Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring

"Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" is the 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. Written during his first year in Leipzig, Germany, this chorale movement is scored for voices with trumpet, oboes, strings, and continuo, and is one of Bach's most enduring works. Bach appears to have implied a moving tempo for the chorale by putting it in a triple meter; however, today it is often performed at wedding ceremonies slowly and reverently.

Background

Much of the music of Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben comes from Bach's Weimar period. This earlier version (BWV 147a) lacked the recitatives, but included the opening chorus and the four arias incorporated into the later version. For Leipzig, Bach added three recitatives and the celebrated chorale movement which concludes each of the two parts.

Although it is the 32nd surviving cantata that Bach composed, it was assigned the number BWV 147 in the complete catalogue of his works. Bach wrote a total of 200 cantatas during his time in Leipzig, largely to meet the Leipzig church's demand for about 58 different cantatas each year.

Contrary to the common assumption, the violinist and composer Johann Schop, not Bach, composed the movement's underlying chorale melody, Werde munter, mein Gemüthe; Bach's contribution was to harmonize and orchestrate it. The frequent use of arrangements of the piece in modern weddings is in no way related to its scope or Bach's intent for it. Rather, it was one segment of an extended, approximately 20-minute treatment of a traditional Church hymn, as is typical of cantatas of the Baroque period.

Instrumental arrangements

Bach scored the chorale movements (6 and 10) from Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben for choir, trumpet, violin, optionally oboe, viola, and basso continuo. The music's wide popularity has led to numerous arrangements and transcriptions, the best-known being that for piano by Dame Myra Hess.

Text

English translation

Jesu, joy of man's desiring,

Holy Wisdom, Love most bright;

Drawn by Thee, our souls, aspiring,

Soar to uncreated light.

Word of God, our flesh that fashion'd,

With the fire of life impassion'd,

Striving still to truth unknown,

Soaring, dying, round Thy throne.

Through the way where hope is guiding,

Hark, what peaceful music rings!

Where the flock, in Thee confiding,

Drink of joy from deathless springs.

Theirs is beauty's fairest pleasure;

Theirs is wisdom's holiest treasure.

Thou dost ever lead Thine own

In the love of joys unknown.

— [1]

Original German lyrics

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

Wohl mir, dass ich Jesum habe,

o wie feste halt' ich ihn,

dass er mir mein Herze labe,

wenn ich krank und traurig bin.

Jesum hab' ich, der mich liebet

und sich mir zu eigen giebet,

ach drum lass' ich Jesum nicht,

wenn mir gleich mein Herze bricht.

— from BWV 147, Chorale movement no. 6

The translation of these original verses does not correspond closely to the most common English version, with the direct translation of the first line "Jesus shall remain my gladness" being replaced by "Jesu, joy of man's desiring."

Cover versions

• Chloë Agnew (solo version on her Walking In The Air album), Méav Ní Mhaolchatha, Órla Fallon and Máiréad Nesbitt from Celtic Woman
• Renee Fleming, on her "Sacred Songs" album from 2005
• Josh Groban
• Leo Kottke, found on his 1969 album 6- and 12-String Guitar
• Gary Hoey, as "Desire" on the Bug Alley album.
• Rebecca St. James
• Sarah Brightman
• Isao Tomita on the album "Dawn Chorus" (performed on synthesizers).
• Sissel Kyrkjebø (on her Northern Lights album from 2007)

The song is typically played slowly and reverently. The studio group Apollo 100 recorded a fast-paced, electronic-keyboard version in 1972. [2]

The Bleach Boys song Lady Lynda is based on the melody of the song, but not the words.

External links

• Free scores by Cantatas, BWV 141-150 at the International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP)
• Performance of Myra Hess' piano transcription on YouTube (Flash required)