Wake, O wake with tidings thrilling - WACHET AUF

Being written by J S Bach, this harmonisation is not to be meddled with; not simply because it is by Bach, but because it is very beautiful. So, for once, I simply play what’s there. The first line of this hymn reads ‘Wake, O wake, with tidings thrilling’. The setting is quite as thrilling as the ‘tidings’ of the words. But it is the pedal part that I find most thrilling of all. As you see in my other videos, my own hymn harmonisations are known for their heavy footwork and if anyone thinks this out of place, I need only point them in the direction of this beautiful setting by the Master Himself, I mention this here, not to put my own scribbles in synopsis with those of Bach (I wouldn’t dare!), but to remind listeners that The Great Master still has much to teach us. Written hundreds of years ago, it sounds as contemporary as ever!

I use lots of higher work including the splendid Furniture IV to complement the beautiful bass line (there is no Mixture on this instrument). I don’t use the Swell stops at all in this video. The pedal part is picked out in verse 2 with a very quiet 16’ Fagotto alongside flutes 16’ & 8’, and in the final verse with the big 16’ reed in the pedals. The last note is bolstered with use of the Open Wood 16’.

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