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O Mensch, Bewein' Dein Sünde Gross (arr Grainger)
Johann Sebastian Bach (setting Percy Aldridge Grainger; ed. Michael Brand and Keith Brion)
The title translates from the German roughly as "Oh, man, now weep for thy great sin."
This work bears the designation BWV 622
General Info
Year: 1724? / 1937-1942 / 1987
Duration: c. 6:20
Difficulty: III-1/2 (see Ratings for explanation)
Original Medium: Organ
Publisher: G & M Brand
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $85.00 | Score Only (print) - $20.00
Instrumentation (Flexible)
Grainger's concept of elastic scoring allowed him to adapt the music to all of the maddeningly possible (or impossible) instrumental combinations one encounters in educational situations. In his early music settings, each musical voice is assigned a "tone strand:" Strand A for the soprano line, Strand B for the alto line, etc. through the bass line. These parts may then be played by a variety of instrumental combinations.
- Note from score
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
The chorale-prelude O Mensch... is taken from Bach's Orgelbüchlein collection. Grainger created the setting between 1937 and 1942. While not unusual today, his beautiful realization of the ornamentation was revolutionary in the 1940s.
- Program Note from score
O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde groß (O man, bewail thy sins so great) is a Lutheran Passion hymn with a text written by Sebald Heyden in 1530. The author reflects the Passion, based on the Four Evangelists, originally in 23 stanzas. The lyrics were written for an older melody, Es sind doch selig alle, die im rechten Glauben wandeln (Zahn No. 8303). The first and last stanzas have appeared in 11 hymnals. Catherine Winkworth translated it as "O man, thy grievous sin bemoan".
Johann Sebastian Bach composed a chorale prelude from Orgelbüchlein, BWV 622. In the second version of his St John Passion, he began the work with a chorale fantasia on the first stanza of the hymn, which he later modified to conclude Part I of his St Matthew Passion as movement 29.
- Program Note from Wikipedia
Chorale-Prelude: O Mensch, bewein’ dein’ Sünde Groß, BWV 402 (1713-16/1937-42) is from Bach’s Orgel-Büchlein, a collection of forty-six chorales composed between 1713 and 1716. The title has a number of translations: “O Man, Bewail (or Lament, Weep For) The Grievous (or Great) Fall (or Sin).” Bach described the Orgel-Büchlein as “a little organ book in which young organists are guided concerning the different ways of performing a chorale, at the same time practicing their use of the pedal since the latter, in the offered chorales, is throughout obligatory. For the glory of God on High and for the instruction of my fellow man.” O Mensch, bewein’ dein’ Sünde Groß is the most widely performed chorale of the collection.
Percy Grainger, the extraordinary twentieth-century composer, had a great passion and respect for Bach, saying, “Of all the composers who have ever existed, Grieg and Bach are the ones I love most.” He created this setting between 1937 and 1942 during his summer teaching at Interlochen. While not unusual today, his beautiful realization of the ornamentation was revolutionary in the 1940s.
- Program Note from University of North Texas University Band concert program, 6 November 2019
Media
- Audio: Reference recording. University of Florida Wind Symphony (David Waybright, conductor)
- Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown
- Audio CD: Royal Norwegian Navy Band (Bjarte Engeset, conductor) - 2018
- North Dakota State University (Fargo) Wind Symphony (Warren Olfert, conductor) – 26 February 2010 (CBDNA 2010 North Central Division Conference, Normal, Ill.)
State Ratings
- Florida: IV
- Louisiana: IV
- Massachusetts: IV
- Texas: IV. Complete
- Virginia: IV
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- University of Maryland (College Park) University Banda (Craig Potter, conductor) - 3 December 2021
- University of Texas Arlington Symphonic Winds (Christopher Evans, conductor) - 9 December 2020
- North Dakota State University (Fargo) Wind Symphony (Wayne Olfert, conductor) - 19 October 2020
- Kennesaw (Ga.) State University Wind Symphony (Debra Traficante, conductor) – 5 March 2020
- University of North Texas (Denton) University Band (Jochen McEvoy, conductor) – 6 November 2019
- Illinois State University (Normal) Symphonic Winds (Anthony Marinello, III, conductor) – 5 October 2018
- Virginia Tech (Blacksburg) Wind Ensemble (Kevin Geraldi, conductor) – 29 April 2018
- Banda cittadina di Brescia (Italy) (Sergio Negretti, conductor) - 2016
- University of Florida (Gainesville) Wind Symphony (David Waybright, conductor) – 19 January 2015
- Central Washington University (Ellensburg) Wind Ensemble (Larry Gookin, conductor) – 17 March 2006 (CBDNA 2006 Western/Northwestern Division Conference, Reno, Nev.)
