Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland (BWV 599)

From Organ Playing Wiki
Jump to navigationJump to search

from Das Orgelbüchlein by Johann Sebastian Bach

Background

Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland is the quintessential Advent chorale. Martin Luther adapted this Lutheran chorale from the Latin chant Veni redemptor gentium by translating the eight verses into rhyming metric poetry in German and adusting the melody to fit the style of his time. The text of the first stanza is translated to English as follows:

Come now, Savior of the nations,

revealed as the Son of the Virgin.
All the world is amazed

that God gave Him a birth such as that.

[1]  [2]

Registration and Organs

For a meditative interpretation: flutes 8', 8' & 4', or 8', 4', 2'; principal 8';[3] or German Baroque-style string stops, with balanced pedal built on a 16' foundation. For a more jubilant interpretation use some sort of plenum (principals 8' through 2' or chorus mixture). [4] [5]

Fingering and Pedaling

Quentin Faulkner has supplied early fingering and pedaling for this piece in the Leupold edition.

Articulation and Phrasing

Replace this text with any specific information on articulation and phrasing

Ornamentation

Replace this text with any specific information on ornamentation

Tempo and Meter

Replace this text with any specific information on tempo and meter

Scores and Editions

media:bach_orgelbuchlein_01_nun_komm.pdf

Free download of Bach Gesellschaft edition.

Recordings

Replace this text with any specific information on recordings

Free Online

James Kibbie, 1717 Trost organ, St. Walpurgis, Großengottern, Germany, using Lieblichgedackt 8' and Flötuse 4' in the Positiv; Subbaß 16' and Bordunbaß 8' in the Pedal.

Pay to Listen

William Porter at the 1723 Hildebrandt at Störmthal., including 10 other pieces from Das Orgelbuchlein.

Notes

  1. J. S. Bach 1685-1750: Basic Organ Works. Historical Organ Techniques and Repertoire, vol. 2. Ed. Quentin Faulkner. Boston: Wayne Leupold Editions, 1997.
  2. Johann Sebastian Bach: Orgelbuchlein. Ed. Robert Clark and John David Peterson. St. Louis, MO: Concordia, 1984.
  3. Robert Clark master class, Brigham Young University, Jan. 11, 1996.
  4. J. S. Bach 1685-1750: Basic Organ Works. Historical Organ Techniques and Repertoire, vol. 2. Ed. Quentin Faulkner. Boston: Wayne Leupold Editions, 1997.
  5. Johann Sebastian Bach: Orgelbuchlein. Ed. Robert Clark and John David Peterson. St. Louis, MO: Concordia, 1984.

This space is for automatic insertion of footnotes. To enter a footnote from anywhere in the article, start by typing the tag <ref> and then enter the text, and type the tag </ref> to end the footnote. The footnote will then appear in this "Notes" section automatically.