Chorale, O Gott, du frommer Gott (BWV 1125) - Aaron Lington, baritone saxophone

Before getting back to my duets, I felt the need to produce another masterpiece of counterpoint masked in simplicity. This is J.S. Bach's "O Gott, du frommer Gott" ("Oh God, you righteous God"), BWV 1125. The melody is by Ahasverus Fritsch (1629-1701) who was a German poet and composer. Fritsch received a good education, earning his law degree from the University of Jena in 1661. Fritsch later became chancellor of the university and president of the Consistory of Rudolstadt. He wrote on numerous subjects, including antiquities, law, and religion, and collected hymns. Yet, THIS melody was based on a SECULAR melody by Adam Krieger, a German composer. Born in Driesen, Neumark, Krieger was resident at Leipzig from 1650 or 1651 as part-time student and prominent musical figure within student circles, perhaps also studying organ with Samuel Scheidt in Halle. He succeeded Johann Rosenmüller as organist at Leipzig's Nikolaikirche (1655-1657). He is reported to have grounded a Collegium Musicum in Leipzig. In 1657, he was named keyboard teacher to the daughter of Elector Johann Georg II in Dresden and attempted unsuccessfully to become Thomaskantor. He became chamber and court organist at Dresden in 1659, holding the post until his death. This melody is simple; even base (in this writer's opinion). More or less diatonic, with an occasional foray into a secondary dominant to the V chord. The harmony is equally simple; I, IV, V, vi, with the predicted secondary dominants. Yes, Bach's genius is evident here as his masterful counterpoint leads us to unexpected V7 chords in 3rd inversion, suspensions that - well - kind of come from behind you, and completely independent soprano and bass lines that are compellingly bolstered by the alto and tenor parts. Perfection. From the standpoint of a baritone saxophone playing all parts, it is not too challenging, save measures 9 and 11. We have a simple melody (already high in the soprano part) in m. 9 sequenced up a major 2nd which creates a challenging altissimo fingering (on bari, altissimo C# to altissimo D# and back). Whew! A tough one for sure. I hope you all enjoy this short chorale. The text in German is: O Gott, du frommer Gott, Du Brunnquell guter Gaben, Ohn' den nichts ist, was ist, Von dem wir alles haben: Gesunden Leib gib mir, Und daß in solchem Leib Ein' unverletzte Seel' Und rein Gewißen bleib' And in English is thus: Oh God, you righteous god you source of good gifts, without whom nothing exists that does exist, from whom we have everything : give me a healthy body and grant that in such a body there may remain an inviolate soul and a pure conscience. Recorded on a Zoom Q8 with a Sennheiser MD441 microphone Apollo Twin X Audio Interface and Logic Pro X Selmer Super Action 80 Serie II Baritone Saxophone (#511xxx) Selmer S-80 C** Mouthpiece Francois Louis ligature Rico/D'Addario Reserve Reed #4