Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring
Encyclopedia
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring is the most common English title of the 10th movement
of the cantata
Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben, BWV 147 composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
. A transcription by the English pianist Myra Hess
(1890–1965) was published in 1926 for piano solo
and in 1934 for piano
duet. The British organist Peter Hurford
made his organ transcription for the chorale movement as well. Today, it is often performed at wedding ceremonies slowly and reverently, in defiance of the effect suggested by Bach in his original scoring, for voices with trumpet
, oboes, strings
, and continuo. Written during his first year in Leipzig
, Germany, this chorale movement is one of Bach's most enduring works.
period. This earlier version (BWV 147a) lacked the recitatives, but included the opening chorus
and the four arias incorporated into the later version. For Leipzig, Bach added three recitatives and the celebrated chorale movement which concludes each of the two parts.
Although it is the 32nd surviving cantata that Bach composed, it was assigned the number BWV 147 in the complete catalogue of his works. Bach wrote a total of 200 cantatas during his time in Leipzig, largely to meet the Leipzig Churches' demand for about 58 different cantatas each year.
Contrary to the common assumption, the violinist and composer Johann Schop
, not Bach, composed the movement's underlying chorale melody, Werde munter, mein Gemüthe; Bach's contribution was to harmonize and orchestrate it. The frequent use of arrangements of the piece in modern weddings is in no way related to its scope or Bach's intent for it. Rather, it was one segment of an extended, approximately 20-minute treatment of a traditional Church
hymn
, as is typical of cantatas of the Baroque
period.
for choir, trumpet
, violin
, optionally oboe
, viola
, and basso continuo. The music's wide popularity has led to numerous arrangements and transcriptions, such as for the classical guitar. And according to The New Oxford Companion to Music, the best-known for piano
is by Dame Myra Hess.
Robert Bridges
. It is not a translation of the stanzas used within Bach's original version, but is inspired by the various the stanzas of the same hymn composed in 1642 by Johann Schop that Bach had drawn upon: Jesu, meiner Seelen Wonne, the lyrics of which were written in 1661 by Martin Jahn (c. 1620–c. 1682).
The original German text does not correspond to the most common English version.
A close-to-literal translation of the original German:
Excerpted below are the opening stanzas of Jahn's Jesu, meiner Seelen Wonne.
Gloss:
The English hymn is typically played slowly and reverently, however, the studio group Apollo 100
recorded a fast-paced, electronic-keyboard version in 1972, which featured in the film Boogie Nights
(1997). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yXh5N3Y5aM
The Beach Boys song Lady Lynda
is based on the melody of the song, but not the words.
Like the Beach Boys, The Brian Setzer Orchestra
song "Bach's Bounce" uses the melody.
The melody of Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring has inspired Claudio Baglioni, the famous italian singer, for his song "Per incanto e per amore"
‘Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring’ As Played by a Wooden Staircase: The melody was used in a 2011 three-minute TV commercial for a Japanese cell phone, shot in the woods near Kyushu, Japan. According to the designer, no additional music was added — what you hear is just the sound of a ball, a long wooden xylophone, and gravity.
Movement (music)
A movement is a self-contained part of a musical composition or musical form. While individual or selected movements from a composition are sometimes performed separately, a performance of the complete work requires all the movements to be performed in succession...
of the cantata
Cantata
A cantata is a vocal composition with an instrumental accompaniment, typically in several movements, often involving a choir....
Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben, BWV 147 composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity...
. A transcription by the English pianist Myra Hess
Myra Hess
Dame Myra Hess DBE was a British pianist.She was born in London as Julia Myra Hess, but was best known by her middle name. At the age of five she began to study the piano and two years later entered the Guildhall School of Music, where she graduated as winner of the Gold Medal...
(1890–1965) was published in 1926 for piano solo
Piano solo
The piano is often used to provide harmonic accompaniment to a voice or other instrument. However, solo parts for the piano are common in many musical styles...
and in 1934 for piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
duet. The British organist Peter Hurford
Peter Hurford
Peter Hurford OBE is a British organist, born St Cecilia's day 1930 in Minehead, Somerset.Educated at Blundell's School, he later studied both music and law at Jesus College, Cambridge, graduating with dual degrees, subsequently obtaining an enviable reputation for both musical scholarship and...
made his organ transcription for the chorale movement as well. Today, it is often performed at wedding ceremonies slowly and reverently, in defiance of the effect suggested by Bach in his original scoring, for voices with trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
, oboes, strings
String instrument
A string instrument is a musical instrument that produces sound by means of vibrating strings. In the Hornbostel-Sachs scheme of musical instrument classification, used in organology, they are called chordophones...
