Wie schon leuchtet der Morgenstern

A beautiful little piece by Bach's cousin, whom Bach described as a 'profound composer'.
Christoph Bach lived from 1642-1703 and was born in Arnstadt where Johann Sebastian Bach would later take his first post as organist. He is best known for his cantata 'Mein Freudin du bist schon' a four-part chorale preluded on 'An Wasserflussen Babylon' and a motet 'Leibe Herr Gott, wecke uns auf'

This piece is a short fughetta on the Lutheran chorale 'Wie schon leutchet der Morgenstern' by Philipp Nicolai. The subject is introduced in the alto, and the voices build up to a bass entry in the pedal, which is followed by pedal tones, whilst the voices subject and answer each other till coming to rest on a perfect cadence in E flat.

The piece really suits the words of the chorale beutifully which are as follows:

How lovely shines the Morning Star!
The nations see and hail afar
The light in Judah shining.
Thou David’s Son of Jacob’s race,
My Bridegroom and my King of Grace,
For Thee my heart is pining.
Lowly, holy, great and glorious,
Thou victorious Prince of graces,
Filling all the heav’nly places.

I used the Flaut Amabile 8' on the Postiv and 8' Oktave in the Pedal of the Engler organ.