Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring is the is the popular English title of the chorale from the 1723 Advent cantata Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben (Heart and Mouth and Deed and Life), BWV 147, by Johann Sebastian Bach. The chorale occurs twice in the cantata, with different texts each time (neither of which matches the English): as its sixth movement, Wohl mir, dass ich Jesum habe (It is well for me that I have Jesus), and again as its tenth movement, Jesus bleibet meine Freude (Jesus Remains My Joy).
It is one of the few music pieces used in the online game, June's Museum Ballet.
Summary[]
It can be one of the music that can be selected in the online game, June's Museum Ballet.
Structure[]
Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben, the cantata which contains Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring, has ten movements and is in two parts, with the chorale concluding each part. Bach scored it for choir, trumpet, violin, and basso continuo, with optional parts for oboe and viola.
Parts that feature the chorale and its accompanying music are marked with bold and an asterisk (*) .
Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben, BWV 147[]
- Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben
- Gebenedeiter Mund!
- Schäme dich, o Seele nicht
- Verstockung kann Gewaltige verblenden
- Bereite dir, Jesu, noch itzo die Bahn
- Wohl mir, daß ich Jesum habe*
- Hilf, Jesu, hilf, daß ich auch dich bekenne
- Der höchsten Allmacht Wunderhand
- Ich will von Jesu Wundern singen
- Jesus bleibet meine Freude*
Game Appearances[]
Trivia[]
- The English title derives from famous piano transcriptions made by Myra Hess, in 1926 for piano solo and in 1934 for piano duet, as published by Oxford University Press.
- Whether played instrumentally or sung in German or English, the chorale is often heard at weddings and during Advent, Christmas, and Easter.
- The rendition of the cantata used in the online game, June's Museum Ballet is an instrumental guitar arrangement.
- It is the only classical music piece used throughout the Little Einsteins franchise to mention the name of a religious figure in its title, in this case, it is Jesus Christ (abbreviated as Jesu).
- It is also the only classical piece used in the franchise that is sacred music.
