The Orgelbüchlein was written 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...

 during the period of 1708–1714, while he was court organist at the ducal court in Weimar

Weimar

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...

. It was planned as a set of 164 chorale prelude

Chorale prelude

In music, a chorale prelude is a short liturgical composition for organ using a chorale tune as its basis. It was a predominant style of the German Baroque era and reached its culmination in the works of J.S. Bach, who wrote 46 examples of the form in his Orgelbüchlein.-Function:The liturgical...

s (smaller-scale compositions based on chorale

Chorale

A chorale was originally a hymn sung by a Christian congregation. In certain modern usage, this term may also include classical settings of such hymns and works of a similar character....

 melodies) spanning the liturgical year

Liturgical year

The liturgical year, also known as the church year, consists of the cycle of liturgical seasons in Christian churches which determines when feast days, including celebrations of saints, are to be observed, and which portions of Scripture are to be read. Distinct liturgical colours may appear in...

; however, Bach only completed forty-six chorale preludes and left less than two measures of a forty-seventh. The chorale preludes in this collection constitute BWV

BWV

The Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis is the numbering system identifying compositions by Johann Sebastian Bach. The prefix BWV, followed by the work's number, is the shorthand identification for Bach's compositions...

 599–644 within Bach's total compositional output. The Orgelbüchlein is at the same time a collection of organ music for church services, a treatise on composition, a religious statement and a pedagogical manual.

History and purpose

The title page of the autograph score reads in English translation:

