Nun komm der Heiden Heiland

Friedrich Wilhelm Zachow or Zachau (14 November 1663, Leipzig – 7 August 1712, Halle) was a German musician and composer of vocal and keyboard music. He probably received his training from his father, the piper Heinrich Zachow, one of Leipzig's town musicians in the Alta capella, and maybe from Johann Schelle, a leading German composer, when the family moved to Eilenburg. As Kantor and organist of Halle's Market Church in 1684 he succeeded Samuel Ebart. During his time at Halle he became particularly renowned as a composer of dramatic cantatas.

Zachow was the teacher of Gottfried Kirchhoff, Johann Philipp Krieger and Johann Gotthilf Ziegler, but is best remembered as George Frideric Handel's first music teacher. It is said that after Zachow died in 1712, Handel became a benefactor to his widow and children in gratitude for his teacher's instruction.

"Nun komm der Heiden Heiland" is a Lutheran chorale of 1524 with words written by Martin Luther, based on "Veni redemptor gentium" by Ambrose. It was printed in the Erfurt Enchiridion of 1524. The chorale was used as the prominent hymn for the first Sunday of Advent for centuries.

Zachow's setting, numbered as "Lohmann-Verzeichnis 50," is a group of 4 variations. The style is pleasant and flowing, and may well have been intended for the harpsichord.

The listening perspective is quite distant from the organ, allowing the room's acoustics to blend the colors and "refine" the sounds.

The score is attached below, as well as a portrait of Zachow, several photos of the Market Church in Halle are also attached, as well as the first page of the original publication of "Nun komm," dated 1524.