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.
Most, if not all, of the Bach works in the Neumeister
Collection are generally believed to be e...(+)
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.
Most, if not all, of the Bach works in the Neumeister
Collection are generally believed to be early
compositions dating to the first few years of the
eighteenth century, as designated in the eight-year
span listed in the headnote above. This one, "O Jesu,
wie ist dein Gestalt" (O Jesus, What Is Thy
Countenance?), like many of the Neumeister chorale
preludes, shows the influence of Buxtehude. Yet Bach's
burgeoning mastery is also in evidence here, not least
in his deft sense of how to capture the spirit of the
chorale's text. Bach gives the chorale theme an
appropriately mellow treatment, with contrapuntal
writing not strictly tied to the main line material and
with deliberate pacing and fairly lean textures. In the
second half, he adds a measure of ornamentation and
lowers the melodic line to the middle range while
relocating much of the accompaniment to the bass realm,
in the end imparting a more stately sense to the
music's character. While not a major discovery, this
chorale prelude, lasting a bit under three minutes, is
nevertheless a worthwhile piece that will appeal to
Baroque and organ music enthusiasts.
Although originally written for Organ, I created this
Arrangement of the Chorale Prelude "O Jesu, wie ist
dein Gestalt" (O Jesus, What Is Thy Countenance?) BWV
1094 for String Quartet (2 Violins, Viola & Cello).
SHEET MUSIC