The Last Chorale: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
By J.S. Bach / arr. Bob Lipton
Grade: 3
Item: 98-DST6339
$50.00
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Buy Extra Parts (Digital PDF Download)
| Product | Price | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| The Last Chorale: Score | $5.00 | |
| The Last Chorale: Violin 1 | $7.00 | |
| The Last Chorale: Violin 2 | $7.00 | |
| The Last Chorale: Violin 3 (Viola T.C.) | $7.00 | |
| The Last Chorale: Viola | $7.00 | |
| The Last Chorale: Violoncello | $7.00 | |
| The Last Chorale: Double Bass | $7.00 |
Parts Added to Cart!
Description
With Bach's death quickly approaching, this "deathbed chorale" was the last piece of music he ever wrote. Filled with long phrases of complex counterpoint and intense emotion, your students and audience can become immersed in the genius of Bach, who kept striving for musical perfection right until the end.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, The Last Chorale: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Additional Details
Series:
FJH String Orchestra
Publisher:
The FJH Music Company, Inc.
SKU:
98-DST6339
More about this title
About the Composer: J.S. Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) stands as one of history's most prolific and intellectually rigorous composers. His mastery of counterpoint, harmonic language, and structural architecture established foundations that music theory still builds upon today. Bach composed across every major genre of his era except opera, leaving nearly 1,000 works that demonstrate relentless innovation within formal constraints.
Why we love this
This arrangement captures one of music history's most moving final statements. The piece allows Grade 3 ensembles to experience genuine Bach counterpoint without overwhelming technical demands, making it ideal for students encountering Baroque density for the first time. Programming it creates a powerful moment of reflection in any concert.
What to expect
Serene yet profound, this chorale carries the weight of finality and acceptance. The long, interweaving lines create a meditative quality that shifts between resignation and quiet dignity, inviting both performers and listeners into an intimate moment of human reflection.
Who it's for
String orchestras at the intermediate level looking to expand their repertoire beyond standard Grade 3 fare. This work serves conductors seeking to introduce students to genuine Baroque compositional sophistication without sacrificing accessibility.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape each melodic line with direction and purpose; the counterpoint demands that individual voices remain audible and independent even as they weave together.
- Approach the longer phrases as architectural arcs rather than breaking them into smaller segments; resist the impulse to breathe or reset until the phrase naturally resolves.
- Balance the harmonic intensity with clarity; ensemble intonation becomes especially critical when multiple voices carry equal weight in the texture.
- Allow silence and space after cadences to let the emotional weight settle before moving forward.
How to use it
This piece works beautifully as a concert closer or as a standalone tribute program. Its reflective character and historical significance make it particularly effective in spring concerts or memorial services, where it can anchor a program built around shorter, contrasting works.
Skills your students will build
- Reading and performing independent contrapuntal lines
- Sustaining long phrases across multiple measures
- Balancing intonation within dense harmonic textures
- Interpreting Baroque phrasing and articulation
- Understanding voice independence while maintaining ensemble cohesion