Jesus, my joy (BWV 227)

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The opening bars of the introductory chorale

Jesu, Meine Freude ( BWV 227) is a sacred motet for a five-part mixed choir by Johann Sebastian Bach , the basic structure of which is the hymn of the same name by Johann Franck (text) and Johann Crüger (melody) (1653). Between each of its six stanzas there is a passage from Romans . Bach composed the motet between 1723 and 1735, presumably for a funeral or memorial service.

Musically held in the tone of funeral music, the text conveys the turning away from worldly things and turning to the spirit of Jesus, who triumphs over all sadness (so the conclusion: "Still you remain in pain / Jesus, my joy").

Emergence

The reason for this motet has not been handed down, as with most of the other motets. A chronological classification is therefore very difficult. It is assumed, however, that it is a composition from Bach's time in Leipzig; there is also a copy from 1735. The period of origin is thus set to the years 1723 to 1735.

The hypothesis that this motet was created on the occasion of the funeral of Johanna Maria Kees (née Rappold, widow of the Leipzig postmaster) on July 18, 1723 is considered extremely dubious in research, but has not yet been completely ruled out.

Cast and performance practice

The motet is designed for a five-part choir ( SS A T B ). Despite the lack of instrumental parts, the work should not be thought of as an a cappella work in the modern sense. Rather, it was customary for Bach's time, a basso - or at least Organ hinzuzuimprovisieren -Begleitung fell especially in basso age also works with instrumental accompaniment supporting even under the term "a cappella". In today's performance practice, a cappella performances predominate, although in the course of historical performance practice there are more and more performances and recordings with instrumental accompaniment.

Text structure

The work, which consists of eleven individual sentences, is composed of two texts. The basic structure is the text of the hymn of the same name by Johann Franck (1650). Between the six stanzas there is a passage from Romans ( Rom 8 : 1-11  Lut ).

The beginnings of the individual sentences are:

  1. Jesus, my joy (1st stanza)
  2. Now there is nothing damnable (according to Rom 8: 1)
  3. Under your umbrella (2nd verse)
  4. Because the law (à 3, according to Rom 8,2)
  5. Despite the old dragon (3rd stanza)
  6. But you are not carnal (fugue, according to Rom 8,9)
  7. Away with all treasures (4th stanza)
  8. But if Christ is in you (à 3, according to Rom 8,10)
  9. Good night, o beings (4, 5th stanza)
  10. So now the spirit (according to Rom 8:11)
  11. Evade, you grief spirits (6th stanza)

Musical structure

The fugue “You are not carnal” (with symbolic coloratura on the word “spiritual”), around which the other sentences are grouped symmetrically, is the central piece of the work . The work is surrounded by two musically identical choral movements to the melody by Johann Crüger . Two slogan motets form the second and penultimate movements and also use common musical material. Two three-movement groups consisting of chorale, trio and free chorale arrangement, the parts of which correspond in terms of motifs, complete the centrally symmetrical arrangement:

Chorale Saying motet
Chorale
trio
free chorale
Gap
Chorale
trio
free chorale
Saying motet Chorale

There are musical references between the following sentences:

  • Chorales of Jesus, my joy (1) and softness, you spirits of mourning (11)
  • Spruchmotetten There is now nothing damnable (2) and so now the spirit (10)
  • Chorales under your umbrella (3) and away with all treasures (7)
  • Terzette For the law (4) and As Christ is in you (8)
  • free chants in spite of the old dragon (5) and good night, o beings (9)

The performance lasts approx. 20-25 minutes.

Impact history

Bach composed an organ prelude to Johann Crüger's chorale melody Jesu, Meine Freude (BWV 1105), which is a musical movement that is independent of the motet . The Basque composer and guitarist José de Azpiazu (1912–1986) created a transcription of this organ prelude for guitar.

literature

  • Klaus Hofmann: Johann Sebastian Bach. The motets . Bärenreiter, Kassel 2003, ISBN 3-7618-1499-2 .

Web links

Remarks

  1. ↑ Markus Rathey: 396 - Jesus, my joy . In: Wolfgang Herbst , Ilsabe Seibt (Hrsg.): Liederkunde zum Evangelischen Gesangbuch . No. 16 . Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Göttingen 2011, ISBN 978-3-525-50302-7 , pp. 59–64 ( limited preview in Google Book search).
  2. ↑ Werner Neumann : Foreword to JS Bach. Motets. Score. Urtext. Edition Peters, Frankfurt undated EP 4592
  3. ↑ Wolf Moser : "When I see a good thing, I rewrite it for myself ..." Interview with José de Azpiazu. In: Guitar & Laute 9, 1987, 3, pp. 8-16; here: pp. 10 and 12 f.