Johann Sebastian Bach
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring
in G Major, BWV 147

A sweet hymn melody, surrounded by undulating triplets.

ID: 908
Johann Sebastian Bach

Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring
BWV 147

Key: G Major
Year: 1723
Level: 7
Period: Baroque
piano sheet music Piano score: PS Edition Download
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Bach's joyful worship

“Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” is one of Bach’s most famous works. It’s popularity spans different genres, and even the Swingle Singers did an upbeat jazz version in much the same way as they had done “Wachet Auf,” which is “Sleeper’s Wake” in English. The best-known piano transcription was made in 1926 by Dame Myra Hess. This edition presents a slightly easier version with fewer notes and less wide stretches.

Background

The original “Jesus bleibet meine Freude” is the concluding movement of a church cantata (Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben, BWV 147) dating from 1723, Bach's first year as Thomaskantor in Leipzig. Bach often composed four-part chorales to end a cantata. Here, he embeds the choir in a beautiful orchestral setting with undulation triplets floating around the sweet hymn melody.


Forum posts about this piece:

Pedalling. Jesu joy of mans desiring. by jono1
Can anyone tell me how to pedal this piece? I have been told to pedal and release only on each of the base notes, which is OK up to a point.  But the legatto in the right hand has to be pretty good to...

Bach,jesu man of joys desiring.... by s1d1f1
Can anyone send me notes of this piece...for piano..pleaseeeeeee I can't find them.....

Easiest Of Three Bach Transcriptions by FreakOfNature
Hey guys! I'm thinking of learning a transcription of a Bach piece and found three that I really like. These are: - 'Jesu bleibet meine Freude' a. k. a. Jesu Joy Of...


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Baroque piano sheet music by Johann Sebastian Bach to download and print instantly: Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring BWV 147 in the key of . Level 7, compositional type: Transcription (published in 1723)
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring in G Major, BWV 147 by the composer Johann Sebastian Bach who lived from 1685 to 1750.
The piece was published in 1723 and is included in Bach's Miscellaneous pieces.