'Alle Menschen müssen sterben' (BWV 1117)

Not very Christmassy, I know , but here is, J S Bach's starry Alle Menschen mussen sterben BWV 1117 from the Neumeister Chorales, works thought to be composed during his early years as organist at Arnstadt.

The piece begins with a subdued first section, in which the cantus firmus is heard in the alto line, the accompaniment moving in sixteenth notes, rising in an urgent pattern till it brakes forth into the virtuosic second section where the chorale sings in the lower parts and then the soprano.

The whole piece is very powerful and urgent and the second part represents the text, about eternity beautifully.

The text the piece represents is:

First part:


Alle Menschen müßen sterben,
Alles Fleisch vergeht wie Heu;
Was da lebet, muß verderben,
Soll es anders werden neu.
Dieser Leib, der muß verwesen,
Wenn er anders soll genesen
Zu der großen Herrlichkeit,
Die den Frommen ist bereit.

Everybody must die,
all flesh passes like grass;
Whatever lives must perish
if it is to become new elsewhere.
This body must rot
if it is elsewhere to recover
and gain the great glory
which is prepared for those who are righteous.

Second part:

Ach, ich habe schon erblicket
Diese große Herrlichkeit!
Jetzund werd' ich schön geschmücket
Mit dem weißen Himmelskleid
Und der goldnen Ehrenkrone,
Stehe da vor Gottes Throne,
Schaue solche Fruede an,
Die kein Ende nehmen kann.

Ah, I have already beheld
this great glory!
Now I shall be adorned
with the white garments of heaven
and the golden crown of honour,
I shall stand before the throne of God,
gazing on such joys
that can never end.

For the registration in the first part, I used the Quintadena 8' & the Flute Amabile 8' on the Positive

The second half was
Hauptwerk:

Burdon Flaut 16'
Gamba 16'
Principal 8'
Gemshorn 8'
Octava 4'
Cimbel
Mixtura VI ranks

Postiv - Hauptwerk.