Valet will ich dir geben - J.S.Bach BWV 736

1. I say farewell to you, O wicked false world;
your sinfully evil life I detest through and through.
To live in heaven is good and on this stands my desire;
there, God will reward well him who serves him here.

Valerius Herberger (1562-1627) pub.1614.

Chorale melody by Melchior Teschner (1584-1635)
Palm Sunday Liturgy (NEH 509 in C), (REH 647 in Bb)
a.k.a. ‘All glory, laud, and honour to thee, Redeemer, King’. Processional hymn.

Dating from the Leipzig period, the piece was not part of a collection but has been individually transmitted. There is no autograph manuscript copy. Copied by J.C. Kittel, favourite and last pupil of Bach’s. The source Lpz. Poelchau 39 is a collection of some 60 organ chorales by Bach which are thought to be based on copies made by Kittel.

The sudden finish suggests a move straight into the chorale. This would make use of the anacrusis although most congregations would not manage this in D major! Bärenreiter provide a version with figured bass by Bach at the end of the chorale (Vol.3 p.89). Peter Williams suggests that in his uplifting setting, Bach is portraying the final half of the verse quoted above.

Clearly intended for an organum plenum registration, this alla gigue setting is one of Bach’s most lively and intensely written of his chorale preludes. It provides a welcome burst of energy and brilliance before the onset of Good Friday.