Bach's Most Beautiful Chorales

From the perspective of music theory, the importance of Bach's chorales (published c. 1775) is difficult to overstate. It is right that they be the #1 set of works referenced to in music theory textbooks due to their solidification and magnification of the fundamentals of "western" tonal music. Their technical impermeability is matched by their melodic charm. These works have a way of restoring peace to the soul that is difficult to find anywhere else. Here are just a few - and I mean just a few (my software situation has been a little crazy lately...) of my favorites. The photos of the churches are for enjoyment only (I like listening to music while experiencing that period's architecture).
As a side note, I've been waiting to upload much until I can get my piano tuned. I have a video coming that I'm really excited for where I'll be trying my hand at potentially writing some music...in a way. I'm not sure when I'll upload it, so click the notification bell so you won't miss it.
Tracklist:
0:00 BWV* 85
1:05 BWV 184
2:12 BWV 18
3:21 BWV 112
4:18 BWV 166
5:21 BWV 37
7:59 BWV 12
8:58 BWV 44
9:58 BWV 11
* BWV stands for Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis which is a catalog of Bach's works. It's similar to saying "Op. 85."
If you've found this video interesting or enjoyable, please leave a like! It helps others to find it too.

[@hellogoodbye637]

These are so beautiful. I play through these every day on the piano for sight reading practice and they always make my day so nice.

[@jaydrfish]

I would love to play these on piano. Where did you get the sheet music, may I ask?😊

[@edumeleroverdu8509]

@@jaydrfish If you didn't find them, IMSLP is a great place to start, though I'm not so sure it has each of them.

[@isaacthompson3095]

@@jaydrfishRiemenschneider book

[@jaydrfish]

@@isaacthompson3095 thank you, thank you!!

[@hellogoodbye637]

@@jaydrfish This version is amazing! It's spiral bound so it'll stay open on the piano and it's printed nice and readable. Best of luck!

[@levicopp3224]

Bach's extraordinary inventiveness, his great range of works, astounding prolific compositions. Thus composer wrote by divine inspiration notwithstanding his developing mastery and tirelessly developing his craft. Bach's Christian faith was intrinsic to him. Indeed he dedicated his music to the living God whom he served

[@carstenkling2566]

There is no better way to put it. And it is precisely because of these qualities that I admire Bach. He is my great role model as a composer!

[@Bluegrassboy49]

Soli Deo Gloria

[@TheRover8787]

God gets the glory ultimately

[@herbertneubacher4757]

Thank you so much for. This great and deeply moving compilation of the most beautiful Bach. God bless 🙏

[@denissimpson3251]

A mais pura elevação espiritual, é maravilhoso, estupendo impossível segurar as lágrimas.

[@mcmurtrie1]

The music and the photos are beautiful...thank you for the time you have spent to compile them...lovely listening and viewing!

[@NoahJohnson1810]

You are welcome! I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂

[@arielahazan]

Thanks for these soothing and exalting music

[@laurelpublications7560]

Soul nourishment.... Thank you very much for posting....

[@tatianagelfeld]

Thank you very much for posting😊

[@jamesking2508]

Hauntingly Beautiful the music of GOD and his Angels in heaven

[@sonorouspiano2225]

Excellent!

[@musicfroth]

It would be SO convenient if these chorales were listed by title. The first two cantatas end with chorales that are not listed in my Riemenschneider.

[@pollobox944]

...hermoso vibrante único...excelso...

[@trevjr]

I found this video about an hour after I created a Bach chorales Playlist in my music player. Bach was so inventive in his chorale settings in the cantatas. Even more so in the motets which I think are some of his greatest works.

[@NoahJohnson1810]

I definitely agree with you - the motets are fantastic. I'm glad you enjoyed the video!

[@alexanderreikreik]

muchos gracias, gustav

[@00000009574G]

Muito lindo....

[@user-uv9fz5rw4z]

I am Lutheran, and I recognize so many of the tunes these chorales are based on. We still use them for our hymns at church.

[@Bluegrassboy49]

I too am Lutheran as was JS Bach. No wonder you recognize these masterpieces.

[@jaikee9477]

Bach grew up just a few miles from where Luther translated the bible.

[@Hannodb1961]

I'm reformed. I grew up thinking that Bach was Roman Catholic. I was overjoyed when someone on youtube corrected me to say he was Lutheran. I did a home visit at one of our elders in his 50's or 60's. He had the same misconception.

[@markbordelon1601]

Love the selection! I'd adorn this video with different images, however. Although beautiful, they're not fitting for the simple vernacular Reformative sentiment that Bach is going for with these chorales.

[@pianistegolfeur]

Les plus splendides choeurs de Bach, dommage que l'on n'ait pas la vidéo...

[@timotheuspeter734]

Heavenly, thank you very much! One question: who performs the BWV44 (it is extremely beautiful) and why did you choose this exact setting of the chorale and not the one from BWV97 ( kzbin.info/www/bejne/aabPc2t9bbeJf5I )? Thank you!

[@NoahJohnson1810]

Great question. The best answer I can give is, it was the first version I heard way back when, and it's difficult to top the first one you hear.

