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      • BachTalks
      • Saturday Sings!
    • 2022-23 Virtual Offerings >
      • The Choir Loft >
        • Feb. 5 - Winter's Chill - Dianna Morgan
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      • Repertoire Exploration Projects
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  • Who we are and What we do
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L'innamorato by Giovanni Gastoldi & In dir ist Freude by J.S. Bach
This week's chorale is a wonderful oddball. As far as is documented, it began life as a balletto by Giovanni Gastoldi, with a text on life and love, happiness and fulfillment. (See score attached.) Here's a nice performance by the Baltimore Consort. (They played our Guest Concert several seasons ago.) Listen to it a few times to get to know the simple (and singable) tune.
The reason I say 'As far as is documented' is that some scholars think that the tune was originally a German dance tune which wended its way south to Italy. If so, it wended right back to Germany and became a chorale (though an unusual one) called 'In dir ist Freude'. Here's a wonderful arrangement and performance for your enjoyment, by the Knabenchor Hannover and Capella de la Torre. Check out the flute solo...

And eventually it found its way into Bach's Orgelbüchein, a collection of 40 short organ chorales (originally planned to be many more) from his Weimar period. A score is attached; as you'll see and hear, it's not very vocal in nature! But I think you'll enjoy following along as you listen to this very nice performance, with scrolling score. Check out the repeating bass motive, which personifies the most extroverted and ebullient joy.

Once you hear the piece, many of you will remember that it was one of Charles' solo pieces on our Germany tour. I'll never forget the Arnstadt ('Where Bach is Hot') concert, when Charles kicked in the Zimbelstern.

Joy indeed!
L'innamorato by Giovanni Gastoldi Score
In dir ist Freude by J.S. Bach Score
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