Nun freut euch lieben Christen gemein

While looking for something else to play on the Trost, I found this little gem, in a group of 4 preludes by Johann Christoph Oley.

It's in the "unusual" key of A-flat.

Oley was born at Bernberg around 1718, became organist there in 1755, moved to Aschersleben in 1762, and died there in 1789. Apparently, he was virtually entirely self taught.

In the preface to the edition where this piece comes from, the editor, Walter Emery says: "Oley was not a great composer, but he did, at his best, combine Bach's methods with the phraseology of his own time in such a way that the results are not only historically intersting but also satisfactory as music."

Well, OK, then... ;-)

I hope you like this, and sorry to post a Christmas piece in Lent... :-)