Herzliebster Jesu, was hast du

Christlieb Siegmund Binder (1723-1789) was born into a musical family of organists.

I could not find too much biographical information on him, but he joined the Dresden Court Orchestra as an oboist, presumably in late 1750 or early 1751, but later devoted himself mainly to the harpsichord.

In 1764 he also took over an organist office at the Hofkirche; but only in 1787 he became the 1st court organist.

Binder is one of the remarkable little-known masters of the 18th Century and has contributed much to the development of a specifically the Central German harpsichord repertoire and style.

His sons continued the musical traditions of the family.

I discovered this work on IMSLP by searching for pieces based upon this chorale melody. I had never heard of the name of Binder before discovering this work. :-)

The tune, "Herzliebster Jesu" (often translated into English as "Ah, Holy Jesus", sometimes as "O Dearest Jesus") is a German hymn for Passiontide, written in 1630 by Johann Heermann, in 15 stanzas of 4 lines.

The melody was written ten years later by Johann Crüger and first appeared in Crüger's Neues vollkömmliches Gesangbuch Augsburgischer Confession.

The score that I found indicates the piece as to be played "Allegro", but surely this is not correct. However, the setting, which I would call a "mannered expression of sorrow" moves along as a "formal procession," so, I haven't deliberately dragged the tempo either.

For this performance, the "accompaniment" is played upon the strings of the Rückpositiv, and the "ritornello" played upon the strings of the Hauptwerk, with the RP coupled to it.

The chorale melody is played upon the Echowerk Vox Humana (with the Dulciana added) and tremulant.

The Pedal is played upon the Subbass 16', which balances nicely for the most part, but there are one or two "thumpers" in there that can't be avoided, as it is the only 16' stop in the Pedal division.

The score, which I hope you will find useful, is attached below.