The Neumeister Collection is a compilation of 82
chorale preludes found in a manuscript copy produced by
Johann Gottfried Neumeister (1757–1840). When the
manuscript was rediscovered at the Yale University in
the 1980s it appeared to contain 31 previously unknown
early chorale settings by Johann Sebastian Bach, which
were added to the BWV catalogue as Nos. 1090–1120 and
published in 1985.
When the Neumeister Collection was rediscovered in 1985
by musicologist Christoph Wolff, the mu...(+)
The Neumeister Collection is a compilation of 82
chorale preludes found in a manuscript copy produced by
Johann Gottfried Neumeister (1757–1840). When the
manuscript was rediscovered at the Yale University in
the 1980s it appeared to contain 31 previously unknown
early chorale settings by Johann Sebastian Bach, which
were added to the BWV catalogue as Nos. 1090–1120 and
published in 1985.
When the Neumeister Collection was rediscovered in 1985
by musicologist Christoph Wolff, the music world was
treated to 38, in effect new, Bach chorale preludes, as
well as unknown compositions by other Bach family
members, Buxtehude, and others. But Wolff also did some
analysis of the Bach works and was able to date most of
them to the period of 1700-1708, the years prior to the
composer's Weimar period. This chorale prelude,
"Christ, der du bist der helle Tag" (Christ, You Are
the Bright Day), was likely written around or shortly
after 1700, the year Bach wrote a rather famous
variations (or partita) version of this chorale, BWV
766. This lesser-known effort is still quite a
worthwhile, if relatively diminutive work, lasting
about two minutes compared with its larger sibling's
ten or so. It is also much more simple and features
rather modest contrapuntal activity. The work opens
with the chorale theme given a majestic treatment in
big chords. Bach then strips away some of the textures
in the ensuing passages, though the mood remains
glorious and joyful. In the latter part, the music
takes on a measure of both serenity and seriousness, as
sonorities spread farther apart on the keyboard
registers.
Although originally written for Organ, I created this
Arrangement of the Chorale Prelude "Christ, der du bist
der helle Tag" (Christ, You Are the Bright Day) BWV
1120 for Double-Reed Quartet (Oboe, English Horn,
Bassoon & Contrabassoon).
PARTITION