@Wichernkantor's response is a good survey of the wide vistas your questions open up.

I narrowed down one of the many topics you asked about, then asked one of the chatbots* "What music historians have written definitive or extensive accounts of Bach playing organ during church services?" and, judging from my own reading and music education, got four not-bad-for-a-start historians' names (see below). I'm sure Michael might have a better and shorter list for the "narrowed down" topic.

Good luck on your search!

*chatbots have known to make stuff up

Here are a few notable historians whose works are often referenced for their contributions to our understanding of Bach as an organist:

Philipp Spitta: Philipp Spitta was a German musicologist who wrote the monumental biography "Johann Sebastian Bach," published in three volumes between 1873 and 1880. Spitta extensively researched Bach's life and works, including his organ playing. While Spitta's work is more focused on Bach's compositions and general biography, it includes valuable information about his activities as an organist.

Albert Schweitzer: Albert Schweitzer, a theologian, philosopher, and organist, is known for his influential biography "Johann Sebastian Bach" (1905). Schweitzer delves into Bach's organ playing and provides detailed descriptions of his improvisations and performances during church services. His work emphasizes the significance of Bach's music in a theological context.

Peter Williams: Peter Williams, a British musicologist, authored "The Organ Music of J.S. Bach" (2nd edition, 2003), which is considered a definitive reference for Bach's organ works. While his focus is primarily on the compositions, Williams offers valuable insights into how Bach's organ music was likely performed during church services based on historical evidence and analysis of the scores.

Christoph Wolff: Christoph Wolff, a leading Bach scholar, has contributed extensively to our understanding of Bach's life and music. In his book "Johann Sebastian Bach: The Learned Musician" (2000), Wolff offers a comprehensive examination of Bach's career as an organist, including his roles in various churches and his approach to organ playing during church services.

These historians, among others, have researched and analyzed Bach's life, compositions, and performances, shedding light on his organ playing during church services.

Auf ebay könnte diese Publikation evtl. interessant für Dich sein.

Hallo Roland,
hast davon bitte mal einen Link für mich:-).
Vielen Dank

https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_Vd8sAAAAYAAJ

Zitat von Roland im Beitrag #1

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Und sind Bachs Choralvorspiele „nur“ dafür komponiert, um dem Schüler zu zeigen, wie er Choralvorspiele im Gottesdienst gestalten kann oder sollten sie im Gottesdienst zu den Liedern gespielt werden?

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