Works for Winds by This Composer
Adaptable Music
- The Bach Initiative (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Folliard) (2019)
- Choral Prelude BWV 727 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Costa)
- Come, Sweet Death (Flex instrumentation) (tr. Reed; arr. Benson) (1736/1976/2019)
- Contrapunctus XIV (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Aho) (2018)
- French Suite No. 2 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Shishikura) (1722/)
- Fugue en sol mineur BWV 578 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Costa) (1703-1707/)
- O Mensch, Bewein' Dein Sünde Gross (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Grainger; ed. Brand and Brion) (1724?/1937-1942/1987)
- Prelude and Fugue in B-flat major (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Ring) (?/2020)
- Three Fugues by J.S. Bach (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Danyew) (1722/2020)
- Fugue No. 2 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Danyew) (1722/2020)
- Fugue No. 16 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Danyew) (1722/2020)
- Fugue No. 23 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Danyew) (1722/2020)
- Wachet Auf (Flex instrumentation) (arr. DeJonge) (1731/2020)
All Wind Works
- 5 Preludes and Fugues (arr. Beyrent)
- Adagio (arr. Hautvast)
- Adagio (arr. Warner)
- Air (arr. Hautvast)
- Air (arr. Klemke) (c. 1730/2006)
- Air (tr. Lang) (c. 1730/1958)
- Air for Woodwind Choir (arr. Blahnik)
- Allegro: From Brandenburg Concerto #3 (arr. Daehn) (1721/1980)
- Arioso (arr. De Haan) (1729/2000)
- Arioso (arr. Hill) (1729/1984)
- Arioso (arr. Reed) (1729/1998)
- The Art of Fugue (tr. Amis) (c. 1745)
- Ave Maria
- Ave Maria (Bach-Gounod) (arr. Lovrien) (1853/2004)
- Bach: Air (arr. McGinty) (c. 1730/)
- The Bach Buch (tr. Pann) (2011)
- Bach Chorale and March (arr. Wilson) (c. 1730/1990)
- Bach: Chorale and Variation (arr. McGinty) (1994)
- Bach Fugue (arr. Kinyon) (/1984)
- The Bach Initiative (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Folliard) (2019)
- Bach's Fugue à la Gigue (ed. Brand). See: Fugue à la Gigue
- Bach's Fugue à la Gigue (tr. Holst; ed. Mitchell) (1921/2005)
- Before Thy Throne I Now Appear (arr. Bukvich) (1750/1993)
- Berceuse (arr. Hautvast) (/1994)
- Bourrée (arr. Isaac) (1720/1969)
- Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 (arr. Marlatt) (1721/2011)
- Brandenburg Concerto No 3. See also: Allegro: From Brandenburg Concerto #3
- Canzona (orch. Stock)
- Chaconne (arr. Ito) (1720/1987)
- Chaconne and Festive Aria (arr. Daehn)
- Chaconne in D Minor (arr. Daehn) (1720/)
- Chaconne in D Minor (tr. Whitwell) (1720/2015)
- Choral Prelude BWV 727 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Costa)
- Chorale and Fugue (arr. Warner)
- Chorale and Fugue in F Major (arr. Daehn) (1988)
- Chorale Prelude on "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" (tr. Damrosch; adapt. O'Toole)
- Chorale in C Minor (arr. Topolewski) (2012)
- Christ He Is My Life (arr. Cailliet) (1973)
- Christmas Pastorale (arr. Hastings) (1970)
- Ciaccona (arr. Votta) (1720/2021)
- Come, Blessed Peace (arr. Tolmage) (1736/1958)
- Come, Sweet Death (arr. Reed) (1736/1976)
- Come, Sweet Death (Flex instrumentation) (tr. Reed; arr. Benson) (1736/1976/2019)
- Concerto IV (Alto Saxophone and Percussion Ensemble) (tr. Paxton; ed. Young) (c. 1738/2015)
- Concerto IV (Alto Saxophone, Piano and Percussion Ensemble) (tr. Paxton; ed. Young) (c. 1738/2015)
- Concerto IV (Flute and Percussion Ensemble) (tr. Paxton; ed. Young) (c. 1738/2015)
- Concerto IV (Flute, Piano and Percussion Ensemble) (tr. Paxton; ed. Young) (c. 1738/2015)
- Concerto IV (Soprano Saxophone and Percussion Ensemble) (tr. Paxton; ed. Young) (c. 1738/2015)
- Concerto IV (Soprano Saxophone, Piano and Percussion Ensemble) (tr. Paxton; ed. Young) (c. 1738/2015)
- Concerto for Prince Johann (arr. Daehn) (c. 1713 / 2011)
- Contrapunctus I (arr. Barnes) (c. 1745/1988)
- Contrapunctus I (arr. King) (c. 1745/1960)
- Contrapunctus III (arr. King) (c. 1745/1955)
- Contrapunctus IX (arr. Clark) (c. 1745/2005)
- Contrapunctus V (arr. Daehn) (c. 1745)
- Contrapunctus XIV (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Aho) (2018)
- Deck Thyself, My Soul, With Gladness (arr. Reed) (1990)
- Fantasia and Fugue in C Minor (arr. Elgar; tr. Topolewski) (1727?)
