ExclusiveBach: Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her, BWV 700

【Classical music and nature 古典音樂小站】Johann Sebastian Bach: Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her, BWV 700. This beautiful piece was played by Aldo Locatelli. It has common licence (Public Domain Mark 1.0 Universal), and is provided through musopen.org.

The angel descends to earth in a wonderful grand opening

For this piece, Bach arranged a cheerful Christmas chorale, with words and music written by Luther himself. The first two lines of the chorale paraphrase the words of the angel who brings the glad tidings to the shepherds: “I descend from heaven on high; I bring you wonderful new tidings”. It has been suggested that in Luther’s day this chorale was sung at the traditional Christmas play of the biblical nativity, where sometimes an angel came down on a rope. Bach does something similar at the beginning of this chorale arrangement. In the opening bars, it seems like he will use the chorale in a perfect fugue. The four parts come in one after another, from high to low, with the first line of the chorale melody. This is followed by a few pretend entrances, giving the impression that there are more than four parts, and the pedal eventually joins in after twenty bars. But then, as if the young Bach (it is an early work) had underestimated this ambitious intention, the piece continues with freer imitations and figurations of the chorale melody.

Various German composers from previous generations had already composed organ arrangements of this popular chorale. And Bach himself took every opportunity. A couple of years before his death, almost as if to show that of course he could handle that strict counterpoint, Bach was to write a whole series of ‘canonic variations’ based on Vom Himmel hoch (BWV 769).

Source: bachvereniging.nl

Lyrics: Vom Himmel Hoch
by Martin Luther (1483-1546)
translation by James A. Tweedie

1. From highest heaven I here befall
To bring a good news tale to all.
So much I want this tale to bring
To tell it I will gladly sing.

2. A little child this day is born
Unto a virgin on this morn.
So fine and delicate a boy,
Who will be your delight and joy.

13. Ah, dearest Jesus, little one
Make a clean cradle and then come
To find your rest in my heart’s shrine
I’ll ne’er forget that you are mine.

15. Glory to God on Heaven’s throne
Who gave to us His only Son.
As angel choirs with joy give voice
May we in this new year rejoice.

The video was filmed by Simone Schlegel in Switzerland an edited by Wenjing Ma.


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