Schemelli Song Book 1736 and six lieder from the Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach 1725 for Low voice BWV 439-507/511-514,516,517

Georg Christian Schemelli (around 1680–1762) was a pupil at the Leipzig St. Thomas School and later became Schlosskantor in Zeitz. He owes his fame to the fact that in 1763, he convinced Johann Sebastian Bach to contribute to his Musikalisches Gesang-Buch. Bach provided the figured bass for 69 melodies, as well as contributing some of his own melodies. Exactly how many and which ones he wrote is not known with certainty, as not all composers’ names were included.

The arioso-like quality of these songs makes them especially charming and sets them apart from the customary sacred songs and chorales of their time, allowing singers to create a much more intimate and individual interpretation.

Editor: Max Seiffert / Georg von Dadelsen