Aus der Tiefe rufe ich - BWV 745

The chorale melody used in this work is a 17th century melody from the Nürnbergisches Gesangbuch (1676) and is also found in the collection of German evangelical hymns, published by Johannes Zahn between 1889 and 1893 (no.1217). We of course know it as the melody associated with the Lenten hymn, 'Forty days and forty nights'.

For J.S. Bach, the text associated with this melody would be a paraphrase of Psalm 130, written by either Georg Christoph Schwämlein or Martin Luther; 'Out of the deep have I called unto thee, O Lord'. Bach uses the text for his Cantata “Aus der Tiefen rufe ich, Herr, zu dir” BWV 131 (recording available on YouTube).

Both Peter Williams and Reinmar Emans (ed. Bärenreiter) cite authorship possibilities as being J.C. Bach and C.P.E. Bach respectively. Williams thinks there is a possibility that the opening harmonisation is the work of J.C. Bach (1642-1703), yet the ‘harmonies (e.g. augmented sixth in b.11), cadences (b.12) and melodic detail (bb.14-16), and the form and obbligato-like texture of the whole, make it unlikely to be the work of a composer working before 1750-75’.

Emans states that, ‘a stylistic analysis permits an attribution to J.S. Bach, though a very strong case can be made for Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach as the true author of BWV 745… Whatever the case, if we lend credence to the attributions to J.S. Bach, these pieces obviously represent early compositions’.

Peter Williams likens the form of the work to ‘a unique two-movement partita’ and whatever its origins or authorship, the piece provides a very satisfying work which brings to listeners a sometimes quirky version of what has become a very well-loved hymn tune.

Sources:
The Organ Music of J.S. Bach, Peter Williams, Vol. II, Cambridge University Press, 1985.
J.S. Bach Organ Works, Vol. 10, Urtext of the New Bach Edition, Bärenreiter, 2008.