In dir ist Freude

In dir Ist Freude (In You is Gladness) is traditionally a hymn to celebrate the New Year. The Orgelbuchlein setting is the only piece in the collection that does not present the chorale melody in one voice throughout the piece. Here it is presented in fragments that appear as motives in all voices.

Specific challenges: Manual: scales, arpeggios, and block chords Pedal: repeated motive, rhythmic evenness in eighth-note passages

Organ and Registration

In dir ist Freude is played on one manual and pedal. It generally is played on a jubilant registration, such as an organo pleno in manual and pedal, with an 8' or 16' reed added to the plenum in the pedal. An organo pleno might consist of one stop on each pitch register ( 8', 4', 2', mixture optional) or of a pyramid construction (8' 8' 8', 4' 4', 2', mixture optional) for a warmer sound.

Fingering and Pedaling

Watch for places in which a moving line changes between two hand or hands and feet: for example, m. 11-12, where the running eighth notes move from the left hand to the right hand. Strive to keep a consistent articulation and tempo in these places.

<insert example of m. 11-12>

The pedal line uses the same motive (see below) fourteen times: <insert pedal motive>

It appears in two transpositions: the first begins on D (see measure 1-2) and the second on C (see m. 41-2). For ease of practicing, use the same pedaling every time this figure is played. One effective pedaling might be:

<insert example with pedal markings>

Articulation and Phrasing

Several motives appear in the the right hand, left hand, and pedal. Practice these to maintain the consistent articulation in all parts.

Ornamentation

Ornaments are indicated in the autograph (i.e., Bach's original) score in mm. 46, 47 and 48. These should be played beginning on the upper auxiliary note. The first two places are double trills: begin the trills at the same time and play them at the same speed. The trill in m. 48 is for pedal. Begin on the upper auxiliary note. To exit the trill without losing rhythm or creating over-legato, play the B after the trill (on the last half-beat of the measure) with the right foot:

<insert example with pedal markings>

Resources

Scores

IMSLP, typeset by Pierre Gouin

Bach-Gesellschaft Edition

Recordings

Free Online

James Kibbie, 1724-30 Trost organ, Stadtkirche, Waltershausen, Germany. See website for registration.

Notes

Difficulty rating: