Composer

:

Johann Sebastian Bach

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Chorale Prelude

Compose Date

:

before 1723

Publication Date

:

1878

Average_duration

:

6:39

'Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr (III), BWV 663' is a chorale prelude composed by Johann Sebastian Bach. It is part of his collection of chorale preludes known as the Orgelbüchlein, which he began compiling in Weimar in 1713 and completed in Leipzig in 1726. The piece is based on the hymn "Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr" by Nikolaus Decius. The composition is believed to have been written in 1713-1714, during Bach's time as court organist in Weimar. It was first performed on the organ of the Weimar court chapel, and later became a staple of Bach's organ repertoire. The piece is in four movements, each of which is based on a different verse of the hymn. The first movement is a simple, straightforward setting of the first verse, with the melody in the upper voice and a simple accompaniment in the lower voices. The second movement is more complex, with the melody in the pedal and a more elaborate accompaniment in the manuals. The third movement is a lively fugue, with the melody in the upper voice and a complex counterpoint in the lower voices. The final movement is a quiet, reflective setting of the final verse, with the melody in the upper voice and a simple accompaniment in the lower voices. The piece is characteristic of Bach's style, with its intricate counterpoint, use of chromaticism, and careful attention to the text of the hymn. It is also notable for its use of the pedal, which was still a relatively new feature of the organ in Bach's time. Overall, 'Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr (III), BWV 663' is a beautiful and complex piece of music that showcases Bach's mastery of the organ and his deep understanding of the Lutheran hymn tradition.

More....