Vocal Works

Church music with Latin texts

Bach's Latin church music, mostly intended for special feast days, comprises a Magnificat (in two versions: E-flat, with four inserted Christmas pieces; and D); four short masses (Kyrie and Gloria pairs); several miscellaneous movements; and the monumental comilation known as the B minor Mass. Bach's composition of the B minor Mass came in installments, over a period of more than twenty years; his final assembly of all the parts took place ca. 1747-1749. Much of the Latin church music, including various parts of the B minor Mass, was based on pre-existent Bach compositions. In all these works, Bach normally included some movements in stile antico and other movements in stile moderno.