Four Chorale Trios, Volume 2

- Friedrich Wilhelm Marpurg

PDF Sample

Use: General, Christmas, Eucharist
Required Resources: Organ

Delightfully elegant — that sums up these chorale trios by Friedrich Wilhelm Marpurg. Working in Berlin during the late Baroque/early Roccoco periods, Marpurg was not only a composer, but a music critic and philospher. His cantankerous attitude caused him quite the public difficulty, even in the days before rampant social media.

His music, however, is beautifully crafted. In this volume, we present four of his organ works, all trios based on popular German chorales:

1. Brich an o schönes Morgenlicht – Break forth, O beautiful morning light
2. Jesu meine Freude – Jesus My Joy
3. O Ewigkeit du Freudenwort – O Eternity, thou joyful word
4. Schmücke dich o liebe Seele – Adorn thyself, O dear soul

These are all strict trios, for two manuals and pedal. Numbers 1 and 4 set the cantus firmus in the right hand. Number 2 has an extended introductory counterpoint, then the cantus firmus in the right hand. Number 3 has it in the pedal. None are overly difficult, yet each produces a pleasing, effective result.