A performing edition of J. C. F. Bach's 'Pygmalion' and some performance considerations based on J. F. Agricola's 'Anleitung zur Singkunst'

This document presents, for the first time, a modern performing edition of Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach's Pygmalion, a secular cantata for solo bass or alto voice, two violins, viola, and basso continuo with text by the German poet Karl Wilhelm Ramler. The transcription of the cantata Pygmalion is made from a microfilm copy of the only manuscript copy of the score, and the manuscript copy of the vocal part for bass solo and instrumental parts, both held by the music division of the Staatsbibliothek Preussischer Kulturbesitz in Berlin (Part. Ms. P. 380 and Ms. St. 284, respectively).;In addition, this document presents a biography of J. C. F. Bach, offers insight into his musical style and important works, and explores the historical development of the genre of German secular cantata, the librettist Karl Wilhelm Ramler and his contribution to this genre. Finally, this document also considers the vocal performance practice of the eighteenth century, using Johann Friedrich Agricola's Anleitung zur Singkunst (1757), a German translation of Pier Francesco Tosi's treatise Opinioni de' cantori moderni e antichi (1723), as the model for performance considerations. Tosi and Agricola's ideas and principles will then be applied to the performance of J. C. F. Bach's Pygmalion.