- Fantasia and Fugue in C Minor (arr. Elgar; arr. Nowlin) (1727?/2016)
- Fantasia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 537 (arr. Hunsberger) (1727?/1997)
- Fantasia and Fugue in G minor (arr. Horovitz) (c. 1838/1986)
- Fantasia and Fugue in G minor, BWV 542 "The Great" (arr. Boyd) (c. 1838/1985)
- Fantasia in C (arr. Sterk) (1706/2017)
- Fantasia in G, BWV 572 (arr. Boyd) (1703-7/1957/1985)
- Fantasia in G, BWV 572 (arr. Goldman) (1703-7/1957/2012)
- Fervent is My Longing; Fugue in G Minor (tr. Cailliet) (c. 1710/1935/2006)
- Forget Me Not, O Dearest Lord (arr. Reed) (c. 1736/1985)
- French Suite No. 2 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Shishikura) (1722/)
- Fugue à la Gigue (tr. Holst; ed. Brand) (1921/2008)
- Fugue à la Gigue (ed. Mitchell). See: Bach's Fugue à la Gigue
- Fugue à la Gigue (arr. Rondeau) (1921/2011)
- Fugue en sol mineur BWV 578 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Costa) (1703-1707/)
- Fugue in B-flat Major (arr. Daehn) (1722/1988)
- Fugue in E-flat Major (tr. Abrams and Jones) (1739/2019)
- Fugue in G Minor (arr. Kimura) (1703-1707/1993)
- Fugue in G Minor (arr. Rechtman) (1703-1707/)
- Fugue No. 2 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Danyew) (1722/2020)
- Fugue No. 16 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Danyew) (1722/2020)
- Fugue No. 23 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Danyew) (1722/2020)
- God Still Lives (arr. Reed)
- Goldberg Variations (arr. Colgrass)
- Hertzlich tut mich verlangen. See: Fervent is My Longing; Organ Fugue in G Minor
- If Thou Be Near (arr. Moehlmann) (1725/1940)
- If Thou Be Near (arr. Reed) (1725/1984)
- In Dulci Jubilo (arr. Reed) (1970)
- Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (tr. Cailliet) (1723/1962)
- Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (arr. Custer) (1723/1975/1997)
- Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (arr. Hazo) (1723/2012)
- Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (tr. Leidzen) (1723/1936)
- Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (arr. Moerenhout) (1723/2019)
- Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (arr. Pekas) (1723/)
- Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (arr. Reed) (1723/)
- Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (arr. Sapieyevski) (1723/)
- Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (arr. Sparke) (1723/2004)
- Jig Fugue (arr. Marlatt) (2003)
- Komm, Susser Tod (arr. Leidzen) (1736/1936)
- A Little Bach Suite (arr. Gordon) (1966)
- Little Fugue (arr. Romm; adapt. Custer) (c. 1705/1974/1991)
- Little Fugue in G minor (arr. Howland) (c. 1705/1974/2015)
- Little Fugue in G Minor, BWV 578 (arr. Parks)
- March (arr. Grainger) (1946)
- My Heart, Ever Faithful (arr. Barnes) (1988)
- My Heart is Filled With Longing (arr. Reed) (c. 1710/1986)
- My Jesus, Oh What Anguish (arr. Reed)
- My Soul Longeth to Depart in Peace
- Nun komm der Heiden Heiland (arr. McAlister)
- Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland (arr. Stert) (c. 1748/2013)
- O Jesu Christ, meins Lebens Licht (arr. Westover) (c. 1736/2017)
- O Mensch, Bewein' Dein Sünde Gross (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Grainger; ed. Brand and Brion) (1724?/1937-1942/1987)
- Our Father Who Art in Heaven (arr. Reed) (1710/1988)
- Passacaglia (arr. Glover) (c. 1703-1713?/2014)
- Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor (tr. Hunsberger) (1703-1713?/ 1968/1975)
- Passacaglia and Thema Fugatum in C Minor (tr. Stowkowski; ed. Sosnowchik) (1703-1713?/2014)
- Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor (tr. Falcone) (ca. 1712/1969)
- Passacaglia from "Cantata No. 12" (arr. Daehn) (1714/2011)
- Präludium und Fuge d-Moll (tr. Rechtman) (1722/2003)
- Prelude IV (arr. Reed) (1722/1983)
- Prelude and Fugue No. 6, BWV 535 (arr. Anthenien) (1722/1979)
- Prelude and Fugue in A-flat, BWV 557 (tr. Moehlmann) (1964)
- Prelude and Fugue in Bb major (Brass Ensemble) (arr. Beyrent)
- Prelude and Fugue in B-flat major (Brass Quintet) (arr. Beyrent)
- Prelude and Fugue in B-flat major, BWV 553 (arr. Moehlmann) (1852/1955)
- Prelude and Fugue in B-flat major BWV 553 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Ring) (?/2020)
- Prelude and Fugue in B-flat minor, BWV 559 (arr. Moehlmann) (1852/1969)
- Prelude and Fugue in C major (arr. Beyrent)
- Prelude and Fugue in D major, BWV 532 (arr. Steinmetz) (1710/2018)
- Prelude and Fugue in D minor, BWV 554 (arr. Beyrent) (1722/2001)
- Prelude and Fugue in D minor, BWV 555 (arr. Coleman) (1852/2017)
- Prelude and Fugue in D minor, BWV 554 (tr. Moehlmann) (1852/1988)
- Prelude and Fugue in D minor (tr. Rechtman). See: Präludium und Fuge d-Moll
- Prelude and Fugue in E-flat, BWV 552 (setting Hunsberger) (c. 1739/2009)
- Prelude and Fugue in F major (arr. Moehlmann) (1852/?)
