Johann Ludwig Bach ( – 1 May 1731) was a German composer and violinist.
He was born in near Eisenach. 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 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, 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: 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 . Der Gottlosen Arbeit, sacred cantata for the fifth Sunday after Epiphany. Scored for satbSATB, Str and Bc. Performed in Leipzig on . 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 säet euch Gerechtigkeit, sacred cantata for the second Sunday before Lent (Sexagesima). Scored for satbSATB, Str and Bc. Performed in Leipzig on . 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: 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 . 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: 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: 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 .