Is there a transcription of Bach's canonic variations on Von Himmel hoch?

[iumonito]

I tried my Beethoven sonatas with my wife and she thinks the program is too heavy, so I am back to the drawing board for my December recital.

I am thinking this would be nice, if it existed.  Do you know?

[thalbergmad]

There is a transcription by Alan Brings, but it is copyright 2003.

Available from Mira Music Assoc of Wilton, Connecticut.

If there is a MWV numbere for this i will do another search in my files. There might be a different version.

Thal

[iumonito]

Cool.  I'll try to check the Bach-Brings out.

In the meantime, do you mean BWV 769?

[thalbergmad]

What is Von Himmel Hoch in English?

That would help me.

Thal

[iumonito]

Wow, I am getting homework!  Really, thanks Thal for taking the trouble.

From the sky above or from heaven up high.

More background:  these are 5 canonic variations, written by JS Bach on a Christmas lutheran hymn.  Bach wrote this as his entrance piece to a very select society of German composers that included Teleman and Haendel (funny how those two were way more famous than Bach in his time).  Here is the whole text of the hymn translated into English:

Von Himmel hoch da komm ich her (Christmas Eve)

From Heaven above to earth I come
To bear good news to every home;
Glad tidings of great joy I bring
Whereof I now will say and sing:

To you this night is born a child
Of Mary, chosen mother mild;
This little child, of lowly birth,
Shall be the joy of all your earth.

'Tis Christ our God who far on high
Hath heard your sad and bitter cry;
Himself will your Salvation be,
Himself from sin will make you free.

He brings those blessings, long ago
Prepared by God for all below;
Henceforth His kingdom open stands
To you, as to the angel bands.

These are the tokens ye shall mark,
The swaddling clothes and manger dark;
There shall ye find the young child laid,
By whom the heavens and earth were made.

Now let us all with gladsome cheer
Follow the shepherds, and draw near
To see this wondrous gift of God
Who hath His only Son bestowed.

Give heed, my heart, lift up thine eyes!
Who is it in yon manger lies?
Who is this child so young and fair?
The blessed Christ-child lieth there.

Welcome to earth, Thou noble guest,
Through whom e'en wicked men are blest!
Thou com'st to share our misery,
What can we render, Lord, to Thee!

Ah, Lord, who hast created all,
How hast Thou made Thee weak and small,
That Thou must choose Thy infant bed
Where ass and ox but lately fed!

Were earth a thousand times as fair,
Beset with gold and jewels rare,
She yet were far too poor to be
A narrow cradle, Lord, for Thee.

For velvets soft and silken stuff
Thou hast but hay and straw so rough,
Whereon Thou King, so rich and great,
As 'twere Thy heaven, art throned in state.

Thus hath it pleased Thee to make plain
The truth to us poor fools and vain,
That this world's honour, wealth and might
Are nought and worthless in Thy sight.

Ah! dearest Jesus, Holy Child,
Make Thee a bed, soft, undefiled,
Within my heart, that it may be
A quiet chamber kept for Thee.

My heart for very joy doth leap,
My lips no more can silence keep;
I too must sing with joyful tongue
That sweetest ancient cradle-song--

Glory to God in highest Heaven,
Who unto man His Son hath given!
While angels sing with pious mirth
A glad New Year to all the earth.

[thalbergmad]

Groove.

Does this have any relevance?

Thal

[iumonito]

Nope.  This a musical offering.  This rocks too, though.  Just printed it.  I will try to record this for you this weekend, that grateful I am.

(... with friends like that ...)   

[pianovirus]

I hope it's ok to bring up this thread again. This is a sublime set of variations, and I was wondering about the same question as iumonito.

I found a transcription on https://www.bach-cantatas.com/NVD/PT-Tscherlitzky.htm:
"Canonic variations on Vom himmel hoch, da komm ich her (II), BWV 769, transcribed for piano [Menestrel]" ...but I have no idea if this is a good one...

iumonito (or anybody else), did you actually find a transcription?

[pianovirus]

did you actually find a transcription?

...especially given that the Brings seems to be for brass quartet and piano  (and I'm not even sure if it's really a transcription of Bach's variations or an own set of variations)   In any case, I'm looking for something without brass!!!