Melody & Text | Use of the CM by Bach | Use of the CM by other composers | English Hymnals Using the German CM

Melody & Text: Zahn: 132 | EKG: 316

Melody:

The composer of the melody is Melchior Vulpius. It first appeared in print in „Ein schön geistlich Gesangbuch”, Jena 1609.

Text:

Unknown source from before 1608.

Hymnal versions Bach may have known:

A possible source which Bach may have used is the Gotha Hymnal from 1715. There the melody appears as follows:

Use of the Chorale Melody by Bach:

Text: Christus, der ist mein Leben | EKG: 316
Author: Anon (before 1608)

Ver

Work

Mvt.

Year

Br

RE

KE

Di

BC

Score

Music Examples

1

BWV 95

Mvt. 1

1723

315

-

-

-

A136:1

Mvt. 1 (Leusink) [ram]

Untexted:

Ver

Work

Mvt.

Year

Br

RE

KE

Di

BC

Score

Music Examples

-

BWV 281

-

?

7

46

6

-

F30:1

PDF

Chorale (MG) [midi]

-

BWV 282

-

?

315

47

316

-

F30:2

PDF

Chorale (MG) [midi]

-

BWV 1112

-

b 1710

-

-

-

-

K185

BWV 282 vel 95/1 w/o instruments (Br. 315) [the same as BWV 95/1]

Use of the Chorale Melody by other composers:

Samuel Scheidt (1587-1654):
SSWV 525 Christus der ist mein Leben 4-pt. setting

Johann Schelle (1648-1701):
Christus, der ist mein Leben, Cantata 5 voices, 4 violins, 4 violas, bassoon, bc.

Johann Pachelbel (1653-1706):
Chorale Variations on Christus, der ist mein Leben, T. 81 (1683)

Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767):
Christus der ist mein Leben (M. Vulpius), Cantata 1:138 (1754)

Johann Gottfried Walther (1684-1748):
Christus, der ist mein Leben 2 Chorale Preludes for Organ

Johann Christian Rinck (1770-1846):
Variations on Christus, der ist mein Leben for organ

Ján Levoslav Bella (1843-1936):
Fantasy on the chorale Christus, der ist mein Leben (1918).

Max Reger (1873-1916):
Christus der ist mein Leben, Chorale Prelude for Organ, Op. 67/5 (1902)
Christus der ist mein Leben, Chorale Prelude for Organ, Op. 79b/9 (1901-1903)

Günter Raphael (1903-1960):
Fantasie über den Choral Christus, der ist mein Leben Organ (1968)

English Hymnals Using the German Chorale Melody

New English Hymnal
Lord, who shall sit beside thee (after J.S. Bach) (tune Christus Der ist mein leben), No. 175

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 2004 Software, version 5.1.
Prepared by Thomas Braatz & Aryeh Oron (September 2005)

Chorales BWV 250-438
Recordings | General Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Chorales in Bach Cantatas: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Hidden Chorale Melody Allusions | Passion Chorale
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References: Chorales BWV 250-300 | Chorales BWV 301-350 | Chorales BWV 351-400 | Chorales BWV 401-438
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MIDI files of the Chorales: Cantatas BWV 1-197 | Other Vocal Works BWV 225-248 | Chorales BWV 250-438
Articles: The Origin of the Texts of the Chorales [Schweitzer] | The Origin of the Melodies of the Chorales [Schweitzer] | The Chorale in the Church Service [Schweitzer] | Choral / Chorale [Terry]
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