The Orgelbüchlein ("Little Organ Book") BWV 599-644 is
a collection of 46 chorale preludes for organ written
by Johann Sebastian Bach. All but three of them were
composed during the period 1708–1717, while Bach was
court organist at the ducal court in Weimar. The
remaining three, along with a short two-bar fragment,
were added in 1726 or later, after Bach's appointment
as cantor at the Thomasschule in Leipzig.
The collection was originally planned as a set of 164
chorale preludes spa...(+)
The Orgelbüchlein ("Little Organ Book") BWV 599-644 is
a collection of 46 chorale preludes for organ written
by Johann Sebastian Bach. All but three of them were
composed during the period 1708–1717, while Bach was
court organist at the ducal court in Weimar. The
remaining three, along with a short two-bar fragment,
were added in 1726 or later, after Bach's appointment
as cantor at the Thomasschule in Leipzig.
The collection was originally planned as a set of 164
chorale preludes spanning the whole liturgical year.
The chorale preludes form the first of Bach's
masterpieces for organ with a mature compositional
style in marked contrast to his previous compositions
for the instrument. Although each of them takes a known
Lutheran chorale and adds a motivic accompaniment, Bach
explored a wide diversity of forms in the
Orgelbüchlein. Many of the chorale preludes are short
and in four parts, requiring only a single keyboard and
pedal, with an unadorned cantus firmus. Others involve
two keyboards and pedal: these include several canons,
four ornamental four-part preludes, with elaborately
decorated chorale lines, and a single chorale prelude
in trio sonata form. The Orgelbüchlein has a four-fold
purpose: it is a collection of organ music for church
services, a treatise on composition, a religious
statement, and an organ-playing manual.
Of Bach's three settings of the theme from the Chorale
"Wir Christenleut" (We Christian people), the BWV 1090
-- from the recently discovered (1985) Neumeister
Collection -- is the earliest (1700 -- 1708). The BWV
710 rendition most likely comes next, dating to his
Weimar years (1708 -- 1717). This BWV 612 version is
probably the best known of the lot. It is the closing
work in the Christmas section of Bach's masterful
collection Das Orgelbüchlein (The Little Organ Book).
It is a lively piece whose ebullient manner is
underscored by Bach's triple rhythm, a characteristic
found in much of his cheerful and high-spirited
keyboard music. Here, as is often the case, the rhythm
gives the piece an almost waltz-like gait. That said,
there is nothing in the work that might suggest dance
or festive merriment, except of a religious bent. The
piece presents the chorale theme in a vigorous manner,
rhythms propelling it along but not hurrying the tempo.
The melody repeats throughout, but in varied guises,
and Bach's contrapuntal writing enlivens and
brilliantly colors the character of the music.
Source: Wikipedia
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orgelb%C3%BCchlein).
Although originally created for Organ, I created this
Interpretation of Choral Prelude (BWV 612) "Wir
Christenleut" (We Christian people) for Mandolin & 2
Classical Guitars.
