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.
There are 38 Bach chorale preludes in the Neumeister
Collection, an assemblage of 82 chorales b...(+)
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.
There are 38 Bach chorale preludes in the Neumeister
Collection, an assemblage of 82 chorales by various
composers collected by Johann Gottfried Neumeister in
the 1790s and later lost. Musicologist Christoph Wolff
rediscovered them only in 1985 at the Yale Library.
This Neumeister chorale prelude, "Als Jesus Christus in
der Nacht" (As Jesus Christ in the Night), mostly
follows Buxtehude's example in the genre rather than
Bach's own individual manner as set forth in the 46
chorale preludes of Das Orgelbüchlein and other later
chorale preludes. Not that it is imitative, but it does
exhibit far less ornamentation and other features
typically associated with Bach's mature organ works.
This E minor work opens with the serene chorale theme
played in a glorious but slightly somber manner. While
Bach's writing exhibits contrapuntal characteristics,
they are less in evidence than is typically the case in
his keyboard works. In the second half of the piece,
the music takes on a more spirited sense as Bach
invests the writing with more ornamentation and
contrapuntal activity. In the end, this approximately
two-minute chorale prelude must be judged as a most
worthwhile effort, not least because of the contrasting
character of its first and second halves.
Although originally written for Organ, I created this
Arrangement of the Chorale Prelude "Als Jesus Christus
in der Nacht" (As Jesus Christ in the Night) BWV 1108
for Pan Flute (or Recorder) & Strings (Violin, Viola &
Cello).
PARTITION