Classical Music | Piano Music

Recorded on 02/24/2010, uploaded on 05/08/2010

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Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben, BWV 147 (“Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring”)                Johann Sebastian Bach

Bach originally composed the cantata Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben, BWV 147 (“Heart and Mouth and Deed and Life”) in 1716, while in Weimar, for Advent. While it is unknown whether this version of the cantata was ever performed, it is certain that Bach revised and expanded it for performance during the feast of Visitation in 1723 in Leipzig. The text of the Weimar version, and of five of the movements of the later Leipzig version, was written by Salomo Franck for the fourth Sunday of Advent. Since the Leipzig churches observed tempus clausum, or time of silence, during Advent it was not possible for the cantata to be performed at that time. However, given the nature of the text it is essentially appropriate for any feast celebrating the Virgin Mary.

The Leipzig version of the cantata contains several changes. The opening chorus and four arias of the original Weimar score formed the basis, though the arias were reordered. To this were added three recitatives and the original chorale was replaced. The resulting ten movement cantata is broken into two parts. The first part, consisting of the first six movements, is to be performed before the sermon. The remaining four movements, forming the second part, are performed afterwards. The last movement of each part is based on the chorale Jesu, meiner Seelen Wonne by Martin Luther.

It is this chorale movement, and the popular piano arrangement of it by Myra Hess, that remain one of Bach’s most well-known compositions. It is often recognized under the arrangement’s title Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring, which approximates the German title of Jesus bleibet meine Freude (“Jesus shall remain my gladness.”) The words of these two movements come from the sixth and sixteenth verse of Luther’s chorale set to a melody by Johann Schop. (Incidentally, Bach used the same melody to different words in the St. Matthew Passion.) In this movement, the simple four-part harmonization of the chorale occurs within a peaceful orchestra setting of pastoral triplets.    Joseph DuBose

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Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring       Johann Sebastian Bach (arranged by Myra Hess)

This chorale, from Bach's Cantata No. 147 (Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben -"Heart and Mind and Deed and Life") was first performed in Leipzig in 1723. The melody's popularity today is due almost entirely to this incredibly successful arrangement by British pianist Myra Hess (1890 - 1965). 

Myra Hess held Bach in the highest regard throughout her life.  She was very much impressed by the beauty of this chorale and often improvised it at the piano, finally publishing the piece in 1926. Her transcription perfectly expresses the character of the original. Dame Myra indicates the piece should be "Simple and Flowing," but the technique required is anything but simple. The voicing throughout represents the challenge of this piece, such as when the tenor or the soprano "solo parts" emerge from the general texture.

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Courtesy of International Music Foundation.

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