JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH. TOCCATA AND THE FUGUE F-DUR FOR ORGAN BWV 540 In search of choral sources and art meanings The first assay

This article examines a famous work of I.S. Bach – Toccata and the fugue F-dur for organ BWV 540. A question is being considered regarding the dating of parts of this organ cycle. It is hypothesized that Bach when creating it could attract Lutheran chorales to the musical source. The article is an essay that analyzes the first section of the toccata F-dur BWV 540. I call the alleged chorale source of this section – the chorale “Allein Gott in der Höh`”. Organ compositions created by Bach for this chorale were attracted for comparative analysis. The goal is to lift the veil over the artistic plan of this toccata. A fragment of the text from the Gospel of Mark is cited as a possible literary thesis. Suggestions have been made about the possible involvement of the music of toccata F-dur in the lost “Markus-Passion” BWV 247. As evidence are cited fragments of the toccata music corresponding to the music of the “Christmas Oratorio” involved in the creation of “Markus-Passion” by I.S. Bach.