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Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring – BWV 147

Character, clarity and a recognisable musical line.

An accessible arrangement that preserves the identity of an essential work.

Arranged and performed by David de Miguel · Easy–intermediate levelJohann Sebastian Bach

Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring – BWV 147

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Context1723

LevelEasy–intermediate level

InstrumentPiano solo

EditionFingering · articulation

THE SCORE

A clear edition for playing with intention.

The score uses spacious notation, suggested fingering and clearly visible expressive marks, so that technical work always serves the character of the music.

Clearly separated layersMelody and accompaniment remain easy to distinguish.
Suggested fingeringGuidance for changes of position.
Readable articulationSlurs and attacks help shape each motif.
Visible expressionDynamics and hairpins guide the arc of the phrase.

MUSICAL CONTEXT

The story behind the music.

Soon after taking up his post as Thomaskantor in Leipzig, Bach was required to provide music for the city’s principal churches. The cantata was performed in July 1723 during his first annual cycle of church music and reworked material from an earlier composition written in Weimar.

AT THE PIANO

Three ideas to work on.

Work first on the pulse, then the balance, and finally the complete direction of the phrase.

A steady pulse.

Practise slowly and keep a regular inner beat before increasing the tempo.

Balanced voices.

Bring out the principal line while keeping the accompaniment flexible and secondary.

A directed phrase.

Join motifs into long arcs and use dynamics to lead each arrival.

FORMATS

This piece on its own or as part of the complete collection.

Choose the individual edition if you are looking for Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring – BWV 147; discover the book to explore twenty works by Bach, with context and recordings.

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