Four Variations on
Ein Feste Burg
.
A Chorale Partita for Organ
d'apres Johann Sebastian Bach
1. Cantus Firmus in Bass: Motet
2. Cantus Firmus in Soprano: Ornamented
3. Cantus Firmus in Tenor: Gigue
4. Cantus Firmus in Soprano:
Chorale Fantasia
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LutherEinFesteBurg2023PDFBklt
Notes
Four verses on Martin Luther’s isometric hymn tune,
Ein Feste Burg
(from
Kirche Gesang:
Nürnberg, 1531) offers a chorale partita presented in the tradition of
latter Baroque compositions emanating from lands now included within the
boundaries of Germany. This set of variations is modeled after similar works
by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750). The four titles listed above provide
brief descriptions of each variational technique applied to Luther’s
celebrated melody.
The first setting provides a traditional motet technique in which successive
phrases of the melody are presented in fugal points of imitation, leading up
to
cantus firmus
statements (in augmented note values) in the bass line (i.e., the pedal
registers). The second variation offers an elaborately ornamented soprano
presentation of the chorale in a
coloratura
tradition, appearing phrase by phrase and accompanied in lower voices. The
third setting is styled in the manner of a lively gigue, featuring dancing
dotted triplet rhythms; the melody is sounded in augmented note values in
the tenor register (but played in the pedals on a distinctive unison solo
registration), and accompanied by both hands in bass, alto and soprano
ranges. The concluding variation offers a richly harmonized statement of
successive phrases of the chorale melody, with the chorale melody presented
in the soprano register; florid
passaggio
interpolations are interpolated between each phrase, and an extended codetta
provides an affirmative closing flourish over a tonic pedalpoint.
N.B. These four settings evolved as an accumulative
ensemble, and they are best viewed as a student self-teaching experiment.
Although each setting is modeled after similar organ works by Johann
Sebastian Bach, a critical eye and ear will recognize numerous temporal and
stylistic disparities.