[@NoahJohnson1810]

Oh - and it's by the Amsterdam Baroque Choir and Orchestra under Ton Koopman

[@timotheuspeter734]

@@NoahJohnson1810 thank you! I agree, the „first“ version always „sticks“ somehow and everything else is measured against it..

[@elliottmoore4835]

About 35 years ago in choir I sung a Bach piece that I adored. I believe it had the word flower or flowers either in the title or in the song. It was very flowing and beautiful. Does anyone have any idea what it might be? Thanks.

[@greenbayfan915]

Do you have any more info about it other than that? I will try to look for it.

[@bwackbeedows3629]

Hmmm. Must have been a Bach Florale 😉

[@elliottmoore4835]

@@greenbayfan915 no

[@alexhb12333]

It couldn't have been an adaptation of Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring, could it? www.cpdl.org/wiki/index.php/Ode_to_the_Seasons_(and_to_Change),_BWV_147.10_(Johann_Sebastian_Bach)

[@jaikee9477]

Being German, the only cantata with Blumen (flowers) in the lyrics would be BWV 202 "Weichet nur, betrübte Schatten".

[@robertYTB78g]

It may help some to know that searching for Bach as an ipad app will give you the sheet music for 371 of these Chorales, transposable to any key.

[@martinvandergraaff1144]

Beautiful! Who are the performers and in which church? I assume in the church that is depicted in the photo?

[@pilgrim144]

Does anyone know what church is in the first photo?

[@RichardWhite_Composer]

Words fail me...

[@liana.chawngthu]

15:00

[@gunnarthorsen]

"The photos of the churches are for enjoyment only...." Meaning what? Although an atheist can appreciate Bach's chorales, you can't separate them from the faith that inspired them. They are intrinsically interwoven with, and informed by, the religion and spirituality that Bach embraced. He lived his faith in a truly "catholic" way, so much so that his Lutheran music can even be heard in St. Peter's, Rome. Sad that in our time, a disclaimer is felt necessary when posting images of beautiful churches. They mirror beautifully Bach's "cathedrals of sound" which soar with equal harmony, balance, majesty and nuance.

[@NoahJohnson1810]

I agree- the disclaimer was mainly because I didn't research what churches these were, when they were built, what they taught, etc... I just felt it wouldn't hurt.

[@filius_marsiae]

I would also point out that one of the figures of the sublime as discussed by Schopenhauer is the dome of a certain kind of Cathedral... It certainly does match the feeling of sublimity that some of these pieces evoke

[@nolanrichardson1656]

Its really not that deep my man lol

[@arnogoossens9892]

@@nolanrichardson1656 The depth of your absorption in it is not that deep, my man. Otherwise you would've come to realize there's no bottom to it. Why don't you credibly reproduce one of such "superficial" pieces of music?

[@chessematics]

@@NoahJohnson1810 that's some really legit reason. As an atheist, i can confirm this music gives me only my power and doesn't evoke a necessity for worship or faith or anything like that. After all one has to admit, these religions, atheism and most importantly humanism - they are all meant for the empowerment and enrichment of the human soul, and not to fulfill some silly rituals. So this music is as inspiring to me, if not more, as it is to a very pious person.

[@aleshkaemelyanov]

Пышноволосая ... О, пышноволосое, тёплое чудо! Примерная дива в купюрных мечтах. Зазноба со стойкой и бархатной грудью, что в сетчатых скобках, прилипших вещах. Забавница милая, ангел любезный в атласных подвязках и лентах сухих, со стогом соломенным и легковесным, собой развевает живые духи. Кудрявоголовая, мягкая ярка. Знаток прикасаний и песен, и мод. Укромноголосая, будто подарок, чей вкрадчивый голос, как липовый мёд. Мне льстит это зрелище, что распрекрасно! Изгибы манящи, хоть грешен их вид. Я в этом спектакле участник всевластный, калиф, что на час от печалей укрыт...

[@autemniaequinoctius2030]

это Бетховен, не путвй

[@pilgrim144]

What is "technical impermeability"?

[@NoahJohnson1810]

Synonymous with “unable to be criticized”

[@kyleleverence4061]

Sometimes I think that Catholic music is better, but this is pretty darn good.

[@6.6.6.LIFESUCKS]

15:00 what’s the name?

[@NoahJohnson1810]

There’s time stamps in the description!

[@kuuderepiano2988]

@@NoahJohnson1810 It's not there

[@benhellwig2473]

Erwünschtes Freudenlicht BWV 184

[@kvass679]

@@benhellwig2473 i found a different one with different lyrics. are you sure? I am not fluent in german but i wasnt able to find it

[@MarioOtt]

Bach ist Heimkommen !!!!!!

[@iainthegrouch]

Astonishingly beautiful Bach never got the credit he earned and to this day his music and achievements are marginalised. If only the idiots with the keyboards etc understood without Bach they Would have nothing

[@slenderman7781]

It makes no sense to claim we would be nothing without Bach when he wasn’t even acknowledged till centuries later.

[@jaikee9477]

@@slenderman7781 All the leading scholars and professional musicians were familiar with Bach's works, not to mention that Beethoven, Mozart, Chopin, etc. were heavily infuenced by Bach, so it absolutely makes sense. Western music without Bach is unthinkable.

[@472zothansangachawngthu7]

15:00