If my theory of relativity is proven correct, Germany will claim me as a German and France will declare that I am a citizen of the world. Should my theory prove untrue, France will say that I am a German and Germany will declare that I am a Jew. - Albert Einstein
2005, April 08
Schübler chorale 2, BWV 646
Whither shall I flee? (Wo soll ich fliehen hin)
This is the second Schübler chorale, BWV 646, based on the melody "Wo soll ich fliehen hin". The melody is of secular origin, from an anonymous composer. According to Charles S. Terry, the name of this anonymous melody is "Venus du und dein Kind".
This melody is used in cantatas associated with the 8th, 17th, 19th, 21st, and 22nd Sundays after Trinity (Schmieder).
This organ chorale, alone among the Schüblers, is not a transcription from a known cantata. There is speculation that it may be from a lost cantata. It is a trio in E minor, with the chorale in the pedal.
| The music: | BWV 646 | The cantus firmus in the pedal. | |
| BWV 5.7 | A four part harmonization of the chorale melody. | ||
| BWV 89.6 | A four part harmonization of the chorale melody. | ||
| BWV 136.6 | A four part harmonization of the chorale melody. | ||
| BWV 148.6 | A four part harmonization of the chorale melody. | ||
| BWV 188.6 | A four part harmonization of the chorale melody. | ||
| BWV 694 | Another organ chorale on the same melody. |
MP3 files of these chorales are available. If you want one, leave me a note in a comment with your email address and I will send it. Unfortunately, the files are too large to put them on my ftp server for general distribution.
Some names under which this chorale is known:
Auf meinen lieben Gott
Wo soll ich fliehen hin
In my beloved God I trust
In my dear God
Where shall I fly?
Where shall I refuge find?
Whither am I to flee?
Whither shall I flee?
Where may I fly, oh where?
Thematisch-systematisches Verzeichnis der musikalischen Werke von Johann Sebastian Bach.
ed. Wolfgang Schmieder, Breitkopf and Hartel, Wiesbaden. 1990 ISBN 3-7651-0255-5.
The Organ Music of J.S. Bach, 2nd ed.
Peter Williams, Cambridge University Press 2003