Planned content of the Orgelbüchlein as indicated in the autograph manuscript
Number	Title	Liturgical significance	Page	BWV
1	Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland	Advent	1	599
2	Gott, durch dein Güte or Gottes Sohn ist kommen	Advent	2-3	600
3	Herr Christ, der ein'ge Gottessohn or Herr Gott, nun sei gepreiset	Advent	4	601
4	Lob sei dem allmächtigen Gott	Advent	5	602
5	Puer natus in Bethlehem	Christmas	6-7	603
6	Lob sei Gott in des Himmels Thron	Christmas	7
7	Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ	Christmas	8	604
8	Der Tag, der ist so freudenreich	Christmas	9	605
9	Von Himmel hoch, da komm ich her	Christmas	10	606
10	Von Himmel kam der Engel Schar	Christmas	11-10	607
11	In dulci jubilo	Christmas	12-13	608
12	Lobt Gott, ihr Christen, allzugleich	Christmas	14	609
13	Jesu, meine Freude	Christmas	15	610
14	Christum wir sollen loben schon	Christmas	16	611
15	Wir Christenleut	Christmas	17	612
16	Helft mir Gotts Güte preisen	New Year	18	613
17	Das alte Jahr vergangen ist	New Year	19	614
18	In dir ist Freude	New Year	20-21	615
19	Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin [Nunc dimittis]	Purification	22	616
20	Herr Gott, nun schleuss den Himmel auf	Purification	23-23a	617
21	O Lamm Gottes, unschuldig	Passiontide	24-24a	618
22	Christe, du Lamm Gottes	Passiontide	25	619
23	Christus, der uns selig macht	Passiontide	26	620a/620
24	Da Jesu an dem Kreuze stund	Passiontide	27	621
25	O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde gross	Passiontide	28-29	622
26	Wir danken dir, Herr Jesu Christ, dass du für uns gestorben bist	Passiontide	30	623
27	Hilf Gott, das mir's gelinge	Passiontide	31-30a	624
28	O Jesu, wie ist dein Gestalt	Passiontide	32
29	O Traurigkeit, o Herzeleid (fragment)	Passiontide	33	Anh. 200
30	Allein nach dir, Herr, allein nach dir, Herr Jesu Christ, verlanget mich	Passiontide	34-35
31	O wir armen Sünder	Passiontide	36
32	Herzliebster Jesu, was hast du verbrochen	Passiontide	37
33	Nun gibt mein Jesus gute Nacht	Passiontide	38
34	Christ lag in Todesbanden	Easter	39	625
35	Jesus Christus, unser Heiland, der den Tod überwand	Easter	40	626
36	Christ ist erstanden	Easter	41-43	627
37	Erstanden ist der heil'ge Christ	Easter	44	628
38	Erscheinen ist der herrliche Tag	Easter	45	629
39	Heut triumphieret Gottes Sohn	Easter	46-47	630
40	Gen Himmel aufgefahren ist	Ascension	48
41	Nun freut euch, Gottes Kinder, all	Ascension	49
42	Komm, Heiliger Geist, erfüll die Herzen deiner Gläubigen	Pentecost	50-51
43	Komm, Heiliger Geist, Herre Gott	Pentecost	52-53
44	Komm, Gott Schöpfer, Heiliger Geist	Pentecost	54	631a/631
45	Nun bitten wir den Heil'gen Geist	Pentecost	55
46	Spiritus Sancti gratia or Des Heil'gen Geistes reiche Gnad	Pentecost	56
47	O Heil'ger Geist, du göttlich's Feuer	Pentecost	57
48	O Heiliger Geist, o heiliger Gott	Pentecost	58
49	Herr Jesu Christ, dich zu uns wend	Pentecost	59	632
50	Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier	Pentecost	60	634
51	Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier (distinctius)	Pentecost	61	633
52	Gott der Vater wohn uns bei	Trinity	62-63
53	Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr	Trinity	64
54	Der du bist drei in Einigkeit	Trinity	65
55	Gelobet sei der Herr, der Gott Israel [Benedictus]	St. John the Baptist	66
56	Meine Seele erhebt den Herren [Magnificat]	Visitation	67
57	Herr Gott, dich loben alle wir	St. Michael and All Angels	68
58	Er stehn vor Gottes Throne	St. Michael and All Angels	69
59	Herr Gott, dich loben wir	St. Simon and St. Jude, Apostles	70-71
60	O Herre Gott, dein göttlich Wort	Reformation Festival	72
61	Dies sind die heil'gen zehn Gebot	Ten Commandments	73	635
62	Mensch, willst du leben seliglich	Ten Commandments	74
63	Herr Gott, erhalt uns für und für	Ten Commandments	75
64	Wir glauben all an einem Gott	Creed	76-77
65	Vater unser im Himmelreich	Lord's Prayer	78	636
66	Christ, unser Herr, zu Jordan kam	Holy Baptism	79
67	Auf tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir [Psalm 130]	Confession, Penitence and Justification	80
68	Erbarm dich mein, o Herre Gott	Confession, Penitence and Justification	81
69	Jesu, der du meine Seele	Confession, Penitence and Justification	82
70	Allein zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ	Confession, Penitence and Justification	83
71	Ach Gott und Herr	Confession, Penitence and Justification	84
72	Herr Jesu Christ, du höchstes Gut	Confession, Penitence and Justification	85
73	Ach Herr, mich armen Sünder	Confession, Penitence and Justification	86
74	Wo soll ich fliehen hin	Confession, Penitence and Justification	87
75	Wir haben schwerlich	Confession, Penitence and Justification	88
76	Durch Adams Fall ist ganz verderbt	Confession, Penitence and Justification	89	637
77	Es ist das Heil uns kommen her	Confession, Penitence and Justification	90	638
78	Jesus Christus, unser Heiland	Lord's Supper	91
79	Gott sei gelobet und gebenedeiet	Lord's Supper	92-93
80	Der Herr is mein getreuer Hirt [Psalm 23]	Lord's Supper	94
81	Jetzt komm ich als ein armer Gast	Lord's Supper	95
82	O Jesu, du edle Gabe	Lord's Supper	96
83	Wir danken dir, Herr Jesu Christ, dass du das Lämmlein worden bist	Lord's Supper	97
84	Ich weiss ein Blümlein hübsch und fein	Lord's Supper	98
