Allein zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ (LV 1a)

There exist two versions of Zachow's prelude to "Allein zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ". One ends in b flat major and is the longer one of the two, and the other, shorter one, ends in g minor.As they have many bars in common they are quite probably different versions of the same piece. Somewhere in his life Zachow reworked an earlier version and created the pther one. Only, which one is the earlier version and which one the later version, that than could be called the 'final' version? The author of the catalogue of Zachow's works, Heinz Lohmann, thought that the one ending in g minor was the earlier version and the ons ending in b flat major the 'final' version. Hence the designation | LV 1" of the latter and the designation "LV 1a" of the version published here.

The composition is conceived as a short fugue on the first phrase of the choral melody. In this version it is actually a double fugue, as theme and counter subject are presented at the same time and this combination of two themes is maintained in the rest of the piece. Because the counterpoint in this version is more sophisticated than in the version ending in b flat major, one could argue that this one is actually the version Zachow wrote later in life. And should actually the one to be designated with LV 1.

Score available here: http://partitura.org/index.php/friedrich-wilhelm-zachow-allein-zu-dir-herr-jesu-christ-lv-1a