Johann Sebastian Bach

The Orgelbüchlein ("Little Organ Book") BWV 599-644 is a collection of 46 chorale preludes for organ written by Johann Sebastian Bach. All but three of them were composed during the period 1708–1717, while Bach was court organist at the ducal court in Weimar. The remaining three, along with a short two-bar fragment, were added in 1726 or later, after Bach's appointment as cantor at the Thomasschule in Leipzig.

The collection was originally planned as a set of 164 chorale preludes spanning the whole liturgical year. The chorale preludes form the first of Bach's masterpieces for organ with a mature compositional style in marked contrast to his previous compositions for the instrument. Although each of them takes a known Lutheran chorale and adds a motivic accompaniment, Bach explored a wide diversity of forms in the Orgelbüchlein. Many of the chorale preludes are short and in four parts, requiring only a single keyboard and pedal, with an unadorned cantus firmus. Others involve two keyboards and pedal: these include several canons, four ornamental four-part preludes, with elaborately decorated chorale lines, and a single chorale prelude in trio sonata form. The Orgelbüchlein has a four-fold purpose: it is a collection of organ music for church services, a treatise on composition, a religious statement, and an organ-playing manual.

Of Bach's three settings of the theme from the Chorale "Wir Christenleut" (We Christian people), the BWV 1090 -- from the recently discovered (1985) Neumeister Collection -- is the earliest (1700 -- 1708). The BWV 710 rendition most likely comes next, dating to his Weimar years (1708 -- 1717). This BWV 612 version is probably the best known of the lot. It is the closing work in the Christmas section of Bach's masterful collection Das Orgelbüchlein (The Little Organ Book). It is a lively piece whose ebullient manner is underscored by Bach's triple rhythm, a characteristic found in much of his cheerful and high-spirited keyboard music. Here, as is often the case, the rhythm gives the piece an almost waltz-like gait. That said, there is nothing in the work that might suggest dance or festive merriment, except of a religious bent. The piece presents the chorale theme in a vigorous manner, rhythms propelling it along but not hurrying the tempo. The melody repeats throughout, but in varied guises, and Bach's contrapuntal writing enlivens and brilliantly colors the character of the music.

Source: Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orgelb%C3%BCchlein).

Although originally created for Organ, I created this Interpretation of Choral Prelude (BWV 612) "Wir Christenleut" (We Christian people) for Mandolin & 2 Classical Guitars.