Rens Bijma

JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH AND HIS MUSICIANS IN THE TWO MAIN CHURCHES IN LEIPZIG

Parody of a drawing from Rens Bijma’s thesis
by Aart-Jan Venema. (© De Volkskrant 2018)

Welcome to Rens Bijma’s website

This website is an English language adaptation of the original Dutch website.
33 chapters describe how Bach performed his own cantatas and passions in the two main churches in Leipzig (see Chapters tab).
In due course all lacking chapters will be added.
If you want to be kept informed about the publication of new chapters, please let me know via the ‘Contact’ tab.


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Latest update:

9 October 2023

In Chapter XI.1 (Tempo 1) the meaning of Andante in Bachs Leipzig Church Music
was more extensively explained in footnote 29.
In Chapter VI (the number of singers) the episode on Bach’s Memorandum was clarified.

24 September 2023

Chapter VIII (the organ) has been improved and completed in several places.
Particular attention has been paid to the presence or absence of a Sesquialtera
on the Rückpositiv of the organ in the Thomaskirche.

This also affected the article on the history of the St Matthew Passion.

Chapter I (Introduction) was slightly expanded.

18 August, 2023

Chapter X (pitch, tuning and intonation) was revised
following recent insights about ‘well-tempered’ tunings on organs,
possibly also in Leipzig.

All revised sections are (provisionally) coloured blue.