Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach

Anna Magdalena's famous notebook is a must for all young pianists! ♥

Johann Sebastian Bach's first wife, Maria Barbara, died on July 7, 1720, leaving him 7 children. The following year, while serving as Court Capellmeister at Anhalt-Cöthen, Bach remarried to Anna Magdalena Wilcken, a soprano singer at the court. In addition to raising Bach's children, she was to give him 13 more between the years of 1723 to 1742.

Bach's marriage to Anna Magdalena was a happy one, and they shared a common love of music. Bach dedicated some of his most inspired works to her, and she in turn contributed enthusiastically to her husband's work, transcribing his music and organizing regular musical evenings with visiting musicians at their Leipzig house.

Anna Magdalena received two Notebooks as personal gifts from Johann Sebastian, in 1722 and 1725. The 1722 notebook contains works by Johann Sebastian Bach only (among which most of the French Suites), while the 1725 notebook was with time filled with music by Bach and other composers of the era, including his sons.

The Notebook for Anna Magdalena undoubtedly fulfilled an educational purpose in the musical instruction of the Bach children. Furthermore, it can be regarded as a family musical album reflecting the tastes of the Bach family and offering a precious glimpse into the domestic music of the 18th century.

Composer	Title	Key	Difficulty
Bach, C.P.E.	Marche in D Major, BWV Anhang 122 -- Urtext	D Major	Grade 4/12
Bach, C.P.E.	Marche in G Major, BWV Anhang 124 -- Urtext	G Major	Grade 5/12
Bach, C.P.E.	Polonaise in G minor, BWV Anhang 123 -- Urtext	G minor	Grade 6/12
Bach, C.P.E.	Polonaise in G minor, BWV Anhang 125 -- Urtext	G minor	Grade 6/12
Bach, J.S.	Aria in D minor, BWV 515 -- Urtext	D minor	Grade 2/12
Bach, J.S.	Aria in F Major, BWV Anhang 131 -- Urtext	F Major	Grade 1/12
Bach, J.S.	Chorale in C Major, BWV 514 -- Urtext	C Major	Grade 1/12
Bach, J.S.	Chorale in E minor, BWV 512 -- Urtext	E minor	Grade 4/12
Bach, J.S.	Goldberg Aria in G Major, BWV 988 -- Urtext ♥	G Major	Grade 8/12
Bach, J.S.	Marche in E flat Major, BWV Anhang 127 -- Urtext ♥	E flat Major	Grade 6/12
Bach, J.S.	Menuet in A minor, BWV Anhang 120 -- Urtext	B flat Major	Grade 4/12
Bach, J.S.	Menuet in B flat Major, BWV Anhang 118 -- Urtext	B flat Major	Grade 5/12
Bach, J.S.	Menuet in C minor, BWV Anhang 121 -- Urtext	C minor	Grade 4/12
Bach, J.S.	Menuet in D minor, BWV Anhang 132 -- Urtext	D minor	Grade 4/12
Bach, J.S.	Menuet in F Major, BWV Anhang 113 -- Urtext	F Major	Grade 4/12
Bach, J.S.	Menuet in G Major, BWV Anhang 116 -- Urtext ♥	G Major	Grade 4/12
Bach, J.S.	Musette in D Major, BWV Anhang 126 -- Urtext	D Major	Grade 3/12
Bach, J.S.	Polonaise in D minor, BWV Anhang 128 -- Urtext	D minor	Grade 4/12
Bach, J.S.	Polonaise in F Major, BWV Anhang 117a -- Urtext ♥	F Major	Grade 6/12
Bach, J.S.	Polonaise in F Major, BWV Anhang 117b -- Urtext ♥	F Major	Grade 6/12
Bach, J.S.	Polonaise in G minor, BWV Anhang 119 -- Urtext	G minor	Grade 3/12
Bach, J.S.	Prelude in C Major, BWV 846 -- Urtext ♥	C Major	Grade 7/12
Böhm, Georg	Menuet in G Major -- Urtext	G Major	Grade 3/12
Hasse	Polonaise in G Major, BWV Anhang 130 -- Urtext	G Major	Grade 6/12
Petzold	Menuet in G Major, BWV Anhang 114 -- Urtext ♥	G Major	Grade 3/12
Petzold	Menuet in G minor, BWV Anhang 115 -- Urtext	G minor	Grade 3/12
Stölzel	Bist du bei mir, BWV 508 -- Urtext ♥	E flat Major	Grade 4/12