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.
This is another of the Bach chorale preludes unearthed
in 1985 by Christoph Wolff, who discover...(+)
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.
This is another of the Bach chorale preludes unearthed
in 1985 by Christoph Wolff, who discovered the
Neumeister Collection at the Yale Library. Most of the
Neumeister Bach works are believed to date to the years
1700 - 1708, and this one, "Ehre sei dir, Christe, der
du leidest Not" (May You Be Praised, Christ, for You
Suffer Pain), was probably written in the earliest
years of that span. It exhibits the influence of both
Pachelbel and Buxtehude and is somewhat unusual in its
consistent use of what German writers call
Vorimitation: thematic material is anticipated
throughout the work in an imitative, fugue-like manner.
For all its seemingly rigid formal qualities, this work
presents the chorale theme in a majestic and
imaginative way, growing from modest textures at the
outset to grander and more colorful ones later on. As
the work progresses, its mood takes on a more ecstatic
manner, the music a fuller and more complex character.
In the end, this approximately two-minute chorale
prelude will likely strike Baroque enthusiasts as a
compelling even if still youthful work from the pen of
the young Bach.
This is Bach's earliest chorale prelude based on the
chorale "Jesu, meine Freude" (Jesus, My Joy). Two later
ones came during Bach's Weimar years (1708 - 1717) and
are cataloged as BWV 713 and 713a. This early rendition
is part of the Neumeister Collection, which, as Bach
enthusiasts are aware, was discovered by organist
Christoph Wolff at the Yale Library in 1985. Most of
the 38 items attributed to Bach in that collection are
of considerable artistic merit, including this chorale
prelude. It is a big work, at least in the huge washes
of sound attained by its imposing, bass-rich chords.
That said, the work, like most of his other chorale
preludes, is quite brief, lasting only about two
minutes. Bach gives the melody a serious but majestic
character in the outer sections of the piece, with big
chords that impart a stately, reverential sense. The
interior features lighter textures and a bit more
contrapuntal activity. Though the work exhibits the
influence of Buxtehude, it is recognizably in the style
of other early Bach works, particularly chorale
preludes in the Neumeister Collection, such as "Das
alte Jahr" (BWV 1091) and "O Lamm Gottes, unschuldig"
(BWV 1095).
Although originally written for Organ, I created this
Arrangement of the Chorale Prelude "Jesu, meine Freude"
(Jesus, My Joy) BWV 1105 for String Quartet (2 Violins,
Viola & Cello).
PARTITION