Partite diverse sopra 'Wenn wir in höchsten Nöten sein'

"Wenn wir in höchsten Nöten sein
und wissen nicht, wo aus noch ein,
und finden weder Hilf noch Rat,
ob wir gleich sorgen früh und spat,
so ist dies unser Trost allein,
dass wir zusammen insgemein
dich anrufen, o treuer Gott,
um Rettung aus der Angst und Not."

Text: Paul Eber (1560)
Mel.: Louis Bourgeois, Genevan Psalter (1551)


Erik-Jan van der Hel (b. 1967) is a Dutch organist, church musician, composer, and a dear personal friend of the performer. His music is deeply rooted in the North European organ tradition and combines historical craftsmanship with a distinctive expressive voice.

The Partite diverse sopra "Wenn wir in höchsten Nöten sein" was composed in 2020 after the performer suggested the idea of writing a partita on Paul Eber’s well-known Lutheran hymn.
Van der Hel responded with a chorale setting followed by seven variations, each inspired by the text and spiritual message of one of the hymn’s seven stanzas.

Following the hymn’s journey through distress, prayer, trust, and hope, the work unfolds as a musical meditation rather than a mere set of ornamental variations. While firmly rooted in the Baroque chorale partita tradition, it speaks with a contemporary voice and demonstrates the composer’s remarkable ability to unite faith, poetry, and musical craftsmanship.

The score was published by boeijengamusic.com and is available as edition BE3079.