Nicholas Bruhns & Bach
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OT: Nicholas Bruhns/J S Bach - BWV 4

Peter Smaill wrote (July 24, 2017):
The Schleswig composer Nicholas Bruhns (1665-1697) has now had his complete Cantatas recorded and published by by Harmonici Mundi/Brilliant Classics.

The standard take on his relationship to J S Bach is:
"Although Johann Sebastian Bach's son Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach claimed that his father admired and studied Bruhns' work, no direct influence has been traced by scholars."

However, the final "Amen" from Bruhns' Easter meditation , "Hemmt Eure Traeneflut" starts with stilo antica contrapuntal setting of the chorale "Christ lag in Todesbanden", highly reminiscent of that by Bach in BWV4/5, "Es ware in wunderlicher Krieg". The Bach setting is more extensive, using the chorale in augmentation; but nevertheless the opening similarity is striking.

Purely a coincidence in the treatment of a famous chorale? I'd be interested to have other reactions, and recommend the CD for those interested in the North German/Buxtehude world pre-Bach.

William L. Hoffman wrote (July 24, 2017):
Enjoy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYa6LHVXSpo
Bruhns - Cantata 'Hemmt eure Thränenflut'

Peter Smaill wrote (July 25, 2017):
[To Wilian Hofman] Wonderful performance of this profound work, thank you Will for posting it. The comparison with Bach in the final Amen is apt because of the reduction of the chorale to a fugal theme ( in simple crotchets?) without the usual rhythm.

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