, and continuo. Written during his first year in Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
, Germany, this chorale movement is one of Bach's most enduring works.
Background
Much of the music of Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben comes from Bach's WeimarWeimar
Weimar is a city in Germany famous for its cultural heritage. It is located in the federal state of Thuringia , north of the Thüringer Wald, east of Erfurt, and southwest of Halle and Leipzig. Its current population is approximately 65,000. The oldest record of the city dates from the year 899...
period. This earlier version (BWV 147a) lacked the recitatives, but included the opening chorus
Strophic form
Strophic form is the simplest and most durable of musical forms, elaborating a piece of music by repetition of a single formal section. This may be analyzed as "A A A..."...
and the four arias incorporated into the later version. For Leipzig, Bach added three recitatives and the celebrated chorale movement which concludes each of the two parts.
Although it is the 32nd surviving cantata that Bach composed, it was assigned the number BWV 147 in the complete catalogue of his works. Bach wrote a total of 200 cantatas during his time in Leipzig, largely to meet the Leipzig Churches' demand for about 58 different cantatas each year.
Contrary to the common assumption, the violinist and composer Johann Schop
Johann Schop
Johann Schop was a German violinist and composer, much admired as a musician and a technician, who was a virtuoso and whose compositions for the violin set impressive technical demands for that area at that time. In 1756 Leopold Mozart commented on the difficulty of a trill in a work by Schop,...
, not Bach, composed the movement's underlying chorale melody, Werde munter, mein Gemüthe; Bach's contribution was to harmonize and orchestrate it. The frequent use of arrangements of the piece in modern weddings is in no way related to its scope or Bach's intent for it. Rather, it was one segment of an extended, approximately 20-minute treatment of a traditional Church
Church service
In Christianity, a church service is a term used to describe a formalized period of communal worship, often but not exclusively occurring on Sunday, or Saturday in the case of those churches practicing seventh-day Sabbatarianism. The church service is the gathering together of Christians to be...
hymn
Hymn
A hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification...
, as is typical of cantatas of the Baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
period.
Instrumental arrangements
Bach scored the chorale movements (6 and 10) from Herz und Mund und Tat und LebenHerz und Mund und Tat und Leben
Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben , BWV 147, is a cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach. It was written originally in Weimar in 1716 for Advent and expanded in 1723 for the feast of the Visitation in Leipzig, where it was first performed on 2 July 1723.-Weimar:The cantata is based on a cantata text...
for choir, trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
, violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
, optionally oboe
Oboe
The oboe is a double reed musical instrument of the woodwind family. In English, prior to 1770, the instrument was called "hautbois" , "hoboy", or "French hoboy". The spelling "oboe" was adopted into English ca...
, viola
Viola
The viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...
, and basso continuo. The music's wide popularity has led to numerous arrangements and transcriptions, such as for the classical guitar. And according to The New Oxford Companion to Music, the best-known for piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
is by Dame Myra Hess.
English text
The following is the most commonly heard English version of the piece. It was written by the poet laureatePoet Laureate of the United Kingdom
The Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom, also referred to as the Poet Laureate, is the Poet Laureate appointed by the monarch of the United Kingdom on the advice of the Prime Minister...
Robert Bridges
Robert Bridges
Robert Seymour Bridges, OM, was a British poet, and poet laureate from 1913 to 1930.-Personal and professional life:...
. It is not a translation of the stanzas used within Bach's original version, but is inspired by the various the stanzas of the same hymn composed in 1642 by Johann Schop that Bach had drawn upon: Jesu, meiner Seelen Wonne, the lyrics of which were written in 1661 by Martin Jahn (c. 1620–c. 1682).
- JesuJesusJesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
, joy of man's desiring,- Holy wisdom, love most bright;
- Drawn by Thee, our souls aspiring
- Soar to uncreated light.
- Word of God, our flesh that fashioned,
- With the fire of life impassioned,
- Striving still to truth unknown,
- Soaring, dying round Thy throne.
- Through the way where hope is guiding,
- Hark, what peaceful music rings;
- Where the flock, in Thee confiding,
- Drink of joy from deathless springs.
- Theirs is beauty's fairest pleasure;
- Theirs is wisdom's holiest treasure.
- Thou dost ever lead Thine own
- In the love of joys unknown.
