Orgelbüchlein

by Johann Sebastian Bach

Choosing a piece

The Orgelbüchlein collection represents a wide range of technical difficulty: any piece, or level, is appropriate for the service playing exam. The table below assigns a difficulty grouping for each piece, 1 being the most accessible, 5 being the most challenging. (The groupings are adapted from Quentin Faulkner. )

The Chorales

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BWV	Is there info?	Title	Season	Level of Difficulty
599	*	Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland	Advent	1
600		Gott, durch deine Güte (Gottes-Sohn ist kommen)	Advent	4
601	*	Herr Christ, der ein'ge Gottes-Sohn (Herr Gott, nun sei gepreiset)	Advent	3
602	*	Lob sei dem allmächtigen Gott	Advent	3
603		Puer natus in Bethlehem	Christmas	3
604		Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ	Christmas	1
605		Der Tag, der ist so freudenreich	Christmas	4
606		Vom Himmel hoch, da komm' ich her	Christmas	3
607		Vom Himmel kam der Engel Schar	Christmas	4
608	*	In dulci jubilo	Christmas	4
609		Lobt Gott, ihr Christen, allzugleich	Christmas	3
610		Jesu, meine Freude	Christmas	2
611		Christum wir sollen loben schon	Christmas	3
612		Wir Christenleut'	Christmas	4
613		Helft mir Gottes Güte preisen	New Year	4
614	*	Das alte Jahr vergangen ist	New Year	5
615		In dir ist Freude	New Year	4
616		Mit Fried' und Freud' ich fahr' dahin	Epiphany	3
617		Herr Gott, nun schleuß den Himmel auf	Epiphany	4
618		O Lamm Gottes, unschuldig	Lent	3
619	*	Christe, du Lamm Gottes	Lent	2
620		Christus, der uns selig macht	Lent	4
621		Da Jesus an dem Kreuze stund	Lent	2
622		O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde groß	Lent	5
623		Wir danken dir, Herr Jesu Christ	Lent	3
624		Hilf Gott, daß mir's gelinge	Lent	4
625	*	Christ lag in Todesbanden	Easter	2
626		Jesus Christus, unser Heiland	Easter	3
627		Christ ist erstanden	Easter	3
628		Erstanden ist der heil'ge Christ	Easter	3
629		Erschienen ist der herrliche Tag	Easter	3
630		Heut' triumphieret Gottes Sohn	Easter	4
631		Komm, Gott Schöpfer, heiliger Geist	Pentecost	3
632		Herr Jesu Christ, dich zu uns wend'	Pentecost	3
633		Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier		2
634		Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier (alt. version of BWV 633)		2
635		Dies sind die heil'gen zehn Gebot'		4
636		Vater unser im Himmelreich		3
637	*	Durch Adams Fall ist ganz verderbt		3
638		Es ist das Heil uns kommen her		3
639	*	Ich ruf' zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ		1
640		In dich hab' ich gehoffet, Herr		3
641		Wenn wir in höchsten Nöten sein		5
642		Wer nur den lieben Gott läßt walten		2
643	*	Alle Menschen müssen sterben		2
644		Ach wie nichtig, ach wie flüchtig		4

Background and General Perspectives

These 46 short chorales were composed while he was court organist at the ducal court in Weimar (1708–1714).

Orgelbüchlein (literally translated, "Little Organ Book")--a collection of 46 of the most commonly-used Lutheran chorales. 164 settings were planned, but completed only 46. Most of them were composed during his Weimar period (c. 1713-1716), where he was a Chamber musician and later Concertmeister to Grand Duke Wilhelm Ernst. Weimar (1708-1717) was his most productive period in organ composition

Organization of the planned collection: 2 halves: Part one traces the path of the Liturgical Year (Starting with Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, etc.). Part two uses chorales based on events of Christian life. Thus, the title "The Liturgical Year" is inappropriate. It may have been conceived of as a complete yearly cycle of chorale preludes. The entire book was laid out (164 settings), the pages ruled, and the titles placed. The layout of the book required that the pieces be short.

Factors contributing to the historical importance of the collection:

• A. Limitation of size ruled out the large "for-imitation" style of the past--had to be a more economical format
• B. Motifs are often fragments of the chorale tune itself
• C. Pictorial motifs brought the message of the text forward in the music. Examples: "Durch Adams Fall ist ganz verderbt [corrupted]" dissonant, descending sevenths in the pedal refer to mankind's fall and "Puer Natus in Bethlehem" includes rocking cradle motif.
• D. Substantial, self-sustaining pedal part was rather unique
• E. The collection served several functions: 1. Pedagogical--practice material for up-coming organists, 2. Service music--introductions for congregational hymns, 3. Examples for advanced pupils on how to improvise a chorale prelude.

For details, see the Wikipedia article

Scores and Editions

Historical Organ Techniques and Repertoire, Volume 2, J.S. Bach—Basic Organ Works (ed. Quentin Faulkner)

Completely fingered in early fingering styles. Includes helpful information on the original chorales and performing the works.

J. S. Bach: Orgelbuchlein (ed. Robert Clark and John David Peterson)

Includes helpful information on the original chorales and performing the works.

IMSLP, Bach Gesellschaft edition

Free download

Registration and Organs

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See the footnote in the "Notes" section at the bottom of the page.

Fingering and Pedaling

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Articulation and Phrasing

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Ornamentation

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Tempo and Meter

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Recordings

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Free Online

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Pay to Listen

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

Other Resources

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Notes

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