The so few works by Johann Christoph Altnikol that are still verifiable are now joined by a hitherto unknown motet, Befiehl du deine Wege (Command you your ways), which surpasses them all in terms of expression and design.

It encompasses all twelve verses of Paul Gerhardt’s song in a varied sequence and not only reveals the “very special skill in composition” that Johann Sebastian Bach once confirmed to his “former dear ecolier” and son-in-law Altnikol, but also shows itself to be touching of the proximity of Bach’s spirit.

The first printing of this beautiful chorale arrangement, which will certainly be very welcome for our church choirs, is based on four parts and a score from the possession of Johann Gottlieb Petzold, who was probably the same as Alto Nikol, which, apart from a few (now deleted) mistakes, were well written by two different hands and are now the property of the collection Manfred Gorke (Eisenach).

(Max Schneider)