85	Nun freut euch, lieben Christen g'mein	Lord's Supper	99
86	Nun lob, mein Seel, den Herren [Psalm 103]	Lord's Supper	100-101
87	Wohl dem, der in Gottes Furcht steht	Christian Life and Conduct	102
88	Wo Gott zum Haus nicht gibt sein Gunst [Psalm 127]	Christian Life and Conduct	103
89	Was mein Gott will, das gescheh allzeit	Christian Life and Conduct	104
90	Kommt her zu mir, spricht Gottes Sohn	Christian Life and Conduct	105
91	Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ	Christian Life and Conduct	106-107	639
92	Weltlich Ehr und zeitlich Gut	Christian Life and Conduct	107
93	Von Gott will ich nicht lassen	Christian Life and Conduct	108
94	Wer Gott vertraut	Christian Life and Conduct	109
95	Wie's Gott gefällt, so gefällt mir's auch	Christian Life and Conduct	110
96	O Gott, du frommer Gott	Christian Life and Conduct	111
97	In dich hab ich gehoffet, Herr [Psalm 31]	Christian Life and Conduct	112
98	In dich hab ich gehoffet, Herr (alia modo)	Christian Life and Conduct	113	640
99	Mag ich Unglück nicht widertstahn	Christian Life and Conduct	114
100	Wenn wir in höchsten Nöten sein	Christian Life and Conduct	115	641
101	An Wasserflüssen Babylon [Psalm 137]	Christian Life and Conduct	116-117
102	Warum betrübst du dich, mein Herz	Christian Life and Conduct	118
103	Frisch auf, mein Seel, verzage nicht	Christian Life and Conduct	119
104	Ach Gott, wie manches Herzeleid	Christian Life and Conduct	120
105	Ach Gott, erhör mein Seufzen und Wehklagen	Christian Life and Conduct	121
106	So wünsch ich nun eine gute Nacht [Psalm 42]	Christian Life and Conduct	122
107	Ach lieben Christen, seid getrost	Christian Life and Conduct	123
108	Wenn dich Unglück tut greifen an	Christian Life and Conduct	124
109	Keinen hat Gott verlassen	Christian Life and Conduct	125
110	Gott ist mein Heil, mein Hülf und Trost	Christian Life and Conduct	126
111	Wass Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan, kein einig Mensch ihn tadeln kann	Christian Life and Conduct	127
112	Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan, es bleibt gerecht sein Wille	Christian Life and Conduct	128
113	Wer nur den lieben Gott lässt walten	Christian Life and Conduct	129	642
114	Ach Gott, vom Himmel sieh darein [Psalm 12]	Psalm Hymns	130
115	Es spricht der Unweisen Mund wohl [Psalm 14]	Psalm Hymns	131
116	Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott [Psalm 46]	Psalm Hymns	132
117	Es woll uns Gott genädig sein [Psalm 67]	Psalm Hymns	133
118	Wär Gott nicht mit uns diese Zeit [Psalm 124]	Psalm Hymns	134
119	Wo Gott der Herr nicht bei uns hält [Psalm 124]	Psalm Hymns	135
120	Wie schön leuchtet der Morgernstern	Word of God and Christian Church	136-137
121	Wie nach einer Wasserquelle [Psalm 42]	Word of God and Christian Church	138
122	Erhalt uns, Herr, bei deinem Wort	Word of God and Christian Church	139
123	Lass mich dein sein und bleiben	Word of God and Christian Church	140
124	Gib Fried, o frommer, treuer Gott	Word of God and Christian Church	141
125	Du Friedefürst, Herr Jesu Christ	Word of God and Christian Church	142
126	O grosser Gott von Macht	Word of God and Christian Church	143
127	Wenn mein Stündlein vorhanden ist	Death and Dying	144
128	Herr Jesu Christ, wahr Mensch und Gott	Death and Dying	145
129	Mitten wir im Leben sind	Death and Dying	146-147
130	Alle Menschen müssen sterben	Death and Dying	148
131	Alle Menschen müssen sterben (alio modo)	Death and Dying	149	643
132	Valet will ich dir geben	Death and Dying	150
133	Nun lasst uns den Leib begraben	Death and Dying	151
134	Christus, der ist mein Leben	Death and Dying	152
135	Herzlich lieb hab ich dich, o Herr	Death and Dying	152-153
136	Auf meinen lieben Gott	Death and Dying	154
137	Herr Jesu Christ, ich weiss gar wohl	Death and Dying	155
138	Mach's mit mir, Gott, nach deiner Güt	Death and Dying	156
139	Herr Jesu Christ, meins Lebens Licht	Death and Dying	157
140	Mein Wallfahrt ich vollendet hab	Death and Dying	158
141	Gott hat das Evangelium	Death and Dying	159
142	Ach Gott, tu dich erbarmen	Death and Dying	160
143	Gott des Himmels und der Erden	Morning	161
144	Ich dank dir, lieber Herre	Morning	162
145	Aus Meines Herzens Grunde	Morning	163
146	Ich dank dir schon	Morning	164
147	Das walt mein Gott	Morning	165
148	Christ, der du bist der helle Tag	Evening	166
149	Christe, der du bist Tag und Licht	Evening	167
150	Werde munter, mein Gemüte	Evening	168
151	Nun ruhen alle Wälder	Evening	169
152	Dankt dem Herrn, denn er ist sehr freundlich [Psalm 136]	After Meals	170
153	Nun lasst uns Gott dem Herren	After Meals	171
154	Lobet dem Herren, denn er ist sehr freundlich [Psalm 147]	After Meals	172
155	Singen wir aus Herzensgrund	After Meals	173
156	Gott Vater, der du deine Sonn	Good Weather	174
157	Jesue, meines Herzens Freud	Appendix	175
158	Ach, was soll ich Sűnder machen	Appendix	176
159	Ach wie nichtig, ach wie flüchtig	Appendix	177	644
160	Ach, was ist doch unser Leben	Appendix	178
161	Allenthalben, wo ich gehe	Appendix	179
162	Hast du denn, Jesu, dein Angesicht gänzlich verborgen or Soll ich denn, Jesu, mein Leben in Trauern beschliessen	Appendix	180
163	Sei gegrüsset, Jesu gütig or O Jesu, du edle Gabe	Appendix	181
164	Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele	Appendix	182

