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Chorale Texts used in Bach's Vocal Works
Sei gegrüßet, Jesu, gütig
Text and Translation of Chorale |
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Ref. in hymnals/hymn books: NLGB 432; FT: IV: 14
Author: Christian Keymann (1663)
Chorale Melody: Sei gegrüßet, Jesu, gütig (Zahn 3889) | Composer: Anon (Leipzig, 1682)
Theme: Jesus' Suffering & Death |
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Description: |
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"Sei gegrüßet, Jesu, gütig" (Hail to you, kind Jesus) is the Jesus Song of Christian Keymann of seven 6-line stanzas set to the associated melody (Zahn 3889) first found in the NLGB as No. 432, the last listing (Fischer-Tümpel: IV: 14). The hymn was first published in Martin Janus’ Passionale Melicum (Görlitz, 1663)," says Charles S. Terry. "In the Wolfenbüttel Hymn-book of 1672 its stanzas are printed alternately with those of the Passiontide prayer, 'Salve Jesu, summe bonum,' attributed to St Bernard of Clairvaulx. There does not appear to be reasonable ground for holding Keimann’s hymn a version of the Latin. Two stanzas, improbably by Keimann, were added to his original five in the Gotha Geistlichen Gesang-Buchlein of 1666."
The last two lines are a refrain, the same in Stanzas 1-5, "Lass mich deine Liebe erben / und darinnen selig sterben" (Let me inherit your love / And blissfully die in it). Johann Böttiger's alternate text setting, "O Jesu du, edle Gabe” (O Jesu, thou noble gift), is a Jesus Song for Communion with a different refrain: "Dein Blut mich von Sünden Wäschet / und der Höllen Glut auslöschet" (Your blood washes me from sin / and extinguishes the first of hell").4 The two text incipits, "Sei gegrüßet, Jesu, gütig" and "O Jesu du, edle Gabe” sometimes are used interchangeably since they are listed in the Orgelbüchlein (but not set) as Ob. 82, "O Jesu du, edle Gabe” (Lord's Supper, http://www.orgelbuechlein.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/NOB-82-chorale.pdf) and Ob. 163, both titles (Appendix; Life Eternal [Justification Catechism], http://www.orgelbuechlein.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/NOB-163-chorale.pdf).
J.S. Bach set the hymn as the Partita and Chorale Variations, BWV 668 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gierj0nKCF8, composed as early as 1705, as well as a plain chorale, BWV 410 (http://www.bach-chorales.com/BWV0410.htm), a four-part realization of the two-part Schmelli Gesangbuch sacred song, BWV 499 (No. 293, Jesus' Suffering & Death), http://www.bach-chorales.com/SchemelliRealizations.htm (music, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uen-oi_TXZ4). The Jesus Hymn was set as organ works of Johann Pachelbel (1653-1706), chorale prelude, PWC 423, and Johann Gottfried Walther (1684-1748) as a Chaccone.
Source: Epiphany Time Cantatas (William Hoffman, (January 18, 2018) |
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Vocal Works by J.S. Bach: |
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Ver |
Work |
Mvt. |
Year |
Br |
RE |
KE |
Di |
BC |
Type |
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- |
BWV 410 |
- |
? |
172 |
172 |
307 |
- |
F174.1 |
Chorale [S, A, T, B] |
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1-7 |
BWV 499 |
All |
1736 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
F240 |
Sacred Song |
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BWV 499: NBA No. 22; Schemelli No. 293 |
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German Text (verses in bold print set by Bach) |
English Translation |
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1. Sei gegrüßet, Jesu, gütig
über alle Maß sanftmütig,
ach! wie bist du so zerschmissen
und dein ganzer Leib zerrissen?
Lass mich deine Liebe erben
und darinnen selig sterben. |
1. Jesu, Saviour, heed my greeting!
Kind and gentle is Thy being.
Long the torture Thou hast suffered,
Deep the insults to Thee offered.
Let me all Thy love inherit,
And meet death in Thy sure merit! |
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2. O Herr Jesu! Gott und mein Heil
meines Herzens Trost und mein Teil,
beut mir deine Hand zur Seiten,
wenn ich werde sollen streiten.
Lass mich deine Liebe erben
und darinnen selig sterben. |
2. Jesu, Master, dearest treasure,
Christ, my Saviour, my heart's pleasure,
Hands and piercéd Side, O show me,
Should r tempted be to doubt Thee!
Let me all Thy love inherit,
And meet death in Thy sure merit! |
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3. Jesu! schone meiner Sünden,
weil ich mich zu dir tu finden
mit betrübten Geist und Herzen,
dein Blut lindert meine Schmerzen.
Lass mich deine Liebe erben
und darinnen selig sterben. |
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4. O du rot und weiße Quelle,
kühle meine matte Seele,
wenn ich werde unten liegen
hilf mir ritterlich obsiegen.
Lass mich deiner Lieb genießen
und mein Leben drin beschließen. |
4. O Thou fountain ever flowing,
Gracious comfort e'er bestowing,
When Death lays his hand upon me
Help me then to meet him boldly!
Let me all Thy love inherit,
And meet death in Thy sure merit! |
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5. o wie freundlich kannst du laben,
Jesu alle, die dich haben;
Die sich halten an dein Leiden,
können seliglich abscheiden.
Lass mich deiner Lieb genießen
und mein Leben drin beschließen. |
5. Sweet refreshment floweth freely
To Thy children stayed upon Thee.
On Thy Passion, Lord, relying,
Nought I fear the hour of dying.
Let me all Thy love inherit,
And méet death in Thy sure merit! |
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6. Wenn der Feind mich tut anklagen,
lass mich Jesu, nicht verzagen,
wenn ich aus dem Elend fahre,
meine Seele du bewahre,
singen immer: Heilig! Heilig!
Heilig! alsdenn bin ich selig! |
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7. Süßer Jesu, Gnadensonne,
mein schatz, höchste Freud und Wonne,
ewig, ewig lass mich loben
mit den Engeln dich dort droben,
singen immer: Heilig! heilig!
heilig! alsdenn bin ich selig! |
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English Translation: Charles Sanford Terry | Source of English Translation: Charles Sanford Terry: The Four-Part Chorals of J.S. Bach (Oxford University Press, 1929), p 339
Contributed by Francis Browne (March 2008), Aryeh Oron (November 2018) |
