One might almost say that an apparition is human vision corrected by divine love. I do not see you as you really are, Joseph; I see you through my affection for you. The Miracles of the Church seem to me to rest not so much upon faces or voices or healing power coming suddenly near to us from afar off, but upon our perceptions being made finer, so that for a moment our eyes can see and our ears can hear what is there about us always. - Willa Cather, Death Comes for the Archbishop
2007, May 18
Chorale Files, Accuracy and Responsibility
Anyone using the Bach midi files should check the accuracy of the parts with a reliable edition of the chorales.
Because many errors have been found in the chorale files at JSBChorales.net, I am embarking on a proofreading mission through all the files. At the same time I will change measure numbers so that pick-up measures are not included in the numbering, as is the standard.
Since I work full time, this complete update will take considerable time. Revised files will be listed on the the update page as they are completed.
Be aware that copies of files on another person's server may not be correct. I can not be responsible for updating files on another person's server, even if my name is attached to them. My name associated with copies on another person's website does not mean that they have been been kept current.
In general people who wish to link to the files have been helpful and cooperative and have linked to my pages so that incorrect files are not proliferated.
Also, be aware that when the midi files are imported into a notation program, accidentals may be enharmonically incorrect. For instance a G sharp may be notated as an A flat.
If possible, please always check files against a reliable edition.
Chorale Editions
An overview and comparison of the editions of the chorales.
I have used the following editions in the preparation of the midi files of the chorales appearing on JSBChorales.net. Initially I used the Riemenschneider edition; it has some misprints and misleading voice notations, and coupled with input errors on my part there have been many errors uncovered in the chorales through the years. I have done ongoing corrections when I or a reader has found errors. As you can see on the Update page, many people have contributed to the correction process.
| J.S. Bach Four Part Chorales
by Johann Sebastian Bach, Imre Sulyok (Editor), Editio Musica Budapest 1982 Note: Reliable |
| Bach Chorales from the C.P.E.Bach Collection
by Johann Sebastian Bach, Frieder Rempp (Editor), Barenreiter 2002; Catalog number 5237 Note: New Bach Work Edition. Generally reliable. See note below. |
| Bach 389 Chorales
by Johann Sebastian Bach, Kalmus Edition, Belwin Mills Publishing Corp. Kalmus Catalog K06002. Note: Old Bach Work Edition, I have found no errors. |
| Bach 371 Harmonized Chorales
ed Riemenschneider, G. Schirmer 1941 Note: Old Bach Work Edition, many errors. |
| J.S. Bach Complete Church Cantatas
by Johann Sebastian Bach, CD Sheet Music, LLC, distributed by Theodore Presser. Note: Old Bach Work Edition, vocal scores with piano reduction. |
| J.S. Bach Keyboard Music and 371 Chorales
by Johann Sebastian Bach, CD Sheet Music, LLC, distributed by Theodore Presser. Note: This is a digitized Riemenschneider. |
An example of an inconsistency in the editions is the chorale, BWV 14.5, Barenreiter #182 (Kalmus #330), is unlike the chorale in the source cantata BWV 14.5; it has a repeat sign and if written out, at the point where the second repeat ends and the remainder of the chorale starts, successive 5ths are created between the bass and the alto. This does not exist in the cantata version because there is not a repeat, and Bach changed the bass and alto notes in the chord at the beginning of the next phrase. The Kalmus edition is correct. See the illustration.
From the cantata
From the Riemenschneider edition
For singers, the Kalmus edition is convenient, has the German words to the chorales, is accurate and a nice size. For keyboard players, the Musica Budapest edition is reliable, a good size and easy to read.
2007, April 25
Family Visit
A visit to my daughter and granddaughter.
A small child in a large world - she heads out to explore.
The family cats resting after a full day of avoiding being child-handled.
The family lives near a small beach and large hills in the central coast of California, great for hiking and exploring. She is becoming an outdoor child.
I spent most of my time reformatting and rebuilding my daughter's computer. It was a good visit, we accomplished a lot, and spent some very good time together.
2007, April 08
Farewell to Sister
Our household is diminished.
This week Sister, a cat who made her home with us, passed away. She had been ill for a long time and at last it was time.
She was the soul of the garden. I hope that where she has gone, she has a large, fragrant and sunny garden all to herself. We miss her.
2007, April 05
More from Hauptwerk
Cool pictures from Hauptwerk.nl.
The organ sounds for Hauptwerk, by Crumhorn labs, are recorded as samples then published by many sample set producers. Hauptwerk.nl has created sample sets for organs in the Netherlands. Below is one of the church organs they have sampled.
Wouldn't you love to do an organ tour of Europe?
2007, March 18
Hauptwerk Virgual Pipe Organ Software
James Pressler uses Hauptwerk to create his music files at Virtual Baroque.
Hauptwerk is a wonderful program from England; your computer can become a pipe organ. It uses sound samples of organs from all over the world; if attached to an adequate sound system, it can serve as an organ for churches, auditoriums, or in outdoor public spaces.
James Pressler uses Hauptwerk to create all his wonderful mp3 organ files on Virtual Baroque. He occasionally has midi files and a few wav files available also.
Using My Super PC and PC Perspective Hardware Leaderboard as starting points, I recently spent some time virtually building a Windows system that would meet Hauptwerk requirements and I was surprised to find that the cost, though self-built, was comparable to an equivalent Mac system.
Then, a few weeks later, the news broke from Hauptwerk:
Hauptwerk is now available for the Apple Mac (Intel and G4/G5) as well as Windows PCs. It performs so well on the current Mac range and OS X that we now recommend them as an ideal platform for Hauptwerk.
So now you can have the best of both worlds, the Mac world and the Hauptwerk Organ world. You can blow your neighbors' socks off with your virtual pipe organ on your Mac.
Requirements to use Hauptwerk Virtual Organ Software.
2007, February 18
Stress Management Ideas
Making its way around the internet.
Accept that some days you’re the pigeon, and some days you’re the statue.
Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.
Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.
Drive carefully. It’s not only cars that can be recalled by their Maker.
If you can’t be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.
If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.
It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.
Never buy a car you can’t push.
Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, because then you won’t have a leg to stand on.
Since it’s the early worm that gets eaten by the bird, sleep late.
The second mouse gets the cheese.
When everything’s coming your way, you’re in the wrong lane.
Birthdays are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live.
You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person.
Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.
We could learn a lot from crayons. Some are sharp, some are pretty and some are dull, some have weird names, and all are different colors, but they all have to live in the same box.
A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.
--
2007, February 05
Very Early Signs of Spring
Today is the beginning of meteorlogical spring, halfway between the Winter solstice and the Vernal equinox.
Kate, at Ciderpress Hill has seen the Bald Eagles arrive and begin to nest. Here the signs are more subtle--the cats are beginning to shed. Both these signs are related to the increasing day length, so now we know officially that Spring will arrive.
From James Pressler, here is Georg Friedrich Kauffmann's "O Jesulein süß", a short piece to lift your spirits. It seems to bring Spring to life.
Here is the same melody, in the hands of J.S. Bach, from the Schemelli Songbook, BWV 493.
Granted, this is usually considered a piece for the Christmas season, but somehow it speaks to me of new beginnings.
