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

Click to sort by BWV number, Title, or Season

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).

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

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.