Chorale Melodies used in Bach's Vocal Works
Herr, nun lass in Friede

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

Melody & Text:

Herr, nun lass in Friede (Lord, now let in peace). Founded on Das Nunc dimittis. First appeared in the 5th ed., Breslau, c. 1663, of the Vollstandige Kirchen und Haus Music, p. 962, in 10 stanzas. In Mützell, 1858, No. 301 as a hymn on the Feast of the Purification of the Virgin Mary. It is translated as, "Lord, now let Thy servant," by Miss Winkworth, 1858, p. 216. [Rev. James Mearns, M. A.]
Source: Hymnary.org (from John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, 1907)

There are three German chorale versions of the Nunc dimittis that J.S. Bach set, most notably, Martin Luther's popular paraphrase, "Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dhin" (With peace and joy I journey therein, NLGB No. 56) in Cantatas BWV 95/1c, 83/5, and Chorale Cantata BWV 125, between 1723 and 1725. There are three other settings, all in E Major:
+ David Behme's "Herr, nun laß in Freide" (Lord, now let in peace, no NLGB listing; text, 10 stanzas, after 1663; melody anonymous, Hymnbook of the Bohemian Brothers 1694. J.S. Bach setting is plain chorale, BWV 337 in E Major. This may have been composed about 1730.
Source: Cantata BWV 157 - Discussions Part 3 (William L. Hoffman, (November 17, 2012)

Melody: Zahn 3302
Composer: Anon (Bohemian Brethren, 1694)

Text: Herr, nun lass in Friede
Author: David Behme (1657 / 1663), after Nunc dimittis

Hymnal versions Bach may have known:

Use of the Chorale Melody by Bach:

Text: Herr, nun lass in Friede

Chorale Herr, nun lass in Friede, BWV 337
Ref: RE 190; Br 190; KE 148; Birnstiel 196; AmB 46II p.168; BGA 84; BC F89.1; CST 150

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) & Christian Friedrich Witt: Psalmodia Sacra, Oder: Andächtige und schöne Gesänge… (Gotha Hymnal, 1715), were taken from digital copies of the books downloaded from Bayerische Staatsbibliothek München. These copies are Out of copyright - non commercial re-use (Europeana Rights).
Prepared by Aryeh Oron (October 2018)