Melody & Text | Use of the CM by Bach | Use of the CM by other composers | Arragements/Transcriptions

Melody & Text: Zahn: 7880a | EKG: 25

Melody:

The composer of the chorale melody is Andreas Hammerschmidt. This melody first appeared in print in Hammerschmidt’s “Vierter Theill Musicalischer Andachten” Freiberg in Saxony, 1646, where it included an additional Halleluja section to be sung before the first verse of the chorale melody and once more after the last verse. It was called a “Sacred Concerto [Bach often used the term ‘Concerto’ to designate his cantatas] for 3 male voices, 5-part choir and basso continuo.”

Here is an example of the melodies for the entire composition as it is still given in the EKG today:

Text: Freuet euch, ihr Christen alle by Christian Keymann (1645) | EKG: 25

Use of the Chorale Melody by Bach:

Text: Freuet euch, ihr Christen alle | EKG: 25
Author: Christian Keymann (1645)

Ver

Work

Mvt.

Year

Br

RE

KE

Di

BC

Score

Music Examples

4

BWV 40

Mvt. 8

1723

8

105

8

-

F67, A12:8

PDF

Mvt. 8 (YFM) [midi] | Mvt. 8 (MG) [midi] | Mvt. 8 (Leusink) [ram]

Use of the Chorale Melody by other composers:

We have not been able to find any other instances of this CM by other composers, yet it is still included in the present-day hymnal for the Evangelical Lutheran Churches of Germany.

Arrangements/Transcriptions of Bach's use of the Chorale Melody:

See list of Piano Transcriptions of BWV 40/8 by various composers/arrangers at:
Piano Transcriptions of Bach's Works - Index by BWV Number Part 1: Cantatas

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 (October 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
Individual Recordings: Hilliard - Morimur | Chorales - Matt | Chorales - Rilling | Preludi ai Corali - Quartetto Italiani di Viola Da Gamba
References: Chorales BWV 250-300 | Chorales BWV 301-350 | Chorales BWV 351-400 | Chorales BWV 401-438
Texts & English Translations of Chorales: Sorted by Title
Chorale Melodies: Sorted by Title | Explanation
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]
Hymnals used by Bach | Abbreviations used for the Chorales | Links to other Sites about the Chorales

Chorale Melodies: Sorted by Title | 371 4-Part Chorales sorted by Breitkopf Number | Explanation

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