Christ, unser Herr, zum Jordan kam

BWV 684 performed by Reitze Smits
Lutheran church, The Hague

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Purification by water

After baptism comes a new life, and that is a reason for joy.

This chorale arrangement is brimming with cheerfulness. Luther’s hymn ‘Christ, unser Herr, zum Jordan kam’ is one with a very special promise: that of a new life. Christ was baptised in the Jordan by St John, and he baptises us to cleanse us of our sins. But the baptismal water is no ordinary water, as it is coloured with the blood of Christ. Through the water of death, the person baptised is reborn in Christ. While the chorale melody sounds in long notes in the pedal, the river water ripples gaily in fast notes over two keyboards, without being turned anywhere along the banks. In the four-voiced arrangement, there are many question and answer games between the three highest parts, which emphasise once again the carefree unity of those being purified.

Clavier-Übung
In Leipzig, between 1731 and 1741, Bach published four parts of Clavier-Übung, a title used previously by Johann Kuhnau, his predecessor as cantor at the Thomasschule, for similar collections of works for organ and harpsichord. The compositions are very varied in nature and, although the title suggests otherwise, were difficult to play. Bach addresses all the styles, genres and techniques for harpsichord and organ that were prevalent at the time, but then in the superior form to which only he had the patent.

Clavier-Übung I (1731) contains the six partitas, BWV 825-830; Clavier-Übung II (1735) the Concerto nach italienischen Gusto, BWV 971 and the Ouverture nach französischer Art, BWV 831; and Clavier-Übung IV (1741) the Goldberg Variations, BWV 988. The largest part, Clavier-Übung III (1739), is the only one devoted to organ, containing mostly chorale arrangements, or organ preludes based on Lutheran hymns. Bach made two versions of each chorale: one for great organ and one for a smaller type of organ. Most of the chorales refer to the six parts of the catechism. It is unclear whether Bach also played them during the services, or whether he developed his musical ideas in them for his own use, with no intention of performing them in public.

BWV: 684
Title: Christ, unser Herr, zum Jordan kam
Instrument: organ
Genre: organ works
Serie: Clavier-Übung III
Year: 1739
City: Leipzig

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Organist Reitze Smits

“Reitze Smits talks about one of Bach's most favourite registers.”

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Credits

Release date

25 July 2014
Recording date

28 November 2013
Location

Lutheran Church, The Hague
Organist

Reitze Smits
Organ registration

Arjan de Vos
Organ

Johann Heinrich Hartmann Bätz, 1762
Producer

Frank van der Weij
Film directors

Jan Van den Bossche
Directors of photography

Jorrit Garretsen, Sal Kroonenberg
Music production, editing and mix

Holger Schlegel
Film editor

Dylan Glyn Jones
Colorist

Martijn de Haas
Production assistants

Imke Deters, Zoë de Wilde

Discover

Jesus Christus, unser Heiland

organ works, BWV 688