Original text in German
Jahn's verses express a close, friendly, and familiar friendship with Jesus, who gives life to the poet. It has been noted that the original German hymn was characteristically a lively hymn of praise, which is carried over somewhat into Bach's arrangement; whereas a slower, more stately tempo is traditionally used with the English version.- Wohl mir, daß ich Jesum habe,
- o wie feste halt' ich ihn,
- daß er mir mein Herze labe,
- wenn ich krank und traurig bin.
- Jesum hab' ich, der mich liebet
- und sich mir zu eigen giebet,
- ach drum laß' ich Jesum nicht,
- wenn mir gleich mein Herze bricht.
- —from BWV 147, Chorale movement no. 6
- Jesus bleibet meine Freude,
- meines Herzens Trost und Saft,
- Jesus wehret allem Leide,
- er ist meines Lebens Kraft,
- meiner Augen Lust und Sonne,
- meiner Seele Schatz und Wonne;
- darum laß' ich Jesum nicht
- aus dem Herzen und Gesicht.
- —from BWV 147, Chorale movement no. 10
The original German text does not correspond to the most common English version.
A close-to-literal translation of the original German:
Excerpted below are the opening stanzas of Jahn's Jesu, meiner Seelen Wonne.
- Jesu, meiner Seelen Wonne,
- Jesu, meine beste Lust,
- Jesu, meine Freudensonne,
- Jesu, dir ist ja bewußt,
- wie ich dich so herzlich liebe
- und mich ohne dich betrübe.
- Drum o Jesu komm zu mir
- und bleib bei mir für und für!
- Jesu, dir ist ja bewußt,
- Jesu, mein Hort und Erretter,
- Jesu, meine Zuversicht,
- Jesu, starker Schlangentreter,
- Jesu, meines Lebens Licht!
- Wie verlanget meinem Herzen,
- Jesulein, nach dir mit Schmerzen!
- Komm, ach komm, ich warte dein,
- komm, o liebstes Jesulein!
- Jesu, meines Lebens Licht!
Gloss:
Cover versions
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, found on his album December'. - Chloë AgnewChloë AgnewChloë Alexandra Adele Emily Agnew is an Irish singer who is one of the current members of the Celtic music group Celtic Woman as the youngest member. She comes from Knocklyon, County Dublin where she lived with her mother Adele "Twink" King and younger sister Naomi...
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, Órla FallonÓrla FallonÓrlagh Fallon , professionally known as Órla Fallon, is an Irish soloist, songwriter and former member of the group Celtic Woman and the chamber choir Anúna.- Life and career :...
and Máiréad NesbittMáiréad NesbittMáiréad Nesbitt is a Classical and Celtic music performer, most notably as a fiddler and violinist. She is currently the fiddler for the group Celtic Woman.- Background :...
from Celtic WomanCeltic WomanCeltic Woman is an all-female musical ensemble conceived and assembled by Sharon Browne and David Downes, a former musical director of the Irish stage show Riverdance...
. - Renée FlemingRenée FlemingRenée Fleming is an American soprano specializing in opera and lieder. Fleming has a full lyric soprano voice.Fleming has performed coloratura, lyric, and lighter spinto soprano repertoires. She has sung roles in Italian, German, French, Czech, and Russian, aside from her native English. She also...
, on her "Sacred Songs" album from 2005. - Josh GrobanJosh GrobanJoshua Winslow "Josh" Groban is an American singer-songwriter, musician, actor, and record producer. His four solo albums have been certified at least multi-platinum, and in 2007, he was charted as the number-one best selling artist in the United States with over 21 million records in that country...
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, found on his 1969 album 6- and 12-String Guitar6- and 12-String Guitar-Side Two:-Personnel:* Leo Kottke – 6- & 12-string guitarsCover design by Annie Elliott -External links:* Read some contemporary and retrospective reviews of * *...
. - Leon FleisherLeon FleisherLeon Fleisher is an American pianist and conductor.-Early life and studies:Fleisher was born in San Francisco, where he started studying the piano at age four...
, on his 2004 album "Two Hands". - Gary HoeyGary HoeyGary Hoey is a surfer-rock musician.- Early life and early career :At fourteen, Hoey often lingered outside Boston's renowned Berklee College of Music, making friends and offering to pay for lessons. To devote his time to music, he dropped out of high school and began playing Boston's local clubs...
, as "Desire" on the Bug Alley album. - Rebecca St. JamesRebecca St. JamesRebecca St. James , is a Christian pop rock singer, songwriter, musician, author, and actor. She began performing in Australia in the late 1980s and released her first full-length studio album in 1991. In 1993 she was signed to the record label ForeFront Records and released her major label debut a...
