Chorale Wednesdays
Each week, Sonoma Bach's Music Director Robert Worth will choose one of our favorite Bach Chorales, each a brilliant miniature of Bach's astonishing craft, for us all to learn at our own pace. Your mission (should you choose to accept it) is to learn to sing your part and then join your voice with the voices and instruments of the professional recording. We will provide the score and translations, a midi practice track, and a professional recording, all listed below.
Each week, Sonoma Bach's Music Director Robert Worth will choose one of our favorite Bach Chorales, each a brilliant miniature of Bach's astonishing craft, for us all to learn at our own pace. Your mission (should you choose to accept it) is to learn to sing your part and then join your voice with the voices and instruments of the professional recording. We will provide the score and translations, a midi practice track, and a professional recording, all listed below.
Nun danket alle Gott by J.S. Bach
Well, if Thanksgiving isn't the appropriate time for a cornucopia, I don't know what is. In this case, the horn of plenty is overflowing not with the customary yummy edibles, but rather with music, sweet music!
Many of you will know today's chorale in its English version: 'Now thank we all our God'. The text, a heartfelt paean of praise for blessings received, was written by the Lutheran pastor Martin Rinkart (1586-1649), and first published in 1636. A few years later, it was published again to the staunch melody we know, attributed to Johann Crüger (1598-1662).
Bach seems to have loved 'Nun danket alle Gott', as he used it a number of times:
--As a chorale (with horns aplenty [speaking of cornucopiae]) in the middle of Cantata 79: Gott der Herr ist Sonn und Schild;
--As the basis for the spectacular opening and closing chorale fantasies of the three-movement Cantata 192:
Nun danket alle Gott;
--For the now-independent chorales (probably originally parts of other cantatas) BWV 252 and BWV 386;
--And as the theme of the chorale prelude BWV 657.
I have attached a pdf packet of scores for all of the above. It also includes a special bonus: Johann Pachelbel's wonderful cantata based upon 'Nun danket alle Gott'. The opening includes neither the melody nor the exact text of the chorale; rather it is a free 8-part motet on the text from the Book of Ecclesiastes of which the chorale is a paraphrase. After a full cadence at the middle of the piece, the second part (in four voices) commences, and we hear the chorale melody and text in the soprano in thrilling long-notes, with super-active support from alto, tenor and bass. It's a crackerjack piece!
A text/translation sheet is also attached. Recordings are accessible via links above.
Maybe listen to some of these pieces tomorrow--they'll help to usher in the true Spirit of Thanksgiving.
Well, if Thanksgiving isn't the appropriate time for a cornucopia, I don't know what is. In this case, the horn of plenty is overflowing not with the customary yummy edibles, but rather with music, sweet music!
Many of you will know today's chorale in its English version: 'Now thank we all our God'. The text, a heartfelt paean of praise for blessings received, was written by the Lutheran pastor Martin Rinkart (1586-1649), and first published in 1636. A few years later, it was published again to the staunch melody we know, attributed to Johann Crüger (1598-1662).
Bach seems to have loved 'Nun danket alle Gott', as he used it a number of times:
--As a chorale (with horns aplenty [speaking of cornucopiae]) in the middle of Cantata 79: Gott der Herr ist Sonn und Schild;
--As the basis for the spectacular opening and closing chorale fantasies of the three-movement Cantata 192:
Nun danket alle Gott;
--For the now-independent chorales (probably originally parts of other cantatas) BWV 252 and BWV 386;
--And as the theme of the chorale prelude BWV 657.
I have attached a pdf packet of scores for all of the above. It also includes a special bonus: Johann Pachelbel's wonderful cantata based upon 'Nun danket alle Gott'. The opening includes neither the melody nor the exact text of the chorale; rather it is a free 8-part motet on the text from the Book of Ecclesiastes of which the chorale is a paraphrase. After a full cadence at the middle of the piece, the second part (in four voices) commences, and we hear the chorale melody and text in the soprano in thrilling long-notes, with super-active support from alto, tenor and bass. It's a crackerjack piece!
A text/translation sheet is also attached. Recordings are accessible via links above.
Maybe listen to some of these pieces tomorrow--they'll help to usher in the true Spirit of Thanksgiving.
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