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Jesu Joy of Mans Desiring Program Notes, recordings and sheet music

Program Notes: Johann Sebastian Bach – "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" from Cantata BWV 147

Welcome, dear concert-goer, to a moment of profound peace and uplifting beauty from the pen of the incomparable Johann Sebastian Bach. Tonight, we have the pleasure of presenting one of his most beloved and universally cherished melodies: "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring," from his Cantata Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben (Heart and Mouth and Deed and Life), BWV 147.

Bach: The Spiritual Architect

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) was not just a musical genius; he was a devout Lutheran who saw his compositions as an act of worship. As the Thomaskantor (Music Director) in Leipzig for nearly three decades, his primary duty was to provide music for the weekly church services. This involved composing, rehearsing, and performing a new cantata almost every Sunday and feast day, a truly staggering output.

His cantatas are miniature musical dramas, often reflecting on the day's scripture readings and designed to deepen the congregation's spiritual experience. Within these works, Bach masterfully blends biblical texts, poetic reflections, and stirring melodies, showcasing his unparalleled command of counterpoint and harmony.

A Moment of Serenity Amidst the Drama: The Story of BWV 147

Cantata BWV 147 was originally composed in Weimar in 1716 for Advent, but Bach later revised and expanded it in Leipzig in 1723 for the Feast of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary. The cantata tells a narrative of faith and steadfastness.

"Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" is not

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