Composer

:

Ferruccio Busoni

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Chorale Prelude

Compose Date

:

1898

Publication Date

:

1898

Average_duration

:

5:12

"Nun komm' der Heiden Heiland, KiV B27/3" is a choral prelude composed by Ferruccio Busoni in 1909. The piece is based on the hymn of the same name, which is attributed to the German theologian and reformer Martin Luther. The hymn is a paraphrase of the Latin hymn "Veni, Redemptor gentium" and is traditionally sung during Advent. Busoni's choral prelude is divided into three movements. The first movement is a slow and solemn introduction, which sets the mood for the piece. The second movement is a fugue, which is based on the first line of the hymn. The fugue is complex and intricate, with multiple voices weaving in and out of each other. The third movement is a chorale, which is a simple and straightforward setting of the hymn. One of the characteristics of Busoni's choral prelude is its use of chromaticism. The piece is full of unexpected harmonies and modulations, which give it a sense of tension and drama. Another characteristic is its use of counterpoint. Busoni was a master of counterpoint, and he uses it to great effect in this piece. The fugue in particular is a tour de force of contrapuntal writing. "Nun komm' der Heiden Heiland, KiV B27/3" was premiered in 1910 in Berlin, with Busoni himself conducting. The piece has since become one of Busoni's most popular works, and it is frequently performed by choirs and organists around the world. Its combination of solemnity, complexity, and beauty make it a fitting tribute to the hymn that inspired it.

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