In 2010, Brilliant Classics published the Bach Complete Edition, a new version of their box set of the music of J.S. Bach. It includes 157 CDs, 2 DVDs, and a DVD-ROM with notes, texts, and scores.
Unfortunately, there is very little information about this set online. Therefore, I have posted additional information including a complete list of the contents and some handy reference indices for the Bach Complete Edition below.
Additionally, you can read my detailed review of the BCE.
Informational pages and files for the BCE
| Title | HTML | Text | Other | Revision Date | |
| Concise List of Contents | view | .txt | .doc | Mar. 9, 2011 | |
| Errata | view | .txt | Mar. 9, 2011 | ||
| Index of BWVs by CD | .txt | .doc | Mar. 9, 2011 | ||
| Index of CDs by BWV | .txt | .doc | Mar. 9, 2011 |
This page has the following sub pages.
Dear Sir:
I recently bought the Bach Complete Edition and have been trying to find music scores for the LUTE SUITES. I am completely boggled by the listing and can make no sence out of my CD ROM scores. (It doesn’t help that I cannot read/speak German.)
I wonder if you can easily give me a hint?
I have enjoyed your website. Thank you for it.
Sincere thanks for any help,
Celeste Bunnell
Hi Celeste,
Thanks very much for your question and comment, I’m glad that you’re enjoying the site!
Yes, it would be nice if the DVD-ROM included a table of contents for the Bach Gesellschaft scores. I found a listing of the contents at this web site: http://imslp.org/wiki/Bach-Gesellschaft_Ausgabe.
Of course that lists the pieces according to BGA volume which still makes them difficult to find unless you use the computer to search for the BWV number. I have been thinking about creating an index to go from BWV to BGA volume and page numbers (and perhaps from BCE CD and track to BGA). In the meantime, here is where I found the Lute Suites and other lute music:
Suite in G minor, BWV 995 Not in BGA ?
Suite in E minor, BWV 996 Volume (Band) 45.1, page 149
Suite in C minor, BWV 997 Volume (Band) 45.1, page 156
Suite in E major, BWV 1006a Volume (Band) 42, page 16
Prelude, Fugue and Allegro in E-flat major, BWV 998 Volume (Band) 45.1, page 141
Prelude in C minor, BWV 999 Volume (Band) 36, page 119 (No. 3)
Fugue in G minor, BWV 1000 Not in BGA for lute(?), but see Volume (Band) 27, page 4 for solo violin version.
Hope that helps you find what you want (the scores are written on “piano staves”). Also, I hope that you are enjoying the BCE as much as I am. I finally finished listening to every piece in the set just yesterday!!
Dear Sir,
My BCE had just arrived this morning, and I ran into your blog while I was looking for some info on the box set. What a work you have done! I believe your blog on the BCE is a godsend since it provides such comprehensive information.
Kudos to you!
From Seoul with warmest regards,
Seungbin
Hello Seungbin!
I’m glad that you are enjoying the site and (presumably) the BCE. I hope to be getting back to updating this site again in a couple of weeks.
Thanks very much for stopping by and for your feedback!
Thanks, Thorny Koanz
His text was a great help to me.
It ended with my questions: buy or not buy.
I am Brazilian and I intend to buy the BCE in October next, when we go to New York.
I always had the desire to possess all the work of Bach, which is my favorite composer. My first attempt was to acquire the collection Bach 2000, but was very expensive. The current edition has a great price.
Taking this opportunity, you have some information on the complete collection of Mozart?
Greetings
Hi Domingos,
Thanks very much for your feedback. I hope that you will enjoy the BCE as much as I have been. I’ve also recently supplemented my collection with some other great Bach and Bach-related recordings. Hopefully, I’ll get a chance to comment on some of these soon.
I don’t know much about the Brilliant Classics’ Mozart Edition. Among all of the BC box sets, I think that it has some of the best reviews. I find myself tempted by it even though I am not a Mozart fan. (I did recently get BC’s Couperin Chamber Music set which is only 7 CDs but very enjoyable overall. I would love to see a “Couperin Complete Edition” some day!)
Your generosity in sharing this makes the internet a great resource where everyone can share.
Thanks Thorny.
You’re welcome, David! I believe very much that this is what the internet is for: people sharing what they know, feel, and create in order to enrich the “commons” for all of humanity. Thanks for stopping by my site! – Thorny