"Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" (or simply "Joy";

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

: ''Jesus bleibet meine Freude'') is the most common English title of a piece of music derived from a chorale setting from the cantata ''Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben'', BWV 147 ("Heart and Mouth and Deed and Life"), composed by Johann Sebastian Bach in 1723. The same music on different stanzas of a chorale closes both parts of the cantata. A

transcription Transcription refers to the process of converting sounds (voice, music etc.) into letters or musical notes, or producing a copy of something in another medium, including: Genetics * Transcription (biology), the copying of DNA into RNA, the fir ...

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.

Background

Bach composed a four-part setting with independent orchestral accompaniment of two stanzas of the hymn "", written by Martin Janus in 1661, which was sung to a melody by the violinist and composer

Johann Schop Johann Schop (ca. 1590 – 1644) was a German violinist and composer, much admired as a musician and a technician, who was a virtuoso and whose compositions for the violin set impressive technical demands for that area at that time. In 1756 ...

, "". The movements conclude the two parts of the cantata. Bach scored the chorale movements (6 and 10) from ''

Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben Johann Sebastian Bach composed the church cantata ' (Heart and mouth and deed and life), 147 in 1723 during his first year as ''Thomaskantor'', the director of church music in Leipzig. Bach cantata, His cantata is part of Bach's first cantata cyc ...

'' for choir, trumpet, violin, optionally oboe, viola, and

basso continuo Basso continuo parts, almost universal in the Baroque era (1600–1750), provided the harmonic structure of the music by supplying a bassline and a chord progression. The phrase is often shortened to continuo, and the instrumentalists playing th ...

Instrumental arrangements

The music's wide popularity has led to numerous

arrangement In music, an arrangement is a musical adaptation of an existing composition. Differences from the original composition may include reharmonization, melodic paraphrasing, orchestration, or formal development. Arranging differs from orches ...

s and transcriptions, such as for the

classical guitar The classical guitar (also known as the nylon-string guitar or Spanish guitar) is a member of the guitar family used in classical music and other styles. An acoustic wooden string instrument with strings made of gut or nylon, it is a precursor o ...

and, in Wendy Carlos' album '' Switched-On Bach'', on the

Moog synthesizer The Moog synthesizer is a modular synthesizer developed by the American engineer Robert Moog. Moog debuted it in 1964, and Moog's company R. A. Moog Co. (later known as Moog Music) produced numerous models from 1965 to 1981, and again from 20 ...

. According to ''The New Oxford Companion to Music'', the best-known transcription for piano is by

Dame Myra Hess Dame Julia Myra Hess, (25 February 1890 – 25 November 1965) was an English pianist best known for her performances of the works of Bach, Mozart, Beethoven and Schumann. Career Early life Julia Myra Hess was born on 25 February 1890 to a J ...

Text

English text

The following is a version with words attributed to 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

's 1642 "

Werde munter, mein Gemüte "" (Become cheerful, my mind) is a Lutheran evening hymn by Johann Rist in twelve stanzas of eight lines each, printed in 1642. The hymn was translated to English and appeared in 67 hymnals. History The hymn was first published as "Dritte Zehen" ...

" hymn tune.

Jesu Jesu may refer to: *Jesus (c. 4 BC – c. AD 30/33), Jewish religious leader and central figure of Christianity **Jesu (name), vocative and poetic form of Jesus' name Music * Jesu (band), a British experimental band formed by Justin Broadrick ** ...

, 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

Wohl mir, dass ich Jesum habe (Autograph)

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 tightly I hold him that he might refresh my heart, when I'm sick and sad. Jesus I have, who loves me and gives himself to me, ah, therefore I will not leave Jesus, Even if I feel my heart is breaking. —from BWV 147, chorale movement no. 6 Jesus remains my joy, my heart's comfort and essence, Jesus fends off all suffering, He is my life's strength, my eye's desire and sun, my soul's treasure and pleasure; Therefore I will not leave Jesus out of heart and face. —from BWV 147, chorale movement no. 10

Modern adaptations

The melody and other elements have been used in several

pop Pop or POP may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Music * Pop music, a musical genre Artists * POP, a Japanese idol group now known as Gang Parade * Pop!, a UK pop group * Pop! featuring Angie Hart, an Australian band Albums * ''Pop'' (G ...

and classical crossover recordings: * "Someone I Know", on

Margo Guryan Margo Guryan (September 20, 1937 – November 8, 2021) was an American songwriter, singer, musician and lyricist. As a songwriter, her work was first recorded in 1958, although it was for her 1960s song " Sunday Mornin'", a hit for both Spanky a ...

's 1968 album '' Take a Picture'' * Included as the coda of "

Cherry Blossom Clinic Revisited "Cherry Blossom Clinic" is a song by British rock band The Move, written by their lead guitarist, vocalist, and primary songwriter Roy Wood, intended as the follow up single to their hit "Flowers in the Rain", which reached number two in the ''R ...

", on The Move's 1970 album '' Shazam'' * "

Wicked Annabella "Wicked Annabella" is a song by the English rock band the Kinks from their 1968 album, '' The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society'' (1968). Written by Ray Davies, it was recorded by the Kinks in July1968. The song is Dave Davies's o ...

", a 1968 track on '' The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society'', with Bach in Pete Quaife's

bassline Bassline (also known as a bass line or bass part) is the term used in many styles of music, such as blues, jazz, funk, Dub music, dub and electronic music, electronic, traditional music, traditional, or classical music for the low-pitched Part ( ...

* " Joy", a 1972 instrumental by

Apollo 100 Apollo 100 was a short-lived British instrumental group, that had a U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100 top 10 hit with the Johann Sebastian Bach–inspired single "Joy" in 1972. History Apollo 100 was founded by arranger and multi-instrumentalist Tom P ...

, which reached number six on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and number 24 in the ''RPM'' Canadian chart * "Joy", an instrumental track on George Winston's 1982 album '' December'', inspired by an arrangement by guitarist David Qualey * "Dormi dormi", a 2019 track on the extended album '' Sì'' by Andrea Bocelli, a lullaby inspired by the chorale, sung by Bocelli and Jennifer Garner in Italian and English * "

Lady Lynda "Lady Lynda" is a song written by vocalist/guitarist Al Jardine and touring keyboardist Ron Altbach for American rock band the Beach Boys. It was released on the band's 1979 album ''L.A. (Light Album)''. Its melody is based on "Jesu, Joy of Man's ...

", a 1979 single by The Beach Boys which reached the Top 10 of the UK Singles Chart

References

External links

* *
German original version
an
English translation

Choir of Somerville College, Oxford The Choir of Somerville College, one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford, is mixed voice and is led by a Director of Chapel Music, currently William Dawes, incumbent since 2017. In conjunction with the organ scholars, the choi ...

, YouTube {{Authority control Arrangements of compositions by Johann Sebastian Bach