Jesu Christ, meins Lebens Licht (O Jesus Christ, light
of my life), BWV 118, is a church cantata composed by
Johann Sebastian Bach, intended for a funeral. This
work was written around 1736 or 1737 and was performed
at the grave-side ceremony for Count Friedrich von
Flemming on October 11, 1740.
This work, along with Lobet den Herrn, alle Heiden, BWV
230 is included as a motet in the Neue Bach-Ausgabe,
though both of the works fall partly outside the norms
of the motet genre. "O Jesu C...(+)
Jesu Christ, meins Lebens Licht (O Jesus Christ, light
of my life), BWV 118, is a church cantata composed by
Johann Sebastian Bach, intended for a funeral. This
work was written around 1736 or 1737 and was performed
at the grave-side ceremony for Count Friedrich von
Flemming on October 11, 1740.
This work, along with Lobet den Herrn, alle Heiden, BWV
230 is included as a motet in the Neue Bach-Ausgabe,
though both of the works fall partly outside the norms
of the motet genre. "O Jesu Christ, meins Lebens Licht"
has been characterized as "something between a cantata
movement and a motetic choral transcription." The text
is a 1610 hymn by Martin Behm.This work is a motet
version of the chorale Ach Gott, wie manches Herzeleid.
The lower voices of the choir sing counterpoint to the
chorale melody line in the soprano. The accompaniment
includes an ascending string motive.
This motet was originally scored for four-part choir.
There are two versions of the instrumental scoring: one
includes two litui, cornetto, three trombones, and
organ; the other is two litui, strings, organ continuo,
and optionally three oboes and bassoon.I created this
arrangement for Winds (Bb Cornet, Flute, Oboe, Bb
Clarinet & French Horn) and Strings (2 Violins, Viola,
Cello & Bass).
PARTITION