Kola Owolabi plays J. S. Bach, Trio super Herr Jesu Christ, dich zu uns wend, BWV 655

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) Trio super Herr Jesu Christ, dich zu uns wend, BWV 655 Kola Owolabi, organ Recorded live in the Cathedral of the Madeleine Salt Lake City, Utah, USA Eccles Organ Festival, 29th Season 11 September 2022 Watch the entire recital here: @ecclesorganfestival Johann Sebastian Bach’s [...] Herr Jesu Christ, dich zu uns wend, BWV 655 [...] belong[s] to his collection of chorales preludes that is typically called the Leipzig Chorales. In fact, all of these pieces were composed during Bach’s time as court organist and concert master in Weimar (1708-1717) but revised during his years in Leipzig (1723-1750) and copied into Bach’s autograph manuscript during the last six years of his life. The text of Herr Jesu Christ dich zu uns wend was written by the grandfather of Bach’s employer in Weimar, Duke Wilhelm Ernst. This chorale was sung each week in Weimar as a prayer immediately before the sermon. Bach’s setting is cast as an elegant Italianate instrumental trio sonata movement. The main theme is derived from a decorated form of the first four notes of the chorale. The complete chorale is not heard until the end of the piece, where it appears in quarter-notes in the pedal. (From the concert program notes, by Dr. Kola Owolabi)