Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring


"Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" (or simply "Joy"; German: Jesus bleibet meine Freude) is the most common English title of a piece of music derived from a chorale setting from the cantata Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben, BWV 147 ("Heart and Mouth and Deed and Life"), composed by Johann Sebastian Bach in 1723. The same music on different stanzas of a chorale closes both parts of the cantata.

A transcription by the English pianist Myra Hess (1890–1965) was published in 1926 for piano solo and in 1934 for piano duet. It is often performed slowly and reverently at wedding ceremonies, as well as during Christian festive seasons like Christmas and Easter.