- Prelude and Fugue in F minor, BWV 555 (arr. Moehlmann) (1852/1954)
- Prelude and Fugue in G minor, BWV 535 (tr. Moehlmann) (1852/1939)
- Prelude, Chorale and Fugue (arr. Godfrey) (1919)
- Prelude in E-flat, BWV 552 (arr. Tamura) (c. 1739/2001)
- Prelude No. 22 (tr. Lynch) (c. 1722/2013)
- "Ricercare a 6" from Musical Offering, BWV 1079 (tr. McAlister)
- Saint Anne's Fugue (arr. Rhoads) (1965)
- Sarabande (arr. Kennaway) (1972/1977/1995)
- Second Bach Suite for Band (tr. Tolmage) (1965)
- Sehet was die liebe tut (arr. Grainger) (1937)
- Sheep May Safely Graze (arr. Reed) (1713/1981)
- Sinfonia from "Cantata No 29" (arr. Ninmer)
- Sinfonia from "Cantate 156" (arr. Daniels) (1729/)
- Sixteen Chorales (ed. King) (1958)
- Sixteen Chorales (arr. Lake) (1938)
- Sleepers, Awake! (arr. Patterson) (1731/1995)
- Sleepers, Awake! (arr. Reed) (1731)
- Sleepers, Awake! (tr. Sparke) (1731/2002)
- Songs of Exaltation (arr. Gordon) (1974)
- St. Anne. See: Prelude and Fugue in E-flat
- Three Fugues by J.S. Bach (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Danyew) (1722/2020)
- Fugue No. 2 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Danyew) (1722/2020)
- Fugue No. 16 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Danyew) (1722/2020)
- Fugue No. 23 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Danyew) (1722/2020)
- Thus Do You Fare, My Jesus (arr. Reed)
- Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in C Major (arr. Rechtman) (c. 1717)
- Toccata, Adagio, and Fugue, BWV 564 (tr. Paynter) (c. 1717/2000)
- Toccata, Adagio and Fugue (tr. Knox) (c. 1717)
- Toccata, Aria, and Fugue in C Major (tr. Knox) (c. 1717)
- Toccata & Fuge d-Moll (arr. Goldhammer) (1705/2011)
- Toccata and Fugue in D minor (arr. Goldhammer). See: Toccata & Fuge d-Moll
- Toccata and Fugue in D minor (tr. Goto) (1705/2014)
- Toccata and Fugue in D minor (tr. Hindsley) (1705)
- Toccata and Fugue in D minor (tr. Hunsberger) (1705/1998)
- Toccata and Fugue in D minor (tr. Leidzen) (1705/1942)
- Toccata and Fugue in D minor (arr. Lopez) (1705/2010)
- Toccata and Fugue in D minor (tr. Nowlin) (1705/2015)
- Violin Partita No. 3 in E major (arr. Kitakata) (1720/2018?)
- Wachet Auf (Flex instrumentation) (arr. DeJonge) (1731/2020)
- Wachet auf (arr. Marlatt) (1731/)
- Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme (arr. Lauf Jr.) (1731/2019)
- Who Puts His Trust in God Most Just (arr. Croft) (1978)
- Wir Glauben All’ An Einen Gott (arr. Stokowski) (1739)
Resources
- Bach, J.; Grainger, P.; Brion, K.; Brand, K. (1987). O Mensch, bewein' dein' Sünde gross: O, Man, Now Weep for Thy Great Sin : Chorale-Prelude [score]. G&M Publications: Aylesbury, Bucks, England.
- O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde groß, Wikipedia Accessed 29 April 2018
- Perusal score