The Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis (BWV; English: Bach Works Catalogue) is the standard thematic-systematic catalogue of the musical works of the German composer Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750). It is commonly abbreviated as BWV, and individual works are referred to by their BWV number (e.g., BWV 565 for the Toccata and Fugue in D minor).
The first edition of the catalogue was published in 1950 under the editorship of the German music librarian Wolfgang Schmieder. It was issued by the publishing house Breitkopf & Härtel. A revised edition (BWV²) appeared in 1990, followed by a "small edition" (BWV²a) with further updates in 1998.
A third, fully revised and expanded edition (BWV³) was published in June 2022, prepared in collaboration with the Bach-Archiv Leipzig and edited by Christine Blanken, Christoph Wolff, and Peter Wollny. This edition incorporates new research findings from the preceding 15 years of Bach scholarship, restructures the work entries to improve usability, and interlinks with online databases such as Bach digital and RISM (Répertoire International des Sources Musicales).
The catalogue organizes Bach's compositions by genre rather than chronology. The main divisions include vocal works (cantatas, motets, masses, passions, oratorios, chorales, songs), organ works, keyboard works, chamber music, concertos, orchestral suites, canons, and late contrapuntal works such as The Musical Offering (BWV 1079) and The Art of Fugue (BWV 1080). The numbering system also includes an appendix (BWV Anh.) for works of doubtful or spurious attribution.
