BWV739 is given in a 3-part texture, as in the chorales from the Neumeister collection, with the chorale on top of the texture, surrounded by counterpoint derived from it. After the chorale moves to the pedal, there are echo effects, and the last phrase of chorale is repeated for emphasis, allowing the pedal to take the final phrase, a descending scale, its presence in the bass creating automatic harmonic direction to the close. Note the violinistic figures in the upper texture, particularly the arpeggios in the final two bars, an ‘original Bach fingerprint’ (Williams 2003 p486).

from notes by George Parsons © 2017