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.
Musicologist Christoph Wolff rescued this chorale
prelude, along with 37 others by Bach, from c...(+)
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.
Musicologist Christoph Wolff rescued this chorale
prelude, along with 37 others by Bach, from complete
oblivion in 1985 when he discovered the Neumeister
Collection at the Yale Library. Johann Gottfried
Neumeister (1757 - 1840) had assembled 82 chorales by
several different composers, but his collection became
lost over the years. Wolff had determined that most of
Bach's chorale preludes included date to the years 1700
-1708; this one, "Christ, der du bist Tag und Licht"
(Christ, you are the day and light), was probably
written at the beginning of this period since its music
betrays stylistic influences from Pachelbel and
Buxtehude that the composer would later shed. This work
might really be called a fughetta, since Bach's writing
is obviously fugal. And it is also quite imaginative,
the chorale theme growing from a rather somber opening
into a more colorful and glorious treatment later on.
The music exhibits a sense of joy, even if it is
somewhat restrained in the first half of the piece. As
the work progresses, it develops greater tension and
expectation, but rather abruptly ends. Lasting about
two minutes, this is a minor but still significant
work.
Although originally written for Organ, I created this
Arrangement of the Chorale Prelude "Christ, der du bist
Tag und Licht" (Christ, you are the day and light) BWV
1096 for Brass Quartet (Bb Trumpet, Flugelhorn, French
Horn & F Tuba).
PARTITION