Skip to main content

[[ $t(vm.countdown) ]]

[[ $t(vm.announcement) ]]

“Nun danket alle Gott,” from Cantata No. 79, BWV 79

  • BACH (arr. Fox)

At a Glance

  • Length

    c. 4 minutes

About this Piece

The hymn “Nun danket alle Gott” (Now thank we all our God) by protestant minister Martin Rinckart (1586-1649) served well as material for one of the more introspective and fugal organ chorale preludes by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750). When given the task of writing a cantata for Reformation Day (October 31, which was last Thursday), Cantata 79, Bach chose to set that tune with louder, more joyous instrumental forces. Flamboyant American organist Virgil Fox (1912-1980) probably reflected upon those contrasting settings, preferring the one in the Cantata to fit his style of playing the organ. Although not a type of chorale prelude representing any purist forms or models that Bach might have been concerned with, Fox’s transcription produces a rousing seasonal hymn.

Past Events

Thumbnail for Jane Parker-Smith
Sun  Nov 3, 2019  7:30pm

Jane Parker-Smith

My Favorites

Log in or create an account to retrieve favorites across different devices.

Add to Favorites

Select the heart to add event to your list of favorites.