"O Little One Sweet" (O Jesulein süß) is actually an
old German tune, harmonized by Johann Sebastian with
words first appearing in Scheidt's "Tablaturbuch"
(1650).
When Georg Christian Schemelli published his Schemelli
Gesangbuch (Schemelli's Songbook) in 1736, he called
upon his friend Johann Sebastian Bach to provide the
figured bass for many of the well-known Lutheran hymn
tunes. One of Bach's 69 settings was for O Jesulein
süss, a Christmas hymn by Paul Gerhardt from 1665.
Bach ...(+)
"O Little One Sweet" (O Jesulein süß) is actually an
old German tune, harmonized by Johann Sebastian with
words first appearing in Scheidt's "Tablaturbuch"
(1650).
When Georg Christian Schemelli published his Schemelli
Gesangbuch (Schemelli's Songbook) in 1736, he called
upon his friend Johann Sebastian Bach to provide the
figured bass for many of the well-known Lutheran hymn
tunes. One of Bach's 69 settings was for O Jesulein
süss, a Christmas hymn by Paul Gerhardt from 1665.
Bach let Gerhardt's five-line melody stand almost
unaltered but added wonderful harmonies beneath it. The
brief piece opens in the minor but cadences in the
major by the end of the opening line, modulates briefly
to the relative minor in the third and fourth lines and
closes with the return of the opening line as the fifth
and final line.
Although this piece was originally written for Chorus,
I arranged it for Woodwind Quartet (Flute, Oboe, Bb
Clarinet & Bassoon).
SHEET MUSIC