This chorale prelude is one of 38 (or 36, if disputed items are taken into account) attributed to Bach from the Neumeister Collection. Admirers of the composer, as well as Baroque and organ music aficionados, had much to rejoice about in the 1985 discovery of this collection housing 82 chorales by several different composers, including two Bach uncles. While the other items in it are important, they pale in significance to the 30-odd Bach works. This one, "Wie nach einer Wasserquelle" (Like for a Spring of Water), finds the young Bach giving a subdued and somewhat ethereal treatment to this chorale tune. That approach is quite in line with the spirit of the text, which Bach always aimed at capturing in his chorale preludes. Here, the music has an angelic glow, rising from the middle ranges on its first appearance into the upper register for further statements. Bach adorns the melody with much colorful writing throughout, especially evident in his skillfully crafted contrapuntal lines, which blend and suggest, weave and highlight. This work typically has a duration of just over a minute.

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