Motet 'Jesu, meine Freude' BWV 227

                  Motet  'Jesu, meine Freude'  BWV 227       Vocalconsort Berlin  (1723?)  (21:00)

          The longest and most musically complex of Bach's motets, it is set in eleven movements for 
          five voices (S1,S2,A,T,B). It is named after the Lutheran hymn "Jesu, meine Freude" with
          words by Johann Franck, first published in 1653.  The motet contains the six stanzas of the 

          hymn in its odd-numbered movements.  The hymn tune by Johann Crüger appears in all of

          these movements in different styles of chorale settings.  The text of the motet's even-numbered

          movements is taken from the eighth chapter of the Epistle to the Romans, a passage that

          influenced key Lutheran teachings.  The hymn, written in the first person with a focus on an

          emotional bond with Jesus, forms a contrasting expansion of the doctrinal biblical text Bach

          set both texts alternating with and complementing each other, in a structure of symmetries 

          on different layers.

          Play first four movements:  chorale, fughetta, chorale, trio (2 sopranos & 1 alto) ...  (5:50) 

            Movements:

No.	Text	Text source	Voices	Key	Time	Form
1	Jesu, meine Freude (Jesus, my joy)	1st stanza	SATB	E minor		chorale
2	Es ist nun nichts Verdammliches (There is therefore now no condemnation)	Romans 8:1	SSATB	E minor	3 2	· fugato
3	Unter deinen Schirmen (Beneath your protection)	2nd stanza	SSATB	E minor		·· chorale
4	Denn das Gesetz (For the law [of the Spirit])	Romans 8:2	SSA	G major	3 4	··· trio
5	Trotz dem alten Drachen (I defy the old dragon)	3rd stanza	SSATB	E minor	3 4	···· free chorale
6	Ihr aber seid nicht fleischlich (But ye are not in the flesh)	Romans 8:9	SSATB	G major		····· fugue
7	Weg, weg mit allen Schätzen (Away with all treasures!)	4th stanza	SATB	E minor		···· chorale
8	So aber Christus in euch ist (And if Christ be in you)	Romans 8:10	ATB	C major	12 8	··· trio
9	Gute Nacht, o Wesen (Good night, existence)	5th stanza	SSAT	A minor	2 4	·· chorale fantasy
10	So nun der Geist (But if the Spirit)	Romans 8:11	SSATB	E minor	3 2	· fugato
11	Weicht, ihr Trauergeister (Go away, mournful spirits)	6th stanza	SATB	E minor		chorale