Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr (organ chorale prelude, BWV 664)

A Moment of Bach

Closing out this set of three chorale preludes on its Trinitarian hymn tune, this sparkly trio (of angels?) dances up and down the organ console.

The Three-ness is evident in this piece meant to evoke the third part of the Trinity, the breath-giving Holy Spirit. Three bars by three bars make up the first nine, and three bass notes begin the prelude. Three sturdy eighth notes pin down the dancing texture on occasion, there are three sharps in the key, and there are three independent parts in the trio.

In this episode we talk about our favorite pair of moments with a long chain of trilled suspensions against fast notes. Knowing that Bach always used the text, we discuss whether this music is meant to set the stanza about the Holy Spirit and whether it may be the fire of the Spirit upon faithful people rather than angels.

Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr (organ chorale prelude, BWV 664) by Reitze Smits for the Netherlands Bach Society

Netherlands Bach Society: BWV 662

Netherlands Bach Society: BWV 663