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  • Deep Dives
    • 2024-2025 Concerts >
      • William Byrd: Angelical and Divine
      • Heinrich Schütz: The Orpheus of the 17th Century
      • George Frideric Handel: Messiah
      • Samuel Scheidt: The Art of Variation
      • Ludwig Senfl: A Gifted Imagination
      • Claudio Monteverdi: A New Manner of Composing
      • J.S. Bach: Bach Around Thirty
    • Donate today!
  • Tickets
    • Tickets
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  • Who we are and What we do
    • Board of Directors and Staff
    • Mission Statement
  • Our Ensembles
    • Sonoma Bach Choir
    • Circa 1600
    • Green Mountain Consort
    • Live Oak Baroque Orchestra
  • Support
    • Donate
    • Sponsor a Singer!
    • Escrip & Amazon Smile
  • Resources
    • Virtual Offerings - Archive >
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      • 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
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Vom Himmel hoch da komm ich her
A lot of you know the chorale 'Vom Himmel hoch da komm ich her'. It's a very simple four-line Christmas song made up (or more probably adapted) by Martin Luther for his kids. The famous version was published in 1539. Here's a nice example to remind you how it goes. It includes a brass rendition of a four-part setting, followed by the last movement of the first cantata of Bach's 'Christmas Oratorio', in which a four-part arrangement is woven together with brass interludes. If you want to hear (a lot) more of this famous melody, check out Bach's incredible canonic organ variations on the chorale, presented here with a very nice scrolling visual analysis.

Actually, this chorale was originally published, in 1535 to a different tune taken from an old folk-song called 'Ich kumm aus frembden Landen her'. That one never caught on, apparently.

But we're concerned today with yet a third 'Vom Himmel hoch', this one connected to the earlier ones only by its first three words. It's called 'Vom Himmel hoch, O Englein kommt'.  It appeared in several hymnals in the early 17th-century,
but may have earlier roots.


It's a cradle song, in which the angels are implored to gather 'round the manger and sing and play to the newborn child. Each verse includes three internal refrains, including 'Eya' (an expression of wonder), 'Susani' (meant to soothe the child) and 'Alleluia' ('Praise the Lord).

The lyrics are paired with a wonderful melody in triple time, grateful to sing and quite memorable.

I first got to know this chorale through a great recording (attached) by the soprano Dorothee Mields. It became an ear-worm which lasted for weeks! The arrangement is spectacular, with successive verses ornamented by the very instruments with which they are concerned.

There are lots of other good recordings, mostly slower and softer in nature. I'm including a rendition of the August von Othegraven vocal arrangement (score attached), a Hugo Distler setting, and also a lovely instrumental performance by Capella de la Torre.

The other day, I brought down a whole lot of seasonal CD's from the loft, ranging from chant to polyphony to Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald. What a good move! We've been living our lives to great Advent and Christmas music, which lightens our hearts and puts smiles on our faces. Highly recommended.

Hope you enjoy this lovely song--
Click here to download learning materials
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