Motet No. 3, Jesu, meine Freude, BWV 227

SKU: CY.CC3161

ISBN 9790530111307. 8.5 x 11 in inches.

Jesu, meine Freude was composed sometime between 1723 and 1727, most likely for the St. Thomas Church in Leipzig. It is the longest and most musically complex of Bach's six motets, originally for 5-part choir comprising eleven movements. Mr. Sauer has done a magnificent job transcribing all six of Bach's choral motets BWV 225-230 for 8-part Trombone Ensemble. This is a major undertaking. All are very worthy additions to the Trombone Ensemble repertoire. This work for 8-part Trombone ensemble of eleven movements is about 19 minutes in length. Because of its length, it is possible to divide the music into three sections and perform each section separately. This music is appropriate for advanced performers. The top two voices have parts supplied in both alto and tenor clef.

SKU: CA.3122794

Key: E minor. German. Text: Johann Frank.

For many choral singers Jesu, meine Freude is not just a motet by Bach, but the motet par excellence. Bach's motets as a whole have to be described as exceptional works, but even amongst these this is an exceptional work which is out of the ordinary not only in terms of its length. The formal conception, with its alternating chorale and Bible verses in 11 sections in a symmetrical structure, is also unique. The motet was very probably composed for a funeral, but no further details about this are known. By comparison, there are clear indications that the motet, as we now know it, was probably not composed in one go, but was composed over a long period of time. Score available separately - see item CA.3122700.

SKU: CA.3122792

Key: E minor. German. Text: Johann Frank.

For many choral singers Jesu, meine Freude is not just a motet by Bach, but the motet par excellence. Bach's motets as a whole have to be described as exceptional works, but even amongst these this is an exceptional work which is out of the ordinary not only in terms of its length. The formal conception, with its alternating chorale and Bible verses in 11 sections in a symmetrical structure, is also unique. The motet was very probably composed for a funeral, but no further details about this are known. By comparison, there are clear indications that the motet, as we now know it, was probably not composed in one go, but was composed over a long period of time. Score available separately - see item CA.3122700.

SKU: BR.CHB-5302-02

ISBN 9790004412220. 7.5 x 10.5 inches.

Johann Friedrich Doles was the indirect successor of J.S. Bach as Thomaskantor in Leipzig. He must have been familiar with Bachs setting of Jesu, meine Freude BWV 227 when he wrote his Motet on this piece around 1775, since there are several stylistic parallels with its great precursor. Typical for Doless chorale motet is the fifth strophe (see example) with its sleek and elegant alternation between solo and tutti sections, whereby the composer and Thomaskantor probably only had eight able singers for the tutti in Leipzig around 1780, as Doles himself laments. The late 18th century was simply not the golden age of the Thomasschule! Doless motet fell into oblivion and was long held to be lost. This first edition supplements the publications from the late Baroque and early Classical eras (Graun, Bortnyansky a.o.) which were released in recent years in Breitkopfs Choral Library.

SKU: CA.305720

ISBN 9790007174507. Key: D minor. Language: German. Text: Franck, Johann. Text: Johann Franck.

First movement from the motet of the same name (original in E minor).

SKU: CA.3122715

ISBN 9790007210847. Key: E minor. Language: German/English. Text: Franck, Johann. Text: Johann Franck.

Score available separately - see item CA.3122700.