Johann Sebastian Bach was better known as a virtuoso
organist than as a composer in his day. His sacred
music, organ and choral works, and other instrumental
music had an enthusiasm and seeming freedom that
concealed immense rigor. Bach's use of counterpoint was
brilliant and innovative, and the immense complexities
of his compositional style -- which often included
religious and numerological symbols that seem to fit
perfectly together in a profound puzzle of special
codes -- still amaze musici...(+)
Johann Sebastian Bach was better known as a virtuoso
organist than as a composer in his day. His sacred
music, organ and choral works, and other instrumental
music had an enthusiasm and seeming freedom that
concealed immense rigor. Bach's use of counterpoint was
brilliant and innovative, and the immense complexities
of his compositional style -- which often included
religious and numerological symbols that seem to fit
perfectly together in a profound puzzle of special
codes -- still amaze musicians today. Many consider him
the greatest composer of all time.
This work is included in the Neumeister Collection
along with 37 other J.S. Bach chorales. The collection
contains a total of 82 chorales by several different
composers and was rediscovered in 1985 by organist
Christoph Wolff at the Yale Library, having been in
musical limbo for two centuries. "Machs mit mir Gott
nach deiner Güt" (Do With Me What Thy Goodness Impels
Thee) is short, lasting only about two minutes, and
like many of the other rediscovered chorales has now
attained some currency in recitals and on recordings.
The time of its composition is not certain, though it
can safely be surmised that it was likely written in
the first years of the eighteenth century. The
treatment of the chorale theme here is light and
graceful, with a quite lively tempo and most of the
writing in the manuals in the upper register. The mood
throughout is somewhat ethereal, the work conveying
gentle, bell-like sonorities and imparting a sort of
celestial kind of hazy sound. Bach invests the music
with brilliant and quite atmospheric counterpoint. In
the end, the work cannot be assessed as being of major
consequence, but it will offer worthwhile rewards to
most listeners.
Although originally written for Harpsichord. I created
this Transcription of the Chorale Prelude: "Machs mit
mir, Gott, nach deiner Güt" (BWV 957) for 2 Manual
Organ (no Pedals).
SHEET MUSIC