This is Bach's earliest chorale prelude based on the chorale "Jesu, meine Freude" (Jesus, My Joy). Two later ones came during Bach's Weimar years (1708 - 1717) and are cataloged as BWV 713 and 713a. This early rendition is part of the Neumeister Collection, which, as Bach enthusiasts are aware, was discovered by organist Christoph Wolff at the Yale Library in 1985. Most of the 38 items attributed to Bach in that collection are of considerable artistic merit, including this chorale prelude. It is a big work, at least in the huge washes of sound attained by its imposing, bass-rich chords. That said, the work, like most of his other chorale preludes, is quite brief, lasting only about two minutes. Bach gives the melody a serious but majestic character in the outer sections of the piece, with big chords that impart a stately, reverential sense. The interior features lighter textures and a bit more contrapuntal activity. Though the work exhibits the influence of Buxtehude, it is recognizably in the style of other early Bach works, particularly chorale preludes in the Neumeister Collection, such as "Das alte Jahr" (BWV 1091) and "O Lamm Gottes, unschuldig" (BWV 1095).

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