Born: 1555
Died: 1613 (or 1621)

Batholomäus Gesius [Gesaius] was Kantor at Frankfurt an der Oder.

The melody is of German origin and has been ascribed to Gesius, who in 1605 composed a hymn to which this melody was first set, namely, “Mein Seel, o Gott, musz loben dich.” In the Scandinavian countries this melody has been associated with the hymn “Jesu, din Ihukommelse” (Landst. 66), “Jesus, the very thought is sweet” (L. H. 154), “Jesu dulcis memoria”.

Source: BCL Website [Dahle, Library of Christian Hymns]
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (August 2003)

Texts of Bach Cantatas & Other Vocal Works

BWV 67 [Melody], BWV 116 [Melody], BWV 272, BWV 287, BWV 342, BWV 414

Chorale Melodies used in Bach’s Vocal Works

Title

Year

EKG

Zahn

Du Friedefürst, Herr Jesu Christ

Use of Chorale Melodies in his works

Title

Chorale Melody

Year

Herr Gott dich loben wir for 5 voices

Herr Gott, dich loben wir [The German Tedeum]

1598

Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin, 4-pt. setting

Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin

1601

4-pt setting of O Welt, ich muß dich lassen

O Welt, ich muß dich lassen

Links to other Sites

Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary Handbook - Biographies and Sources (BCL)

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