Sei gegrüßet, Jesu gütig, BWV 768

*Sei gegrüßet, Jesu gütig*
Sei gegrüßet, Jesu gütig
by Johann Sebastian Bach
Key	G minor
Catalogue	BWV 768
Genre	Baroque
Form	Chorale and variations
Composed	c. 1705
Duration	20 minutes
Scoring	Organ

Sei gegrüßet, Jesu gütig, BWV 768, also known as Partite diverse sopra "Sei gegrüßet, Jesu gütig", is a chorale partita for organ by Johann Sebastian Bach.

History

The work consists of a chorale and eleven short variations written on it. This is one of Bach's earlier works, dating from around 1705, when the young composer was influenced by the style of the variations of Georg Böhm, organist of St. John's Church in Lüneburg, where Bach was a student. Dieterich Buxtehude is another probable source of inspiration.^[1] Of Bach's chorale partitas for organ, this is the longest.

Bach composed the initial chorale by taking the old traditional melody of "Sei gegrüßet, Jesu gütig", then presented a series of variations according to different styles. Five of the eleven variations require an organ with pedals. The melody of the original hymn is usually present in the soprano part. Each variation is developed based on a rhythmic motif or theme.^[2]

Greater descriptions of the widely varying styles of these variations are written by Philipp Spitta^[1] and by Stainton de B. Taylor.^[3] Both commentators posit that some of the variations were written at a later date, based on the greater adherence to Böhm's style in the earlier variations and the increased compositional freedom exhibited in the later ones.^[3] Peter Williams provides a more detailed musicological analysis of each variation, and argues that the text of the chorale "O Jesu, du edle Gabe," a Communion hymn, corresponds with Bach's music more closely than the text of "Sei gegrüßet, Jesu gütig."^[2]

Structure

Chorale
Variation I (a 2 Clav.)
Variation II
Variation III
Variation IV
Variation V
Variation VI
Variation VII (a 2 Clav. e Ped.)
Variation VIII
Variation IX (a 2 Clav. e Ped.)
Variation X (a 2 Clav. e Ped.)
Variation XI (a 5 voci, in Organo pleno)

A complete performance lasts about twenty minutes.

Notes

^ ^a ^b Spitta, Philipp (1884). Johann Sebastian Bach, his work and influence on the music of Germany, 1685-1750. Vol. 1. Translated by Bell, Clara; Fuller-Maitland, J. A. London: Novello, Ewer & Co. pp. 604–605.
^ ^a ^b Williams, Peter (2003). The Organ Music of J. S. Bach (2nd ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 506–512. ISBN 978-0-521-89115-8.
^ ^a ^b Taylor, Stainton de B. (1944). The Chorale Preludes of J. S. Bach. London: Oxford University Press. p. 102.

External links

Sei gegrüßet, Jesu gütig, BWV 768: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
Work 00897 at Bach Digital website

[spitta-1] Spitta, Philipp (1884). Johann Sebastian Bach, his work and influence on the music of Germany, 1685-1750. Vol. 1. Translated by Bell, Clara; Fuller-Maitland, J. A. London: Novello, Ewer & Co. pp. 604–605.

[williams-2] Williams, Peter (2003). The Organ Music of J. S. Bach (2nd ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 506–512. ISBN 978-0-521-89115-8.

[taylor-3] Taylor, Stainton de B. (1944). The Chorale Preludes of J. S. Bach. London: Oxford University Press. p. 102.

[1]

[2]

[3]

v t e Compositions for organ, keyboard and lute by Johann Sebastian Bach
Organ	Fugue in G minor, BWV 131a (doubtful) Sonatas, BWV 525–530 Prelude and Fugue in C major, BWV 531 Prelude and Fugue in D major, BWV 532 Fantasia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 537 Toccata and Fugue in D minor ("Dorian"), BWV 538 Toccata and Fugue in F major, BWV 540 Fantasia and Fugue in G minor ("Great"), BWV 542 Prelude and Fugue in A minor, BWV 543 Prelude and Fugue in B minor, BWV 544 Prelude and Fugue in C minor, BWV 546 Prelude and Fugue in E minor ("Wedge"), BWV 548 Eight Short Preludes and Fugues, BWV 553–560 (doubtful) Fantasia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 562 Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in C major, BWV 564 Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565 (doubtful) Prelude (Toccata) and Fugue in E major, BWV 566 Fantasia ("Pièce d'Orgue") in G major, BWV 572 Fugue in G minor ("Little"), BWV 578 Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 582 Concertos, BWV 592–597 Orgelbüchlein, BWV 599–644 Schübler Chorales, BWV 645–650 Great Eighteen Chorale Preludes, BWV 651–668 Chorale partita Sei gegrüßet, Jesu gütig, BWV 768 Canonic Variations on "Vom Himmel hoch da komm' ich her", BWV 769 Neumeister chorales, BWV 1090–1120 Chorale fantasia Wo Gott der Herr nicht bei uns hält, BWV 1128
Keyboard	Inventions and Sinfonias, BWV 772–801 English Suites, BWV 806–811 French Suites, BWV 812–817 Partitas, BWV 825–830 No. 2 No. 4 No. 6 Overture in the French style, BWV 831 Well-Tempered Clavier, BWV 846–893 Book 1 No. 1 in C major No. 2 in C minor No. 3 in C♯ major No. 4 in C♯ minor No. 7 in E♭ major No. 10 in E minor No. 16 in G minor No. 21 in B♭ major No. 22 in B♭ minor Book 2 No. 1 in C major No. 2 in C minor No. 3 in C♯ major No. 4 in C♯ minor No. 5 in D major No. 6 in D minor No. 12 in F minor No. 13 in F♯ major No. 18 in G♯ minor No. 22 in B♭ minor No. 24 in B minor Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue Fantasia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 906 Toccatas, BWV 910–916 Six Little Preludes, BWV 933–938 Italian Concerto Harpsichord solo concertos Goldberg Variations discography Gould recording Aria variata alla maniera italiana Capriccio on the departure of a beloved brother
Lute	Suite in G minor, BWV 995 Suite in E minor, BWV 996 Bourrée Suite in C minor, BWV 997 Prelude, Fugue and Allegro in E♭ major, BWV 998 Prelude in C minor, BWV 999 Fugue in G minor, BWV 1000
Mixed collections	Clavier-Übung III: Prelude and Fugue in E♭ major ("St. Anne"), BWV 552, Chorale preludes, BWV 669–689, Duets, BWV 802–805 Concerto transcriptions, BWV 592–596 and 972–987 Klavierbüchlein W. F. Bach Notebook A. M. Bach Twelve Little Preludes
List of compositions by Johann Sebastian Bach List of fugal works by Johann Sebastian Bach List of concertos by Johann Sebastian Bach

Sei gegrüßet, Jesu gütig, BWV 768

History

Structure

Notes

External links

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