Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern, BWV 739

The Chorale Fantasia on "Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern," BWV 739, is J. S. Bach's first known composition (only recently authenticated) dating from when the composer was approximately 15 years old. I believe this piece was composed in Lüneburg while apprenticing with Georg Böhm at the Johanneskirche. This was after Bach's voice change made his employment as a soprano in the choir of the Michaeliskirche (Lüneburg) redundant. Jonathan Dimmock performs this on a Hauptwerk organ, copying Sint Michaëlskerk, Zwolle (Schitger, 1720). The occasion for learning the piece, and for posting it on December 21, 2020, is the momentous conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn heralding a bright star and a new age.