Bach, Johann Sebastian.

a hitherto unknown contemporary source, almost certainly in the hand of Johann Christian Kleingünther, with manuscript title and ownership inscription to first page ("Vermischte Musicalische Choral. Gedanken di Johann Sebastian Bach Possessor Johann Christian Kleingünther. Anno 1747"), the music written in brown ink on up to four two-stave systems per page, the chorale preludes numbered 1-16, with some manual and pedal indications; and containing on the final page a complete 15-bar Menuet



24 pages, including title, small oblong 4to (15.7  x 19.6cm), contemporary pencil annotation to minuet on final page ("Nicht abzuschreiben"), original coloured wrappers, no place, 1747, light browning, staining to edges, wrappers worn, small tear with slight loss of text to leaf 5  

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The chorale preludes are:

1) Fol. 1v: "Gottes Sohn ist kommen", BWV 600
2) Fol.2v: "Gelobet seyst du Jesus Christ", BWV 604
3) Fol.3r: "Von himmel hoch da kom ich her", BWV 606
4) Fol.3v: "Lobt Gott ihr Christen allzugleich", BWV 609
5) Fol.4r: "Das alte jahr vergangen ist...a. 2 Clavir et Pedal", BWV 614
6) Fol.4v: "Wir Christen Leuth", BWV 612
7) Fol.5v: "Herr Gott nun schleuß den himel auf", BWV 617
8) Fol.6v: "O Lamm Gottes unschuldig", BWV 618
9) Fol.7v: "Christ Lag in Todes banden", BWV 625
10) Fol.8r: "Erstanden ist der heilige Christ...con pedal", BWV 628
11) Fol.8v: "Erschienen ist der herrliche Tag...2 Clavir et Pedal", BWV 629
12) Fol.9v: "Komm Gott Schöpfer heiliger Geist", BWV 631 
13) Fol.10r: "Es ist das Heyl uns kommen her", BWV 638
14) Fol.10v: "Herr Christ ist der einig Gottes Sohn", BWV 601
15) Fol.11r: "Diß sind die heilgen zehn geboth", BWV 635
16) Fol.12r: "Nun komm der Heyden Heyland", BWV 599
  

A remarkable Bach discovery: this manuscript is not recorded in Schmieder or in the relevant critical report of the Neue Bach-Ausgabe (NBA IV/1, prepared by Heinz-Harald Löhlein in 1987).

Bach's incomparable collection of forty-six organ chorale preludes which make up the Orgelbüchlein - an indispensable part of any organist's repertoire - dates from 1713-1716, during the composer's Weimar years - although the title itself was added later by Bach to the autograph (now in the Berlin Staatsbibliothek), during his Cöthen period, with a few later revisions and additions dating from the Leipzig years.

The emergence of this volume raises intriguing questions of a textual and a biographical nature. While the question of the relationship of the present source to the other circa ten known contemporary (similarly partial) copies of the Orgelbüchlein cannot be resolved here, it may be noted that the prelude 'Es ist das Heyl kommen her' (no. 13 in the manuscript) follows the text of the autograph, and not that of an earlier version, (BWV 638a) which survives elsewhere. And with respect to biographical matters, could the owner, and presumed copyist, of the manuscript volume, Johann Christian Kleingünther, have been known personally to Bach? No information concerning him is, at any rate, currently known. 

The minuet which follows on the final page of the manuscript is unascribed and not listed among Bach's works in Schmieder. An anonymous minuet with a very similar incipit can be found in the RISM music manuscript database (Series A/II: 400.227.555).

We gratefully acknowledge the kind assistance given to us by Dr. Peter Wollny in our cataloguing of this lot.