Advent and Christmas (75): "Gottes Sohn ist kommen" I/II/IV (LV 20)

"Gottes Sohn ist kommen,
uns allen zu frommen,
hier auf diese Erden
in armen Gebärden,
dass er uns von Sünde
freie und entbinde."

'Gottes Sohn ist kommen" is an Advent song by Michael Weisse, he was a former monk and preacher of the Bohemian Brothers. The song was published in their hymn book by Johann Horn in 1544. This wonderful chorale tune is based on a late medieval song of Mary and was already known in the 15th century. Nine stanzas are reflecting sense and purpose of Christ's coming (Advent, Repentance, Christ's Return and Last Judgment); the conclusion is a prayer for strength of faith.

Johann Gottfried Walther's little Partita (four versets) begins with a three-part chorale arrangement; the melody is well audible in the treble. In the second movement, the chorale lines are introduced by preimitations, treble
and bass form a melody canon. Finally, Walther wrote a festive dancing like variation which presents chorale quotations in changing voices.

Recorded on my favourite OMA-sample, the Metzler-organ of Poblet (Spain).