Einige canonische Veränderungen über das Weihnachts-Lied: Vom Himmel hoch da komm ich her. Part 3 (conclusion): Bach’s Vision of Time and Eternity

The first two parts of this triptych on Bach’s Einige canonische Veränderungen über das Weihnachts-Lied: Vom Himmel hoch da komm ich her focused respectively on Martin Luther’s underlying Christmas hymn, how Bach drew inspiration from it in this organ work, and the occasion that prompted its composition. In this third and final part, other aspects of the canon triplex are examined, which likewise point to the representation of the doxology from Luther’s Christmas hymn in this remarkable composition. That doxology likewise refers to the praise of God by the heavenly angels. Bach’s firm belief in life after death is evident from the fact that, near the end of his life, he made a slight revision to the concept of his previously published canonic variations and integrated them into his Leipzig Manuscript Collection-a personal document with a strongly eschatological character.