J.S. BACH. CORRECTED PROOF OF THE EIGHT ENGRAVED CHORAL PARTS FOR THE "ST MATTHEW PASSION", C.1831

FIRST EDITION, 8 volumes, 8vo (c.27.5 x 18.5cm), engraved throughout, plate no.1687, for two four-part choruses (78 numbers), WITH EDITORIAL ALTERATIONS AND CORRECTIONS IN RED CRAYON THROUGHOUT, no title pages, unpressed & uncut,original stitching, in a nineteenth-century card slipcase,

the volumes titled above the music: "Erster Theil Canto Coro I^o [...Alto ...Tenor ...Basso]", each 28 pages, and: "Soprano Coro II^o [Alto... Tenor... Basso...]", 26, 27, 27 & 27 pages, some light foxing, small tear to final leaf of Basso Coro II^o

Schmieder p.423; Fuld, p.171; not in RISM or Hoboken.

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

THESE CHORAL PARTS ARE OF THE UTMOST RARITY: they are not in the British Library, the Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin, or the Bach-Archiv, Leipzig. We have only traced one other copy at the Riemenschneider Bach Institute, Baldwin-Wallace University, Berea, Ohio.  Corrected proofs such as these are rarely encountered and are of the greatest interest. This edition of the parts was produced by the Berlin publisher A.M. Schlesinger in 1831, the year after the appearance of his first edition of the full and vocal scores of Bach's masterpiece. This is an engraved proof for the separate choral parts (no.1687 in Schlesinger's Plate Books), without a title page, and extensively corrected in red crayon. It is an early proof: in the 'Canto Coro I^o' part, the start of the 'Zweiter Theil' ("no.36") is crossed through in red crayon (pp.13-14), because the engraver had copied the complete Alto part in their place. Similarly, in the Chorale ("No.16"), on page 6 of the 'Tenor Coro I^o' part, the opening of the bass part was engraved in place of the tenor.  The editor has also inserted missing notes, rests, accidentals, dynamic markings, and altered pitches, rhythms, the text, phrasing, and tempo-markings. The Riemenschneider copy is a later printing, incorporating some of the corrections made in this copy. For example, on p.6 the tenor part is re-engraved in the later printing. The wrongly engraved No.36 in the Canto part remains uncorrected, but the plate appears to be in a later state. Sotheby's is happy to acknowledge the kind assistance of Dr Christina Fuhrmann concerning the Riemenschneider copy.