Freu dich sehr, o meine Seele

Heinrich Nicolaus Gerber (1702 - 1775) was a German organist and composer. He was born the son of a farmer in Wenigen-Ehrich. He matriculated as a law student at the University of Leipzig on May 8, 1724, and towards the end of the same year became a pupil of J.S. Bach. In 1731 he was appointed court organist to the Prince of Schwarzburg at Sondershausen, a post in which, upon his death, he was succeeded by his son, the music lexicographer Ernst Ludwig Gerber. E.L. Gerber's dictionary of musicians contains a vivid account of his father's tuition under J.S. Bach.

Numerous keyboard works by J.S. Bach survive in copies made by Heinrich Nicolaus Gerber during his Leipzig years, including the Inventions and Sinfonias (BWV 772-801), the French Suites (BWV 812-817), English Suites Nos. 1, 3, 5, and 6 (BWV 816, 818, 810, 811), the first two Preludes and Fugues from The Well-tempered Clavier Part 1 (BWV 846-847), and some miscellaneous works.

Heinrich Nicolaus Gerber's lessons with J.S. Bach are secured by the biographical Lexikonartikel (1790) written by his son Ernst Ludwig Gerber. This and the J.S. Bach transcripts of H.N. Gerber made during the lesson allow more detailed insights into J.S. Bach's teaching practice than with any other J.S. Bach's pupil.
(Source: bach-cantatas.com)