Chorale Melodies used in Bach's Vocal Works
Gott, der du selber bist das Licht

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

Melody & Text:

Gott, der du selber bist das Licht" (God, thou art thyself the light) is another Johann Rist/Johann Crüger BAR Form (1641) setting with 15 eight-line stanzas and the Johann Crüger melody (Zahn 5814) published in Praxis Pietatis Melica (Berlin, 1647). This prayer for daily protection (not in NLGB) was set by J.S. Bach as a plain chorale, BWV 316 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWcRgTg-_Xc, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7nxzfVr-IY). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7nxzfVr-IY).
Source: Devotional Hymns: Morning, Evening Songs (William L. Hoffman, December 14, 2017)

Melody: Zahn 5814
Composer: Johann Crüger (1648)

Text: Gott, der du selber bist das Licht (ELS 639)
Author: Johann Rist (1641)

Hymnal versions Bach may have known:

Use of the Chorale Melody by Bach:

Text: Gott, der du selber bist das Licht

Chorale Gott, der du selber bist das Licht, BWV 316
Ref: RE 225; Br 225; KE 112; AmB 46II p.194; BGA 63; BC F71.1; CST 117

Use of the Chorale Melody by other composers:

Sources: Bach Digital; BGA; Zahn; BCML discussions on BCW; Charles Sanford Terry's Bach Chorals books
Photos from Gottfried Vopelius Neu Leipziger Gesangbuch (Vopelius 1682), were taken from a digital copy of the book downloaded from Bayerische Staatsbibliothek München. This copy is Out of copyright - non commercial re-use (Europeana Rights).
Prepared by Aryeh Oron (October 2018)