Schübler chorales

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Title page of the original edition from 1746

The Schübler chorales are six chorale arrangements for organ by Johann Sebastian Bach (original title: Six chorales of different kinds ). In particular, wake up and do you come now, Jesus, are one of Bach's most famous organ works. The melody of the latter is better known under the text of Lobe den Herren - the underlay of the unknown text means that this collection can be assigned to the end of the church year and Advent.

Origin and playability

The exact date of origin of the collection is unknown; the original print was obtained from Johann Georg Schübler in Zella in 1748/1749 ; it also owes its name to him. Five of the six movements are arrangements of surviving cantata movements. For the sixth (BWV 646), the only fragmentary cantata 188 has been assumed to be the source; but this remains speculation.

The sentences may have been selected initially on the basis of ease of play; Most of the movements are only three-part, and their pedal bass either brings the cantus firmus or serves as a rhythmically simple harmonic support for the upper parts. The four-part sentences are a little more difficult. Who only lets God rule and my soul lifts up the Lord . In the latter, the pedal is equally involved with the two voices of the left hand in the implementation and processing of the topics.

Overview of the sentences

No. BWV title Time signature key template
  1 BWV 645 Awake, the voice is calling us c E flat major Movement 4 Zion hears the watchmen singing from Cantata BWV 140: "Wake up"
  2 BWV 646 Where should I flee to? c E minor -
  3 BWV 647 Who only lets God rule c C minor Sentence 4 He knows the real hours of joy from Cantata BWV 93: "Who only lets God rule"
  4th BWV 648 My soul lifts up the gentleman 6/8 D minor Sentence 5 He thinks of mercy from Cantata BWV 10: "My soul exalts the Lord"
  5 BWV 649 Oh stay with us, Lord Jesus Christ c B flat major Sentence 3 Oh stay with us, Lord Jesus Christ from Cantata BWV 6: "Stay with us, because evening will come"
  6th BWV 650 Are you now, Jesus, coming down from heaven? 9/8 G major Movement 2 Praise the Lord who rules everything so wonderfully from Cantata BWV 137: "Praise the Lord"

Other important collections of chorale preludes

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Wolfgang Schmieder , thematic-systematic directory of the works of Johann Sebastian Bach . Wiesbaden 1969

Web links