Composer

:

Johann Sebastian Bach

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Chorale

Compose Date

:

before 1751

Publication Date

:

1784 - 1787

Average_duration

:

0:58

Johann Sebastian Bach composed 'Gottes Sohn ist kommen, BWV 318' in the early 18th century. The exact date of composition is unknown, but it is believed to have been written during his time as the court organist in Weimar, Germany. The piece is a chorale prelude, which is a type of composition that features a hymn tune as the basis for the music. The premiere of 'Gottes Sohn ist kommen, BWV 318' is also unknown, but it is likely that Bach performed it during his time in Weimar. The piece consists of four movements, each of which is based on a different verse of the hymn 'Gottes Sohn ist kommen'. The first movement features the hymn tune in the soprano voice, accompanied by a simple organ accompaniment. The second movement is a more elaborate setting of the same verse, with the melody in the tenor voice and a more complex organ accompaniment. The third movement is based on the second verse of the hymn, and features a more lively and dance-like rhythm. The melody is again in the soprano voice, but this time it is accompanied by a more elaborate organ part that includes running sixteenth-note passages and other virtuosic flourishes. The final movement is a setting of the fourth verse of the hymn, and features a slower, more contemplative tempo. The melody is in the alto voice, and the organ accompaniment is more subdued and introspective. Overall, 'Gottes Sohn ist kommen, BWV 318' is a beautiful example of Bach's skill as a composer of chorale preludes. The piece showcases his ability to take a simple hymn tune and transform it into a complex and expressive work of art. The four movements of the piece each offer a different perspective on the hymn, and together they create a rich and varied musical experience.

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