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Chorale Melodies used in Bach's Vocal Works
Ermuntre dich, mein schwacher Geist / Du Lebensfürst, Herr Jesu Christ |
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Melody & Text | Use of the CM by Bach | Use of the CM by other composers |
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Melody & Text: |
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Text (Text 1): Ermuntre dich, mein schwacher Geist | EKG: 24 |
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This text first appeared in Johann Rist’s Himmlische Lieder (Erstes Zehn) (Heavenly Songs - The First Ten), which was printed in Lüneburg, 1641. This chorale text is categorized as a Christmas song. |
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Alternate Text (Text 2) : Du Lebensfürst, Herr Jesu Christ | EKG: |
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This alternate text appeared in the same source as listed above, but seems not to have been associated with Johann Schop’s melody for Ermuntre dich, mein schwacher Geist until much later. The comprehensive Vopelius hymnal printed in Leipzig, 1682 (this hymnal in contrast to most other hymnals printed in Leipzig during Bach’s tenure there actually contains chorale melodies and settings while most others simply give the chorale texts) lacks this chorale text while the Wagner hymnal from 1697 gives this text without the melody. The St. Georg hymnals printed in Leipzig in 1721 and 1730 for use in the Leipzig churches also contain this text. For some unknown reason, both the Dietel and Breitkopf (C.P.E. Bach) chorale collections of J.S. Bach’s chorale settings incorrectly refer to Bach’s setting of BWV 248/12 as Du Lebensfürst, Herr Jesu Christ despite the fact that the verse which Bach had set is verse 9 from Rist’s Ermuntre dich, mein schwacher Geist. However, both collections also contain the same harmonization with the correct text title as well. |
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Melody: Zahn: 5741 | EKG: 24 |
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The composer of this chorale melody is Johann Schop (1641) who also wrote the melodies for Johann Rist’s Sollt ich meinem Gott nicht singen?, Lasset uns den Herrn preisen, and O Ewigkeit, du Donnerwort. Schop was Rist’s principal collaborator in providing the music for Rist’s song texts.
The EKG gives a slightly modified version that dates from 1687 and was modified by Wolfgang Karl Briegel. |
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Use of the Chorale Melody by Bach: |
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Text 1: Ermuntre dich, mein schwacher Geist | EKG: 24
Author: Johann Rist (1641) |
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Ver |
Work |
Mvt. |
Year |
Br |
RE |
KE |
Di |
BC |
Score |
Music Examples |
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9 |
BWV 248 |
Mvt. 12 |
1734 |
9
360 |
9
361 |
80 |
107
119 |
D7:12 |
PDF |
Mvt. 12 (MG) [midi] |
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1-9 |
BWV 454 |
All |
1736 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
F230 |
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BWV 454: From the Schemelli Gesangbuch (No. 187), Leipzig, 1736; NBA No. 12.
The melody is not by J. S. Bach and there is very little evidence that Bach had anything at all to do with the figured bass line.
BWV 248/12: Both Breitkopf and Dietel incorrectly identify this chorale as Du Lebensfürst, Herr Jesu Christ. It is of interest, however that both Breitkopf and Dietel also repeat the same harmonization with the correct identification of the original setting by J.S. Bach. |
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Text 2: Du Lebensfürst, Herr Jesu Christ | EKG:
Author: Johann Rist (1641) |
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Ver |
Work |
Mvt. |
Year |
Br |
RE |
KE |
Di |
BC |
Score |
Music Examples |
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4 |
BWV 11 |
Mvt. 6 |
1735 ? |
342 |
343 |
82 |
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D9:6 |
PDF |
Mvt. 6 (MG) [midi] |
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1-2 |
BWV 43 |
Mvt. 11 |
1726 |
102 |
102 |
81 |
107 |
A77:11 |
PDF |
Mvt. 11 (MG) [midi] |
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BWV 43/11: Here Breitkopf incorrectly identifies the source as Ermuntre dich, mein schwacher Geist.
BWV 11/6: The chorale title given is the incipit of verse 4 rather than that of the usual 1st verse. |
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Use of the Chorale Melody by other composers: |
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Dietrich Buxtehude (c1637-1707):
Du Lebensfürst, Herr Jesu Christ SATB 2 violins, 2 violettes, viola ,bc, BuxWV 22 |
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Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767):
Ermuntre dich, mein schwacher Geist, Chorale prelude for organ in F major, TWV 31:54 (before 1768)
Ermuntre dich, mein schwächer Geist, sacred cantata for voice, chorus, 2 violins, cello & continuo, TWV 1:466a (1727) |
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Alexandre Pierre François Boëly (1785-1858):
Chorale, Ermuntre dich mein schwacher Geist |
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Sources: NBA, vols. III/2.1 & 2.2 in particular [Bärenreiter, 1954 to present] and the BWV ("Bach Werke Verzeichnis") [Breitkopf & Härtel, 1998]
The PDF files of the Chorales were contributed by Margaret Greentree J.S. Bach Chorales
Software: Capella Professional 2008, Version 6.0.
Prepared by Thomas Braatz & Aryeh Oron (March 2008) |
