Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier by J.S. Bach
Some chorales are spectacular--we're had plenty of those over these many months. Think of 'Wachet auf'; of 'Ein feste Burg'; of 'Komm heiliger Geist'.
By contrast, some chorales fly beneath the radar. Today's example, 'Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier', has a melody so straightforward it may as well be a children's song. The reason for this simplicity, I think, is tied up with the words, a beautiful little three-verse poem which asks for guidance and light to lead us out of obscurity. Such a request arises out of humility and does not call for trumpets and bands of angels singing in the sky. What's needed is a clear, humble tune which can be an apt vehicle for the petition.
Take a look at the attached melody sheet. I've used an early print of the song which has a basso continuo line below the melody, and have inserted solfège syllables above the melodic line to make the archaic soprano clef more readable. I think you'll agree that the tune is easily learned and is very balanced and grateful to sing.
Bach made several settings of this chorale, and we'll focus upon two of my favorites. First up is BWV 373, one of the 'independent chorales' whose original place in a cantata or oratorio has been lost in the mists of time. You can listen to the chorale here, and a score is attached. Notable is the active bass line, with its urgent syncopations, and a few lyric outbursts from the tenors. (You know how tenors are.)
There are actually two versions of our chorale in the Orgelbüchlein--BWV 633 and 634--but, curiously, these are essentially homophonic settings, with the second including a bit more ornamentation than the first. The setting that piques my interest is BWV 731, which builds upon a variant of the melody to create a beautiful ruminative quality which seems to capture and extend the humble, imploring aspect of the tune mentioned above. You can check it out in two recordings; a score is attached.
1. The original scoring for organ; and
2. A very nice transcription for cornetto and organ.
Perhaps today's chorale will become a little ear-worm for you, embellishing your day with its balance and simplicity, two characteristics which we could all probably use more of in these times--
Some chorales are spectacular--we're had plenty of those over these many months. Think of 'Wachet auf'; of 'Ein feste Burg'; of 'Komm heiliger Geist'.
By contrast, some chorales fly beneath the radar. Today's example, 'Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier', has a melody so straightforward it may as well be a children's song. The reason for this simplicity, I think, is tied up with the words, a beautiful little three-verse poem which asks for guidance and light to lead us out of obscurity. Such a request arises out of humility and does not call for trumpets and bands of angels singing in the sky. What's needed is a clear, humble tune which can be an apt vehicle for the petition.
Take a look at the attached melody sheet. I've used an early print of the song which has a basso continuo line below the melody, and have inserted solfège syllables above the melodic line to make the archaic soprano clef more readable. I think you'll agree that the tune is easily learned and is very balanced and grateful to sing.
Bach made several settings of this chorale, and we'll focus upon two of my favorites. First up is BWV 373, one of the 'independent chorales' whose original place in a cantata or oratorio has been lost in the mists of time. You can listen to the chorale here, and a score is attached. Notable is the active bass line, with its urgent syncopations, and a few lyric outbursts from the tenors. (You know how tenors are.)
There are actually two versions of our chorale in the Orgelbüchlein--BWV 633 and 634--but, curiously, these are essentially homophonic settings, with the second including a bit more ornamentation than the first. The setting that piques my interest is BWV 731, which builds upon a variant of the melody to create a beautiful ruminative quality which seems to capture and extend the humble, imploring aspect of the tune mentioned above. You can check it out in two recordings; a score is attached.
1. The original scoring for organ; and
2. A very nice transcription for cornetto and organ.
Perhaps today's chorale will become a little ear-worm for you, embellishing your day with its balance and simplicity, two characteristics which we could all probably use more of in these times--