The song Bist du bei mir, geh' ich mit Freuden zum Sterben und zu meiner Ruh' (BWV 508) was composed by Johann Sebastian Bach for his second wife Anna Magdalena (1701-1760), who he married in 1721. The unparalleled popularity of this song is probably due to the magnificent, sensitive melody that wonderfully fits the anonymous text, in which a loved one is told that even death is beautiful "as long as you are there with me." Jacob de Haan has produced this beautiful arrangement for brass band, which is suitable for many occasions.