Compositional style

The chorale preludes of the Orgelbüchlein share several common stylistic features, which are the distinguishing traits of what may be called the "Orgelbüchlein-style chorale:"

• The chorale melody, embellished to varying degrees or unembellished altogether, is in one voice (excepting BWV 615, In dir ist Freude, in which the melody is broken up into motives
  Motif (music)
  In music, a motif or motive is a short musical idea, a salient recurring figure, musical fragment or succession of notes that has some special importance in or is characteristic of a composition....
  
   and bounces between several voices).
• The melody is in the soprano
  Soprano
  A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
  
   voice (except for BWV 611, Christum, wir sollen loben schon, in which it is in the alto
  Alto
  Alto is a musical term, derived from the Latin word altus, meaning "high" in Italian, that has several possible interpretations.When designating instruments, "alto" frequently refers to a member of an instrumental family that has the second highest range, below that of the treble or soprano. Hence,...
  
   voice, and the canonical
  Canon (music)
  In music, a canon is a contrapuntal composition that employs a melody with one or more imitations of the melody played after a given duration . The initial melody is called the leader , while the imitative melody, which is played in a different voice, is called the follower...
  
   preludes BWV 600, 608, 618, 619, 620, 624, 629 and 633/634).
• The pieces are written in four-voice counterpoint
  Counterpoint
  In music, counterpoint is the relationship between two or more voices that are independent in contour and rhythm and are harmonically interdependent . It has been most commonly identified in classical music, developing strongly during the Renaissance and in much of the common practice period,...
  
