What is Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis?
Q: What is Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis?
A: Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis (BWV) is a list of all the pieces of music by Johann Sebastian Bach that are known. In English it means Bach Works Catalogue.
Q: Who created the catalogue?
A: The catalogue was made by Wolfgang Schmieder in 1950.
Q: How does BWV help musicians?
A: Giving each piece a number helps musicians to know exactly which piece of music we are talking about. For example, there are several Preludes and Fugues in G major, but putting Prelude and Fugue in G major, BWV 550 makes it clear which one it is.
Q: Are the BWV numbers listed chronologically?
A: No, they are grouped according to what kind of music it is - all the cantatas together, all the concertos together, etc.
Q: What do some older books write instead of "BWV"?
A: Some older books write "S" instead of "BWV" (S for Schmieder).
Q: Why did Schmieder not want his name used?
A: He wanted Bach's name to be used, not his own.
