thank you, but I’d still like to see other choices, even if they’re as
good as mine.

I just looked on IMSLP. There are two sets of parts with realized
organ/harpsichord parts. (Bach Gesellschaft and Michel Rondeau) So you
could compare what they came up with. Also seeing what the multiple
vocal scores show might be worthwhile.

I’ve only seen the second you mention. But I’ll have a look at the first.

9

Le 15/02/2024 13:18, Dongsok Shin via The Jackrail écrit :

I just looked on IMSLP. There are two sets of parts with realized
organ/harpsichord parts. (Bach Gesellschaft and Michel Rondeau) So you
could compare what they came up with. Also seeing what the multiple
vocal scores show might be worthwhile.

Thanks for pointing me to this. I just compared the three versions, and
see my own is much closer to BG than to MR, but with fuller harmonies
and more dissonances. The BG realization sounds rather skimpy in places:
it is often reduced to only one voice (sometimes only an open octave
above the bass - m.36, 42), or even nothing at all (second half of m.7)!
The very first measure already shows that there are various
possibilities. MR has 5 6 5 on beats 2-4, whereas BG (and I) have 6 6 6.