Wie Schön Leuchtet der Morgenstern

Score title

Composer

Libby Larsen

More about the composer

Libby Larsen

Date

2015

Instrumentation

English horn, violin, viola, piano

Library copy

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Program note

This tranquil and flowing response to J.S. Bach’s “Wie Schoen Leuchtet der Morgenstern,” was commissioned by Rebecca Nagel as part of her "Contemporary Composers Respond to J. S. Bach" commissioning project. For the project, she asked a number of composers to write new pieces which include oboe, oboe d'amore, or English horn and were somehow contemporary commentaries or responses to the works of J.S. Bach.

I immediately thought of my friend Greg Funfgeld, the Artistic Director of the Bach Choir of Bethlehem, and I contacted him to ask what his favorite works of Bach might be. I wanted to compose a work and dedicate it to him in honor of our long friendship. He suggested “Wie Schoen Leuchtet der Morgenstern,” and I based my piece on his suggestion.