  , except for BWV 599, Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, and BWV 619, Christe du Lamm Gottes, which are written in five voices; and BWV 639, Ich ruf' zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ, which is written in three.
• The pieces span exactly the length of the chorale melody; there are no introductions or codas.

Contents

The chorale preludes of the Orgelbüchlein fall into the seasons of the liturgical year:

Advent

Advent

Advent is a season observed in many Western Christian churches, a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas. It is the beginning of the Western liturgical year and commences on Advent Sunday, called Levavi...

:

• BWV 599 — Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland
• BWV 600 — Gott, durch deine Güte (or Gottes Sohn ist kommen)
• BWV 601 — Herr Christ, der einge Gottes-Sohn (or Herr Gott, nun sei gepreiset)
• BWV 602 — Lob sei dem allmächtigen Gott

Christmas

Christmas

Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...

:

• BWV 603 — Puer natus in Bethlehem
• BWV 604 — Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ
• BWV 605 — Der Tag, der ist so freudenreich
• BWV 606 — Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her
• BWV 607 — Vom Himmel kam der Engel Schar
• BWV 608 — In dulci jubilo
• BWV 609 — Lobt Gott, ihr Christen, allzugleich
• BWV 610 — Jesu, meine Freude
• BWV 611 — Christum wir sollen loben schon
• BWV 612 — Wir Christenleut

New Year

New Year

The New Year is the day that marks the time of the beginning of a new calendar year, and is the day on which the year count of the specific calendar used is incremented. For many cultures, the event is celebrated in some manner....

:

• BWV 613 — Helft mir Gotts Güte preisen
• BWV 614 — Das alte Jahre vergangen ist
• BWV 615 — In dir ist Freude

Feast of the Purification

Presentation of Jesus at the Temple

The Presentation of Jesus at the Temple, which falls on 2 February, celebrates an early episode in the life of Jesus. In the Eastern Orthodox Church and some Eastern Catholic Churches, it is one of the twelve Great Feasts, and is sometimes called Hypapante...

:

• BWV 616 — Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin
• BWV 617 — Herr Gott, nun schleuß den Himmel auf

Lent

Lent

In the Christian tradition, Lent is the period of the liturgical year from Ash Wednesday to Easter. The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer – through prayer, repentance, almsgiving and self-denial – for the annual commemoration during Holy Week of the Death and...

:

• BWV 618 — O Lamm Gottes, unschuldig
• BWV 619 — Christe, du Lamm Gottes
• BWV 620 — Christus, der uns selig macht
• BWV 621 — Da Jesus an dem Kreuze stund
• BWV 622 — O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde groß
• BWV 623 — Wir danken dir, Herr Jesu Christ
• BWV 624 — Hilf, Gott, daß mir's gelinge
• BWV Anhang 200 — O Traurigkeit, o Herzeleid (fragment)

Easter

Easter

Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...

:

• BWV 625 — Christ lag in Todesbanden
• BWV 626 — Jesus Christus, unser Heiland, der den Tod überwand
• BWV 627 — Christ ist erstanden
• BWV 628 — Erstanden ist der heil'ge Christ
• BWV 629 — Erschienen ist der herrliche Tag
• BWV 630 — Heut triumphieret Gottes Sohn

Pentecost

Pentecost

Pentecost is a prominent feast in the calendar of Ancient Israel celebrating the giving of the Law on Sinai, and also later in the Christian liturgical year commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples of Christ after the Resurrection of Jesus...

