Bach - Cantata 147: Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring

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• Bach - Cantata 140: Sleepers, Wake
• Mozart - Laudate Dominum

Deutsche

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

English Translation

Jesus remains my joy, my heart's comfort and essence, Jesus resists all suffering, He is my life's strength, my eye's desire and sun, my soul's love and joy; so will I not leave Jesus out of heart and face.

—from BWV 147, Chorale movement no. 10

Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring

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.

This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring.