Horn 1: d1 - a2
Horn 2: a - f2
Horn 3: b - g2
Horn 4: a - g2
Horn 5: d - c2
Horn 6: g - c2
Horn 7: G - g1
Horn 8: G - d1
Creator's Comments
Performance Notes
Jesu, joy of man’s desiring is item no.10 of the cantata “Heart of mouth and deed and life” (“Herz und Mund und Tat und Leven”) BWV147, one of the better known works of all the cantatas. Originally scored for trumpet, two violins, viola, basso continuo and 4-part choir, the eight horns are an ideal choice to represent both the orchestra and the choir. In this arrangement, as opposed to Martinet’s, the parts are distributed more at random (in the sense that they don’t follow the layout of the original score).
A similarity between the two version is the use of the transposed key (G major in horn pitch), which looks exactly the same as the one of the original. This results in a more fitting range. Within the ensemble, the parts are distributed in pairs, with the uneven horns rotating on the continuous quaver (eight notes), except for a few bars where horns 2 and 4 lead. The tessitura goes from high to low within the pairs of horns, with the 2nd voices often higher than the respective first ones. This guarantees interesting parts for everybody, with the possible exception of horn 8 that hasn’t been treated to much besides the bass line.
This arrangement is a good alternative to Martinet’s, and it is difficult to call a preference due to their overall similarity.