Hyperion Records

Both Jesu, meine Zuversicht, BWV728 (‘Jesus, my assurance’) and Wer nur den lieben Gott lässt walten, BWV691 (‘He who trusts in God’) appear in notebooks for family members (Wilhelm Friedemann and Anna Magdalena respectively) and were no doubt used as models for subsequent improvisations. They are both of the type in which a chorale melody, elaborately decorated, is played in the right hand, accompanied by two voices in the left. On the organ the melody could be played ‘solo’ on one manual, accompanied by the others on a softer one. On the piano different colours can be used to achieve a similar effect. Elaborate yet simple; intellectual yet speaking to all; in the end, they are simply beautiful.

from notes by Angela Hewitt © 2004