Nun danket alle Gott

Justinus or Justin Heinrich Knecht (30 September 1752 – 1 December 1817) was a German composer, organist, and music theorist.

He was born in Biberach an der Riss, where he learnt to play the organ, keyboard, violin, and singing. He attended a Lutheran collegiate institution in Esslingen am Neckar from 1768 to 1771, when he became Lutheran preceptor and music director in Biberach, which was a free imperial city until 1803, and had a rich cultural life. He became organist of St Martin's church in 1792, which was used simultaneously by Lutherans and Catholics.

He led an energetic, busy musical life; he composed for the theatre and church, organised subscription concerts, and taught music theory, acoustics, aesthetics, composition, and instruments at the Gymnasium, which was affiliated to the Musikschule in 1806. He went to Stuttgart in December 1806 in the hopes of a post there as Kapellmeister or similar, but after being appointed Direktor beim Orchester by the King of Württemberg in April 1807, he returned in 1808 to his former life in Biberach where he remained for the rest of his life.

While searching for more Thanksgiving music to play, I found this little gem, which is completely new to me. It's sunny, loving, and sparkles like a diamond, with just the right amount of frills and trills. This organ is perfect for this delightful music!

I'm really very glad to have this, and enjoyed playing it, and sharing it with you!

There are TWO MISTAKES in the score, that I think you will want to correct!

They are:

1) measure 6, the F-natural 16th note should read F-sharp (as it does later in the piece), with the F-natural as written a few beats later.

2) measure 20, the two quarter notes on the first beat, left hand, should be played as 2 eighth notes, or you'll have an extra beat in the left hand! :-)

The score is attached below, as well as a painting of Knecht, several photos of St. Martin's Church, and a photo of their BIG men and boy's choir!