Johann Sebastian Bach

This is a modified transcription of J.S. Bach's "Vater Unser im Himmelreich" (Our Father in Heaven from the Lord's Prayer) BWV 737 for Pipe Organ. According to the Württemberg Order of Church Services from 1536, it was permissible on church holidays to sing before the sermon as a replacement for the usual one or two Psalm chorales, “Leisen” like “Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ,” “Christ ist erstanden,” etc., while after the sermon Luther’s Credo could also be sung as a replacement. In the communion portion of the main church service, the “Our Father” was sung by the congregation, most often in the form of Luther’s “Vater unser im Himmelreich”, which at first was treated in Middle and North Germany as an instructive catechism chorale and only later assumed its position as a chorale associated with the Epistle for the Sunday Rogate, while other chorales sung during communion were the same as those in the Wittenberg region.

Although originally created for Pipe Organ, I created this arrangement for Woodwind Quartet (Flute, Oboe, Bb Clarinet & Bassoon).