Jesu, joy of Man 's Desiring - wikipedia Jesu, joy of Man 's Desiring This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( April 2018 ) Jesu, Joy of Man 's Desiring is the most common English title of a piece of music derived from the 10th and last movement of the cantata Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben, BWV 147 ( `` Heart and Mouth and Deed and Life '' ), composed by Johann Sebastian Bach in 1716 and 1723. A transcription by the English pianist Myra Hess ( 1890 -- 1965 ) was published in 1926 for piano solo and in 1934 for piano duet. It is often performed slowly and reverently at wedding ceremonies, as well as during Christian festive seasons like Christmas and Easter, despite the affect suggested by Bach in his original scoring, for voices with trumpet, oboes, strings, and continuo. Contents 1 Background 2 Instrumental arrangements 3 Text 3.1 English text 3.2 Original text 4 References 5 External links Background Much of the music of Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben comes from Bach 's Weimar period. This earlier version ( BWV 147a, composed 1716 ) lacked the recitatives, but included the opening chorus and the four arias incorporated into the later version. For Leipzig ( composed 1723 ), 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 Churches ' 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. It is 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, such as for the classical guitar and, in Wendy Carlos ' album Switched - On Bach, on the Moog synthesizer. According to The New Oxford Companion to Music, the best - known transcription for piano is by Dame Myra Hess. Text English text The following is the most commonly heard English version of the piece. It was written by the poet laureate Robert Bridges. It is not a translation of the stanzas used within Bach 's original version, but is inspired by stanzas of the same hymn that Bach had drawn upon : `` Jesu, meiner Seelen Wonne '', the lyrics of which were written in 1661 by Martin Janus ( or Jahn ), and which was sung to Johann Schop 's 1642 `` Werde munter, mein Gemüte '' hymn tune. Performances of chorale from BWV 147, `` Jesus bleibet meine Freude '' ( Jesu, Joy of Man 's Desiring ) Performed in 1935 by Orchestre symphonique de Paris ( 3 : 35 ) Performed by Orchestra Gli Armonici ( 3 : 22 ) Piano, organ, some bells and harps ( 3 : 13 ) Harpsichord, violin, viola, cello ( 2 : 39 ) Problems playing these files ? See media help. 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 fashioned, With the fire of life impassioned, 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. Original text Jahn 's verses express a close, friendly, and familiar friendship with Jesus, who gives life to the poet. It has been noted that the original German hymn was characteristically a lively hymn of praise, which is carried over somewhat into Bach 's arrangement ; whereas a slower, more stately tempo is traditionally used with the English version. 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. 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. Well for me that I have Jesus, O how strong I hold to him that he might refresh my heart, when sick and sad am I. Jesus have I, who loves me and gives to me his own, ah, therefore I will not leave Jesus, when I feel my heart is breaking. -- from BWV 147, chorale movement no. 6 Jesus remains my joy, my heart 's comfort and essence, Jesus resists all suffering, He is my life 's strength, my eye 's desire and sun, my soul 's love and joy ; so will I not leave Jesus out of heart and face. -- from BWV 147, chorale movement no. 10 References Jump up ^ Boyd, M., ed. `` Jesu, Joy of Man 's Desiring '', The Oxford Composer Companions : J.S. Bach, Oxford University Press Jump up ^ Kennedy, M., ed. `` Jesu, Joy of Man 's Desiring '', Oxford Dictionary of Music, Oxford University Press Jump up ^ `` Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben '', The Oxford Composer Companions : J.S. Bach, Oxford University Press Jump up ^ Bach Cantatas, Chronological Listing ^ Jump up to : Arnold, Denis ( 1983 ). The New Oxford Companion to Music. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0 - 19 - 311316 - 3. Jump up ^ `` Jesu, Joy of Man 's Desiring '' lyrics, Our Wedding Songs Jump up ^ Bach ; `` Jesu, joy of man 's desiring '', web - published by St Basil 's Music Jump up ^ BWV 147 Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben External links Free sheet music of Jesu, Joy of Man 's Desiring from Cantorion.org Cantata, BWV 147 : Scores at the International Music Score Library Project ( IMSLP ) Recording of the German original version and the English translation ( The Choir of Somerville College, Oxford ) `` Kantate, BWV 147 `` Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben '' : Teil II, X. Choral `` Jesus bleibet meine Freude '' '' at MusicBrainz ( information and list of recordings ) Chamber music and orchestral works by, and transcriptions after, Johann Sebastian Bach Solo Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin, BWV 1001 -- 1006 Partita No. 1 No. 2 No. 3 Cello Suites, BWV 1007 -- 1012 Partita for Solo Flute, BWV 1013 Ensemble Six Sonatas for Violin and Harpsichord, BWV 1014 -- 1019 Sonatas for viola da gamba and harpsichord, BWV 1027 -- 1029 Flute Sonatas in B minor, BWV 1030 in E ♭ major, BWV 1031 ( doubtful ) in A major, BWV 1032 in C major, BWV 1033 ( doubtful ) in E minor, BWV 1034 in E major, BWV 1035 for two flutes and continuo, BWV 1039 Canonic Trio Sonata, BWV 1040 Concertos Violin Concerto in A minor, BWV 1041 Violin Concerto in E major, BWV 1042 Concerto for Two Violins, BWV 1043 Triple Concerto, BWV 1044 Sinfonia for violin and orchestra, BWV 1045 Brandenburg Concertos, BWV 1046 -- 1051 No. 5 Keyboard concertos, BWV 1052 -- 1065 No. 1 in D minor, BWV 1052 No. 2 in E major, BWV 1053 No. 4 in A major, BWV 1055 For two harpsichords in C minor, BWV 1060 Suites Orchestral Suites, BWV 1066 -- 1069 Orchestral Suite in G minor, BWV 1070 ( doubtful ) Fugal The Musical Offering, BWV 1079 The Art of Fugue, BWV 1080 discography Adaptations `` Air on the G String '' `` Alphabet '' `` Ave Maria '' Bach - Busoni Editions `` Everything 's Gonna Be Alright '' `` Jesu, Joy of Man 's Desiring '' `` Lady Lynda '' `` Sheep may safely graze '' `` They '' Albums Bach 's Greatest Hits Back to Bach Jazz Sebastian Bach Switched - On Bach Switched - On Bach II List of compositions by Johann Sebastian Bach Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jesu,_Joy_of_Man%27s_Desiring&oldid=841644711 '' Categories : Arrangements of compositions by Johann Sebastian Bach Hidden categories : Articles containing German - language text Articles needing additional references from April 2018 All articles needing additional references Wikipedia articles needing clarification from December 2016 All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from April 2018 Articles with hAudio microformats Works with IMSLP links Articles with International Music Score Library Project links MusicBrainz work same as Wikidata Articles with MusicBrainz work links Talk Contents About Wikipedia Dansk Español Norsk Norsk nynorsk Português Simple English 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 17 May 2018, at 03 : 23 ( UTC ). 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Question: who composed jesu joy of man's desiring
Answer: Johann Sebastian Bach