Beschreibung:

Johann Sebastian Bach
Die hohe Messe in H-moll von Joh. Seb. Bach nach dem Autographum gestochen [BWV 232] [full score], Bonn: bei N. Simrock, Zürich: bei H.G. Nägeli [title to part II placed at beginning], [1833-1845]
FIRST EDITION OF THE B MINOR MASS, 2 volumes in one, 95 and 95 pages, folio (32.6 x 25.4cm), lithographed title to Lieferung (Part) II in blue and black placed at the front of the volume (as usual), engraved music, plate numbers 6 (Nägeli ) and 4377 (Simrock), some later manuscript annotations, including to title, modern red cloth, without printed wrappers, small excisions to title-page and final leaf, repaired, light browning to first part
A rare opportunity to acquire both of the separately issued parts of the first edition of the full score of Bach's towering masterpiece.
The first part of the full score of the mass, comprising the Kyrie and Gloria, was issued jointly by Nägeli of Zürich and Simrock of Bonn in 1833, although without a title-page - apparently on account of a disagreement between the two men over whose name should take precedence. Nägeli died in 1836 and Simrock issued the remaining movements a decade later (in a separate volume with title-page), putting his own name first. In the present copy, the title-page for the second volume has been placed at the beginning of the work.
LITERATURE:Fuld, p.323
PROVENANCE:Sotheby's, London, 15 May 2008 (lot 4)