Any tips on a great transcription?

I'm also toying with getting the full score, because I'd love to play through the parts - has anyone done that and managed to piece together a great piano version?

LOVE this piece

I think the most celebrated transcription is that made by Dame Myra Hess; it's quite a beautiful one, but considerably challenging in getting the voicing just right.

Yes, I have looked through the original score.

Regards,

The most famous:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0085wPebZc

Others:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pD5MvK8i7pU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_cmcIUD6JE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHJmRj6CtWY

Fiorentino's is the least complex. Since the performers above range from some of the greatest pianists to amateurs, judging the quality/personal preferences of the transcriptions is more difficult.

This might be one of the most transcribed pieces ever. This page lists about 75 different transcriptions:
http://www.bach-cantatas.com/NVD/PT-BWV.htm

It seems Hess's transcription is for strong big players. I can play all the notes. I imagine (don't crucify me).. that many of the notes could be omitted occasionally. I rarely want to play all of them all the time.... a little variety please.

The 'full score' is at bach-cantatas.com.. you can look for it and print it - is it 471? I'll get back to you.. it's rather difficult to find the whole cantata and it is not written for piano..

BWV147

This may not be what you are looking for but if you are interested in different arrangements (very different takes) on this piece I would point out these 2 I know-

1. Michael Scott arrangement found on www.musicnotes.com. It is a simple version (i'm guessing too simple for you) but i find it interesting, especially how the LH and RH interplay rhythmically between each other. I prefer it slower at 40bpm though.

2. George Winston's "Joy" This one is almost unrecognizable from the original but still a very very beautiful piece, one of my favorites.

So if you were looking to improvise your own arrangement these might give you some good ideas. But it sounds like maybe you were looking for the most authentic version?

I don't get it...why?

Indeed, the Myra Hess arrangement is the go-to arrangement for most classical performers. It requires careful voicing (the melody appears in a variety of registers) and probably - no axes, please! - judicious use of pedal.

thanks all -
I'm ordering the Hess transcription from Sheet Music plus (as soon as I pay my taxes

I still have the whole score in my cart, kind of want it! we'll see.

And then there is this transcription:

@BDB Thanks for sharing, that was fun!