Advent and Christmas (20): "Vom Himmel hoch"

Johann Bernhard Bach (1676-1749) was musically trained by his father. First he was organist in his native Erfurt, then active in Magdeburg, at least appointed by Duke Johann Wilhelm in 1703 as a harpsichordist for his orchestra in Eisenach.

As a successor of his uncle Johann Christoph Bach he was also organist at the local St. George Church. In Eisenach he also worked together for several years with Georg Philipp Telemann. Successor of Johann Bernhard as organist was his son Johann Ernst. The only few known key and orchestral works by Johann Bernhard Bach are of high quality.

Luther’s melody of “Vom Himmel hoch” is associated with the custom of the “Kränzelsingen” and the change of perspective in his text could mean that this Christmas carol perhaps first was part of an traditional nativity scene: The angel announces the birth of Jesus Christ to the shepherds of Bethlehem, representative of all believers. Then the observer mentioned the double figure of Jesus as man and God and, finally, pays homage to the Savior in the tradition of child weighing.

The melody of Johann Bernhard Bach’s chorale trio on "Vom Himmel hoch” is set in half notes in the tenor and is characterized by the sound of the Cromorne. The counterpoint constists of a moving, dancing upper voice; the pedal adds a gentle bass.