Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring by Johann Sebastian Bach

Album: 100 Church Classics (1723)

License This Song

Songfacts®:

The cantata "Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben" for solo voices, chorus and orchestra was written in Weimar for performance on the fourth Sunday of Advent. Its tenth section, "Jesu bleibt meine Freunde." which we know as "Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring," is one of Bach's best-loved works.
This piece is a perennial favourite at weddings when the bridal party enters.
Both this piece's original choral version and the famous piano transcription by the English pianist Dame Myra Hess (1890-1965) are equally well known. Hess's transcription was published in 1926 for piano solo and in 1934 for piano duet, but the transcription itself has since been arranged for various instruments and combinations.
The Beach Boys 1979 song "Lady Lynda," which was a #6 hit in the UK, is based on the melody of the song, but not the words. The British instrumental studio group Apollo 100 scored a 1972 #6 hit in the US with "Joy," a fast-paced instrumental version of this piece.

Comments: 2

Megan from Stevenson, AlAwww! That's sweet! This is true talent! So beautiful!
Reg from Kemptville, On, -I first heard this piece as "Joy" by Apollo 100. I liked it so much that ran down the street and bought the 45.
Years later I had it played at my wedding.

see more comments

More Songfacts:

CruiseFlorida Georgia Line

Florida Georgia Line's "Cruise" spent 24 weeks on top of the Country chart - the most ever until Sam Hunt's "Body Like a Back Road" was #1 for 34 weeks. The record was previously held by Eddy Arnold's "I'll Hold You in My Heart (1947-48), Hank Snow's "I'm Moving On" (1950-51) and Webb Pierce's "In the Jailhouse Now" (1955), which each led for 21 weeks.

Jessie's GirlRick Springfield

"Jessie's Girl" tells the true story of a girl Rick Springfield was crushing on, but her boyfriend's name was really Gary and he was more of an acquaintance than a friend.

Doo Wop (That Thing)Lauryn Hill

"Doo Wop (That Thing)" by Lauryn Hill was the only US #1 hit of the '90s entirely written, produced and performed by a female singer.

The Wind Cries MaryJimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix wrote "The Wind Cries Mary" not about marijuana, but about his girlfriend at the time, Kathy Mary Etchingham.

I Gotta FeelingThe Black Eyed Peas

Will.I.am, literally dreamt up "I Gotta Feelin'." Said the Black Eyed Pea: "Have you ever had a dream where there's a melody in your dream? I'll wake up out of my sleep and record that! 'I Gotta Feelin' was one of those songs."

The BestTina Turner

"The Best" by Tina Turner was originally recorded by Bonnie Tyler; Turner's hit version added a bridge and a saxophone solo by Edgar Winter.