Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring (with Eric Clausen)

Our first guest episode!  We chat about one of the greatest and most enduring pieces of music ever written, "Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring."  Eric Clausen, a Lutheran pastor and Alex and Christian's brother-in-law, shares his perspective on church music and how this piece became so meaningful for him.  We talk about Bach's life as a church musician, how these cantata texts can have more in common with contemporary praise music than "traditional" hymns, and music's enduring power to enrich the soul.

Thanks to Eric for his guest appearance on A Moment of Bach! Check out his podcast, "The Faithful Forebearers" here: http://faithfulforebearers.com/

Cantata "Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben" (BWV 147) performed by the Netherlands Bach Society: https://youtu.be/h97JE4--p84

Or, go straight to movement 10: https://youtu.be/h97JE4--p84?t=1633