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  • The Flowering of the Spirit
    • 2021-2022 Concerts >
      • Clothed Head to Foot in Song
      • World of Wonder
      • Early Music Christmas: Lo How a Rose
      • Sacred Realms: Très Riches Heures
      • Never to Forget
      • Season Finale: Born of the Sun
      • Organ Recital: The Incomparable Herr Buxtehude
    • 2021-22 Educational Events
    • 2021-22 Virtual Offerings >
      • Virtual BachTalks
      • The Choir Loft >
        • June 5th - How Brightly Shines the Morning Star
        • June 12th - Sacred Works by Valentin Silvestrov - Steve Osborn
        • June 26th - Some Music by Palestrina - Comfort in Perfection - Dan Solter
        • July 3rd - William Byrd: Motets and Masses Part One
      • Repertoire Exploration Projects
    • Tickets
    • Donate today!
    • COVID-19 Audience Safety
  • Who we are and What we do
    • Mission Statement
  • Our Ensembles
    • Sonoma Bach Choir
    • Circa 1600
    • Green Mountain Consort
    • Live Oak Baroque Orchestra
  • Support
    • Donate
    • Escrip & Amazon Smile
  • Resources
    • Virtual Offerings - Archive >
      • The Choir Loft
      • Virtual BachTalk
      • Adventures in Sightsinging
      • Parliamo Italiano! Language Workshop
      • Madrigal Mondays
      • Chorale Wednesdays
      • Motet Fridays
      • Virtual Recording Projects
      • Virtual Concerts >
        • Live Oak Baroque Orchestra
        • Music for these Distracted Times - Barefoot All-Stars
        • Agave Baroque American Originals
        • Bach's Long Walk to Lübeck - Anne Laver, organ
    • Concert Programs
    • Scores & Parts
    • Rehearsal Recordings
  • Contact
  • Join our Mailing List!
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.
Click here to download learning materials
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