"¤Walther: Partita on Jesu, meine Freude" genre: Baroque
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	Nine variations on a beloved German chorale, known in English as "Jesus, all my gladness," revealing a wide variety of moods and compositional techniques.
	MP3.com CD: ¤Virtually Baroque Vol. 1 - buy it! Credits: Jonathan Orwig, MIDI Recordist
	Story Behind the Song Walther, Johann Gottfried (Born; Erfurt, 18 Sept 1684; Died; Weimar, 23 March 1748). German composerand lexicographer. He first worked as organist at St Thomas's, Erfurt. In 1703-7 he made a study tour, meeting musicians including the theorist Andreas Werckmeister; he then became organist of St Peter and St Paul, Weimar, and music teacher of Prince Johann Ernst. His cousin J.S. Bach,who worked at the court, 1708-17, became a close friend. Walther joined the court orchestra in 1721 but never reached a higher position. In 1732 he published his Musicalisches Lexicon,the first major music dictionary in German; it includes both musical terms and biographiesof musicians, drawing on walther's own theoretical treatise (1708) and many other works. As a composer he wrote some 90 sacred vocal works (now mostly lost), over 100 chorale preludes for organ and other instrumental and keyboard music. His chorale preludes are especially fine: they display most of the chorale variation techniques developed by German composers from Pachelbel to Bach but are nevertheless highly personal in style. Transcribing and refining this piece took approximately 12 hours. Updating for pipe organ required another 3 hours. Lyrics Jesu, meine Freude, Meines Herzens Weide, Jesu, meine Zier, Ach wie lang, ach lange Ist dem Herzen bange, Und verlangt nach dir! Gottes Lam, Mein Bräutigam, Ausser dir soll mir auf Erden Nichts sonst liebers werden. Gute Nacht, o Wesen, Das die Welt erlesen, Mir gefällst du nicht. Gute Nacht, ihr Sünden, Bleibet weit dahinten, Kommt nicht mehr ans Licht. Gut Nacht, do Stolz and Pracht, Dir sei ganz, du Lasterleben, Gute Nacht gegeben. Weg mit allen Schätzen! Du bist mein Ergötzen, Jesu, meine Lust. Weg, ihr eitlen Ehren. Ich mag euch nicht hören, Bleibt mir unbewusst. Elend, Not, Kreuz, Schmach und Tod Soll mich, ob ich viel muss leiden, Nicht von Jesu scheiden. Weicht ihr Trauergeister, Denn mein Freudenmeister, Jesu, tritt herein. Denen, die Gott lieben, Muss auch irh Betrüben Lauter Zucker sein. Duld ich schon hier Spott und Hohn, Dennoch bleibst du auch im Leide, Jesu, meine Freude. --Johann Frank (1618-1677) Jesus, my true pleasure, Of my heart the pasture, Jesus, my delight, Ah how long, how long now Is my heart made anxious As it longs for thee! God's true lamb, my bridegroom thou, More than thee to me on earth now Shall nought be more treasured. Now good night, O creature Which the world doth favor, Thou dost please me not. Now good night, corruption, Get thee far behind me, Come no more to light! Now good night, thou pomp and pride! Once for all, thou wicked life here, Now "Good night" I bid thee. Off with other treasures! Thou art my sole pleasure, Jesus, my desire! Off, ye empty honors, I refuse to heed you, May I know you not! Woe, distress, cross, scorn and death Shall now, though I much must suffer, Not from Jesus take me. Yield, ye mournful spirits, For my pleasure's Master, Jesus, comes to me. And in those God loveth, Must as well their sadness To pure sweetness turn. Here I've long borne spite and scorn, But thou bidest e'en in sorrow, Jesus, my true pleasure. --Z. Philip Ambrose, translator

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