From a love song, to a hymn, through Bach

Title: Jesus, Priceless Treasure
Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach
Text: Johann Franck
Arranger: Phillip Keveren

This hymn, which had been produced in 1641 and modeled after a love song by Heinrich Albert that began, “Flora, meine Freunde, meiner Seelen Weide,” using the same structure, was first published with six stanzas in Cruger’s Praxis Pietatis Melica, fifth edition, of 1653. The tune comes from a traditional German melody and it was arranged in 1655 by Cruger's friend, Christoph Peter for his Andachts Zymbeln, and further arranged and harmonized in 1723 by Bach.

Dawn, the wife of my latest piano tuner, has told me how much she really enjoys our website, and she told me that her favorite piece is this hymn. I looked in my library and found it in 6 or 8 hymnals and they were all about the same. I didn't have a piano arrangement of it though, so I worked at making my own. I wasn't happy with the arrangement I had made, so I went online and bought this arrangement. It only has one verse, and it's an unusual arrangement, with interesting chord progressions. I hope you enjoy it and I'm thankful for Dawn's husband for helping me sound better when I play!

Lyrics:
Jesus, priceless treasure, Source of purest pleasure,
Truest friend to me, Long my heart hath panted, Till it well-nigh
fainted, Thirsting after thee. Thine I am, O spotless Lamb,”
I will suffer naught to hide thee, Ask for naught beside thee.

In thine arm I rest me; Foes who would molest me
Cannot reach me here. Though the earth be shaking, Every heart be
quaking, God dispels our fear; Sin and hell in conflict fell”
With their heaviest storms assail us; Jesus will not fail us.

Hence, all thoughts of sadness! For the Lord of gladness,
Jesus, enters in; Those who love the Father, Though the storms may
gather, Still have peace within; Yea, whate'er we here must bear,
Still in thee lies purest pleasure, Jesus, priceless treasure!