- Sarah BrightmanSarah BrightmanSarah Brightman is an English classical crossover soprano, actress, songwriter and dancer. She is famous for possessing a vocal range of over 3 octaves and singing in the whistle register...
on her album, "A Winter Symphony" - Isao TomitaIsao Tomita, often known simply as Tomita, is a Japanese music composer, regarded as one of the pioneers of electronic music and space music, and as one of the most famous producers of analog synthesizer arrangements...
on the album "Dawn Chorus" (performed on synthesizers). - Sissel KyrkjebøSissel KyrkjebøSissel Kyrkjebø , also simply known as Sissel, is a Norwegian soprano.Sissel is considered one of the world's top crossover sopranos. Sissel's musical style runs the gamut from pop recordings and folk songs, to classical vocals and operatic arias...
(on her Northern Lights album from 2007). - Grover Washington, Jr.Grover Washington, Jr.Grover Washington, Jr. was an American jazz-funk / soul-jazz saxophonist. Along with George Benson, John Klemmer, David Sanborn, Bob James, Chuck Mangione, Herb Alpert, and Spyro Gyra, he is considered by many to be one of the founders of the smooth jazz genre.He wrote some of his material and...
(on his Breath Of Heaven: A Holiday Collection album from 1997). - Wendy CarlosWendy CarlosWendy Carlos is an American composer and electronic musician. Carlos first came to notice in the late 1960s with recordings made on the Moog synthesizer, then a relatively new and unknown instrument; most notable were LPs of synthesized Bach and the soundtrack for Stanley Kubrick's film A...
, on her album, Switched-On BachSwitched-On Bach-Details:The album consists of pieces by Johann Sebastian Bach, performed on a Moog synthesizer, a modular synthesizer system, one of which can be seen at the back of the room on the album cover. "Switched-On Bach," or "S-OB" as Carlos referred to it, was recorded on a custom-built 8 track recorder... - Mormon Tabernacle ChoirMormon Tabernacle ChoirThe Mormon Tabernacle Choir, sometimes colloquially referred to as MoTab, is a Grammy and Emmy Award winning, 360-member, all-volunteer choir. The choir is part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . However, the choir is completely self-funded, traveling and producing albums to...
, on their album "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring: 20 Great Bach & Handel Choruses" - TVXQTVXQTVXQ, an acronym for Tong Vfang Xien Qi , is a South Korean pop group formed in 2003 under SM Entertainment. In South Korea they are known as Dong Bang Shin Ki , often abbreviated by international fans as DBSK; they were later introduced in Japan as Tohoshinki under the Avex sub-label Rhythm Zone...
, on their 2004 album "Christmas Gift from TVXQ"
The English hymn is typically played slowly and reverently, however, the studio group Apollo 100
Apollo 100
Apollo 100 was a short-lived British instrumental studio-based group that had a hit with the Johann Sebastian Bach-inspired single "Joy" in 1972....
recorded a fast-paced, electronic-keyboard version in 1972, which featured in the film Boogie Nights
Boogie Nights
Boogie Nights is a 1997 drama film written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. Set in Los Angeles's San Fernando Valley, the script focuses on a young nightclub dishwasher who becomes a popular star of pornographic films, and chronicles his rise and fall from the Golden Age of Porn of the 1970s...
(1997). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yXh5N3Y5aM
The Beach Boys song Lady Lynda
Lady Lynda
"Lady Lynda" is a song written by vocalist and guitarist Alan Jardine and Ron Altbach for the American rock band The Beach Boys. It was released on their 1979 album L.A. ....
is based on the melody of the song, but not the words.
Like the Beach Boys, The Brian Setzer Orchestra
The Brian Setzer Orchestra
The Brian Setzer Orchestra is a swing and jump blues band formed in 1990 by Stray Cats frontman Brian Setzer. The group had success covering Louis Prima's "Jump Jive an' Wail", which appeared on Prima's 1957 album The Wildest!...
song "Bach's Bounce" uses the melody.
The melody of Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring has inspired Claudio Baglioni, the famous italian singer, for his song "Per incanto e per amore"
‘Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring’ As Played by a Wooden Staircase: The melody was used in a 2011 three-minute TV commercial for a Japanese cell phone, shot in the woods near Kyushu, Japan. According to the designer, no additional music was added — what you hear is just the sound of a ball, a long wooden xylophone, and gravity.