by Johann Sebastian Bach
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
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. [1])
The Chorales
Click to sort by BWV number, Title, or Season
| BWV
|
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
|
Registration and Organs
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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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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
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
- ↑ Faulkner, Quentin, ed. J.S. Bach, Basic Organ Works: Orgelbüchlein and Three Free Works. Historical Techniques and Repertoire, vol. 2. Edited by Wayne Leopuld. Boston: Wayne Leupold Editions, 1997, 32-33.
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