:

• BWV 631 — Komm, Gott Schöpfer, Heiliger Geist
• BWV 632 — Herr Jesu Christ, dich zu uns wend
• BWV 634 — Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier
• BWV 633 — Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier (distinctius)

Preludes based on catechism

Catechism

A catechism , i.e. to indoctrinate) is a summary or exposition of doctrine, traditionally used in Christian religious teaching from New Testament times to the present...

 hymns:

• BWV 635 — Dies sind die heil'gen zehn Gebot
• BWV 636 — Vater unser im Himmelreich
• BWV 637 — Durch Adams Fall ist ganz verderbt
• BWV 638 — Es ist das Heil uns kommen her

Miscellaneous:

• BWV 639 — Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ
• BWV 640 — In dich hab ich gehoffet, Herr
• BWV 641 — Wenn wir in höchsten Nöten sein
• BWV 642 — Wer nur den lieben Gott läßt walten
• BWV 643 — Alle Menschen müssen sterben
• BWV 644 — Ach wie nichtig, ach wie flüchtig

Editions

The Orgelbüchlein was originally passed from teacher to student and was not published in its entirety until Felix Mendelssohn

Felix Mendelssohn

Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Barthóldy , use the form 'Mendelssohn' and not 'Mendelssohn Bartholdy'. The Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians gives ' Felix Mendelssohn' as the entry, with 'Mendelssohn' used in the body text...

 edited an edition. Notable editions have been made by Robert Clark and John David Peterson, Quentin Faulkner, Albert Riemenschneider

Albert Riemenschneider

Albert Riemenschneider was an American musician and Bach musicologist.Riemenschneider was born into a musical family. His father, Karl H. Riemenschneider,There are two conflicting sources about the name of his father: T. Riemenschneider & L...

, and Albert Schweitzer

Albert Schweitzer

Albert Schweitzer OM was a German theologian, organist, philosopher, physician, and medical missionary. He was born in Kaysersberg in the province of Alsace-Lorraine, at that time part of the German Empire...

.

See also

• List of compositions by Johann Sebastian Bach
• Neumeister Chorales
  Neumeister Chorales
  Neumeister Chorales is the name commonly used for a recently discovered set of chorale preludes compiled by Johann Gottfried Neumeister . The manuscript was passed onto Christian Heinrich Rinck , whose library was bought by Lowell Mason in 1852...
  
  
• Schübler Chorales
  Schübler Chorales
  Schübler Chorales is a name usually given to the Sechs Chorale von verschiedener Art for organ , a collection of six chorale preludes by Johann Sebastian Bach, issued around 1748. The title 'Schübler Chorales' derives from the engraver and publisher Johann Georg Schübler, who is named on the title...
  
  
• Great Eighteen Chorale Preludes
  Great Eighteen Chorale Preludes
  The Great Eighteen Chorale Preludes, BWV 651–668, are a set of chorale preludes for organ prepared by Johann Sebastian Bach in Leipzig in his final decade 1740-1750, from earlier works composed in Weimar, where he was court organist...
  
  
• Clavier-Übung III
  Clavier-Übung III
  The Clavier-Übung III, sometimes referred to as the German Organ Mass, is a collection of compositions for organ by Johann Sebastian Bach, started in 1735–6 and published in 1739. It is considered to be Bach's most significant and extensive work for organ, containing some of his musically most...
  
  

External links

• WIMA Free scores of the Orgelbüchlein on the werner Icking Music Archive
  Werner Icking Music Archive
  The Werner Icking Music Archive , is a web archive of liberally-licensed sheet music of public domain music. The scores are electronically typeset by volunteers and distributed in PDF, often accompanied by their typesetting files. WIMA continues the defunct GMD Music Archive and is named after...
  
  
• Free scores on Mutopia of the whole collection of 46 chorale preludes from the Orgelbüchlein.
• Free scores of the complete Orgelbüchlein on the Arno Rog website.
• Free downloads of the complete Orgelbüchlein recorded by James Kibbie
  James Kibbie
  James Kibbie is an American concert organist, recording artist and pedagogue. He is Professor of Organ at the University of Michigan.- Biography :James Kibbie was born in 1949 in Vinton, Iowa, USA...
  
  on historic German baroque organs: either search for individual works or download the whole collection