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.
Here is another of the Bach chorale preludes discovered
in 1985 by Christoph Wolff in the so-ca...(+)
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.
Here is another of the Bach chorale preludes discovered
in 1985 by Christoph Wolff in the so-called Neumeister
Collection at the Yale Library. Wolff's unearthing of
the 82 works in the set, 38 of which are attributed to
Bach, was one of the more important rediscoveries in
twentieth century music. While many of the works are
not masterpieces, some are, and almost all are
worthwhile at the very least. This one, "Christus, der
ist mein Leben" (Christ, You Who Are My Life), is
certainly worth attention, even if it is not among the
more important items in the collection. The work opens
in a somber mood, the chorale theme rising from the
middle ranges in muted, barren sonorities and moving
upward to reach an angelic expressive manner with
richer textures and a sense of tenderness. Bach
supplies a goodly measure of contrapuntal activity, but
also divulges the influence of Pachelbel and Buxtehude,
not least because his music exhibits far less
ornamentation here than would become the norm for him,
even by 1708. This short work most likely dates to the
earlier part of the composition period given in the
headnote.
Although originally written for Organ, I created this
Arrangement of the Chorale Prelude "Christus, der ist
mein Leben" (Christ, You Who Are My Life) BWV 1112 for
Brass Quartet (Bb Trumpet, Flugelhorn, French Horn &
Tuba).
