One of JS Bach’s best-known choral preludes for organ is “Ich ruf zu Dir, Herr Jesu Christ”, BWV 639. It is included in the Little Organ Book or “Orgelbüchlein”. It is unique among other compositions in this collection because it is written in a trio texture with a choral melody in the soprano voice. Although it employs three very independent parts, the relatively slow tempo and soft-tapping pedal part make it accessible to organists with modest abilities. In fact, it could be a perfect hand-foot coordination exercise. In this article, I will give you 4 tips for playing “Ich ruf zu Dir, Herr Jesu Christ” on the organ.

  • Fingering. The main rule of thumb for choosing the best left hand fingering is to apply arpeggio fingerings or broken chords. Chord arpeggios in the root position are played with 5 3 2 1 fingers. If the third is major between the two lowest notes as in A flat C, play 5 3. If the third is minor as in FA flat, play 5 4. The chords of the first inversion are played using 5 4 2 1 fingerings and 5 3 2 1 are best suited for second inversion chords.

Try to avoid placing your thumb on the sharp keys on the right hand side. However, this will not always be possible as the key of this choral prelude has four flats. Touch the ornaments using 4 3 fingers of the right hand.

  • Pedaling. As in most baroque compositions, pedal with your toes only in this piece. Since the bass line is pulsing, it will not always be possible to use an alternate tip technique. However, at bars 4, 8, and 14, alternating left and right pedaling works fine. You can treat the descending passage with notes repeated in bars 11 and 12 as a scale-shaped passage and play with alternate fingers. Play with the same repeating footnotes and reversing notes.
  • Joint. Although the traditional way of articulating Baroque music is with articulated legato, you can see the insults every four notes in the part of the left hand. This legato articulation is original and you should try playing all four legato notes. Make sure there are delicate breaks between the groups of notes. Play all notes with smooth articulation in the right-hand part and on the pedals, except for measure 3, where the appoggiatura must be dragged on the soprano.
  • Ornaments. The ornaments of this choral prelude must be played from the top note. Being a very gentle and expressive piece, don’t rush your adornments and don’t allow them to sound virtuous. Try to keep the character intimate and elegant even when playing the fastest notes. Do not touch the ornaments automatically in the precise rhythm. They will sound more natural if you hold down the first note of the trill or mordant longer and play the remaining notes a little faster.

Although practicing with the above points on fingering, pedaling, articulation and ornamentation requires a great deal of patience and attention to detail, the results achieved with such practice will be excellent because you will be able to perform “Ich ruf zu Dir, Herr Jesu Christ” with precision, clarity and confidence.

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