Baroque · 1723
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring
J. S. BachBWV 147
- Key
- G
- Time
- 9/8
- Tempo
- ♩=80
- AO focus
- AO3
Incipit
Form
Chorale fantasia closing Cantata BWV 147 ('Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben'). Triplet ritornello on strings + oboes; chorus enters with the chorale tune in long notes — the famous 'tune' the world knows.
Teaching points
- 9/8 compound triple — the lilting ritornello dances; the chorale tune sits squarely on the dotted-quarter beat
- Two musical layers: chorale (slow, voices) + ritornello (fast, instruments). Identify which is which on first listen
- AO3: how does Bach reconcile a hymn-tune in even minims with a triplet accompaniment?
Full score ↓Public domain
Score: IMSLP (Bach-Gesellschaft + later editions, all public domain).