Fantasia: Freu dich sehr, o meine Seele

Johann Ludwig was the son of Johann Tobias Krebs, the organist of Buttelstedt, near Weimar, who had studied with J.S. Bach. Father taught son organ, harmony, theory, and counterpoint. The lad was sent to enter the Thomasschule in Leipzig, where J.S. Bach was music director. Krebs general studies and lessons in singing, lute, violin, and keyboard. He remained a singer in J.S. Bach's choir until 1730.

J.L. Krebs attended the University of Leipzig from 1735 to 1737, took part on an as-needed basis in J.S. Bach's choir at the Thomaskirche and was the harpsichord player in the university's collegium musicum, which was also directed by J.S. Bach. Krebs left Leipzig in 1737 to take a position as organist of the Marienkirche in Zwickau, an ill-paid job playing an equally ill-maintained organ. In 1744, J.L. Krebs moved to Zeitz to become organist there for 12 years. He tried unsuccessfully to become J.S. Bach's successor. In 1755, he accepted a position as organist to the court of Prince Friedrich of Gotha-Altenberg in Altenburg. The organ was better, the court was more exalted, but the pay was little improvement.

J.L. Krebs had a very high reputation among his contemporaries. J.S. Bach held him in high regard, punning on both their names (Krebs [crab or crayfish] and Bach [brook or stream]) by saying "He is the only crayfish in my stream." It is not surprising that many of his works, especially his organ compositions, are very much like those of J.S. Bach. His harpsichord music is probably what was best-known of his work in his own time, published extensively, particularly in four volumes of Clavier Ubung. J.L. Krebs also wrote significant quantities of orchestral and choral music.
Registration:

HW: Montre 8', Prestant 4', Cornet V
RW: Bourdon 8', Flute 4', Prestant 4', Cromhorne
Ped: Subbas 16', Octavbas 8'
Kopp: HW/Ped

Changes in the reprise: Cornet to trumpet HW and the last three bars trumpet to Pedal