Eleven Chorale Preludes

Eleven Chorale Preludes, Op. 122, is a collection of works for organ by Johannes Brahms, written in 1896, at the end of the composer's life, immediately after the death of his beloved friend, Clara Schumann, published posthumously in 1902. They are based on verses of nine Lutheran chorales, two of them set twice, and are relatively short, compact miniatures. They were the last compositions Brahms ever wrote, composed around the time that he became aware of the cancer that would ultimately prove fatal; thus the final piece is, appropriately enough, a second setting of "O Welt, ich muß dich lassen."

1. Mein Jesu, der du mich (My Jesus. who [chose] me) in E minor
2. Herzliebster Jesu, was hast du verbrochen (O dearest Jesu) in G minor
3. O Welt, ich muß dich lassen (O world, I must leave you) in F major
4. Herzlich tut mich erfreuen (My heart is filled) in D major
5. Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele (Deck yourself, O dear soul) in E major
6. O wie selig seid ihr doch, ihr Frommen (O how blessed are you pious ones)in D minor
7. O Gott, du frommer Gott (O God, you faithful God) in A minor
8. Es ist ein Ros’ entsprungen (It is an upspringing rose) in F major
9. Herzlich tut mich verlangen (I am heartily longing) in A minor
10. Herzlich tut mich verlangen (second setting) in A minor
11. O Welt, ich muß dich lassen (second setting) in F major

Transcriptions

Preludes 4, 5, and 8–11 were transcribed for solo piano by Ferruccio Busoni in 1902 as BV B 50. These transcriptions have been recorded by Paul Jacobs, Wolf Harden, Lydia Artymiw, and Igor Levit.

External links

• Eleven Chorale Preludes, Op. 122: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
• "Herzlich tut mich verlangen" on YouTube, Robert Pecksmith, 1872 Ladegast organ of St. Jakob, Köthen
• "O Gott, du frommer Gott" on YouTube, Robert Pecksmith, 1879 Sauer organ of Sankt-Gertraud-Kirche, Frankfurt (Oder)