Nun lob mein Seel den Herren
This post is special to me for three reasons. First, of course, it's my last post of 2021, a strange and distressing year which nonetheless held some lovely silver linings. Second, the music I offer herein is especially dear to my heart. And last but not least, it marks the end of the Thrice-Weekly Repertoire Projects which I've been sending out for so long. (This message is the 264th in the series.)
It's not that I don't love you anymore, and it's certainly not that I don't have lots of music still to share! It's just that with the return of Sonoma Bach's live rehearsals and performances, and with the huge project of planning for our 2022-2023 season coming right up, I've decided to scale back to one project/message per week. This will allow me to stay in touch with you in a way that has become very dear to my heart. And it will allow me to focus upon one great piece (or set of pieces) per week, and have ample time to do the research and listening and thinking and writing which go into each of these messages.
Thanks so much to so many of you for reading and listening and writing to me over these many, many months. I look forward to more of the same in the New Year!
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Although today is Motet Friday, I want to focus on diverse settings of one of my favorite German chorales, one which I have somehow heretofore neglected to cover in our Wednesday Chorale series. It's called 'Nun lob mein Seel den Herren'. Current Bach Choir members will recall it in a setting by Johannes Eccard as one of our chorales for our upcoming Organ Recital.
The melody, joyful and discursive, is attributed to Johann Kugelmann, and first appeared in print in the mid-16th-century. It was derived from a much earlier secular song entitled 'Weiß mir ein Blümlein blaue'. The text of the chorale, focused upon giving heartfelt praise and thanks to God, was written by Johann Gramann in 1525, and was published along with the melody in 1540.
It is such a grateful song to sing! Doing so will make you happy. Before proceeding, I recommend that you fix the tune in your mind and ear by singing it along with this excellent recording of Bach's independent four-part setting, BWV 390. The score is attached to this message, as are those for the pieces mentioned below.
The great Michael Praetorius (1571-1621) loved the chorale, and set it on several occasions. Here's a setting from the 'Polyhymnia'which the Sonoma Bach Choir performed in our November, 2019 concerts, 'Sing Glorious Praetorius!'
Or check out this wonderful Sonata for soprano, brass ensemble and basso continuo by Andreas Hammerschmidt (c1611-1675)!
Do you enjoy organ music? Listen to this chorale prelude by Johann Pachelbel (1653-1706), played on the amazing Fritz Noack organ at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Houston.
Or what about Bach's freakin' unbelievable setting from his double-choir motet Singet dem Herrn? Here's a link to the passagefrom a stellar performance by the Netherlands Bach Society. It's one of the most profound pieces of music I know. Just watch the singers' faces as they sing--they tell the whole story.
And last but by no means least, here's a great recording of Bach's motet 'Sei Lob und Preis mit Ehren' (BWV Anhang 231). Formerly consigned to the 'not by Bach' dustbin of musical history, the piece is actually derived from the second movement of his New Year's Cantata 28, and features the soprano in long notes on the melody while snatches of the same--and plenty of enveloping counterpoint--appear in the lower three voices. Not to be missed--
This post is special to me for three reasons. First, of course, it's my last post of 2021, a strange and distressing year which nonetheless held some lovely silver linings. Second, the music I offer herein is especially dear to my heart. And last but not least, it marks the end of the Thrice-Weekly Repertoire Projects which I've been sending out for so long. (This message is the 264th in the series.)
It's not that I don't love you anymore, and it's certainly not that I don't have lots of music still to share! It's just that with the return of Sonoma Bach's live rehearsals and performances, and with the huge project of planning for our 2022-2023 season coming right up, I've decided to scale back to one project/message per week. This will allow me to stay in touch with you in a way that has become very dear to my heart. And it will allow me to focus upon one great piece (or set of pieces) per week, and have ample time to do the research and listening and thinking and writing which go into each of these messages.
Thanks so much to so many of you for reading and listening and writing to me over these many, many months. I look forward to more of the same in the New Year!
-----
Although today is Motet Friday, I want to focus on diverse settings of one of my favorite German chorales, one which I have somehow heretofore neglected to cover in our Wednesday Chorale series. It's called 'Nun lob mein Seel den Herren'. Current Bach Choir members will recall it in a setting by Johannes Eccard as one of our chorales for our upcoming Organ Recital.
The melody, joyful and discursive, is attributed to Johann Kugelmann, and first appeared in print in the mid-16th-century. It was derived from a much earlier secular song entitled 'Weiß mir ein Blümlein blaue'. The text of the chorale, focused upon giving heartfelt praise and thanks to God, was written by Johann Gramann in 1525, and was published along with the melody in 1540.
It is such a grateful song to sing! Doing so will make you happy. Before proceeding, I recommend that you fix the tune in your mind and ear by singing it along with this excellent recording of Bach's independent four-part setting, BWV 390. The score is attached to this message, as are those for the pieces mentioned below.
The great Michael Praetorius (1571-1621) loved the chorale, and set it on several occasions. Here's a setting from the 'Polyhymnia'which the Sonoma Bach Choir performed in our November, 2019 concerts, 'Sing Glorious Praetorius!'
Or check out this wonderful Sonata for soprano, brass ensemble and basso continuo by Andreas Hammerschmidt (c1611-1675)!
Do you enjoy organ music? Listen to this chorale prelude by Johann Pachelbel (1653-1706), played on the amazing Fritz Noack organ at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Houston.
Or what about Bach's freakin' unbelievable setting from his double-choir motet Singet dem Herrn? Here's a link to the passagefrom a stellar performance by the Netherlands Bach Society. It's one of the most profound pieces of music I know. Just watch the singers' faces as they sing--they tell the whole story.
And last but by no means least, here's a great recording of Bach's motet 'Sei Lob und Preis mit Ehren' (BWV Anhang 231). Formerly consigned to the 'not by Bach' dustbin of musical history, the piece is actually derived from the second movement of his New Year's Cantata 28, and features the soprano in long notes on the melody while snatches of the same--and plenty of enveloping counterpoint--appear in the lower three voices. Not to be missed--