Chorale Melodies used in Bach's Vocal Works
Die Nacht ist kommen

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

Melody & Text:

Die Nacht ist kommen drin wir ruhen sollen. [Evening] Written probably under the pressure of persecution and oppression. In the G. 2?., 1566, as above, in 5 stanzas of 7 lines (the last stanza being a versification of the Lord's Prayer), and thence in Wackernagel, iv. p. 442, and the Unverfälschter Liedersegen, 1851, No. 515. In J. H. Schein's Cantiona, 1627, it appears as No. 99, with an additional stanza not by Herbert, which reads:
Denn wir kein besser Zuflucht konnen haben,
Als zu dir, o Herr, in dem Himmel droben,
Du veriest keinen, gibst Acht auff die deinen.
Die dich recht meyuen,"
Source: Hymnary.org

Melody: Zahn 5001
Composer: Anon (Bohemian Brethren, 1566), based on a 16th century melody

Text: Die Nacht ist kommen (NLGB 207; EG 471)
Author: Petrus Herbert (1566)

Hymnal versions Bach may have known:

Melody & text of Die Nacht ist kommen (NLGB 207) from the Neu Leipziger Gesangbuch, pp 576-578

Use of the Chorale Melody by Bach:

Text: Die Nacht ist kommen

Chorale Die Nacht ist kommen, BWV 296
Ref: RE 231; Br 231; KE 64; AmB 46II p.203; BGA 43; BC F44.1; CST 67

Use of the Chorale Melody by other composers:

Sources: Bach Digital; BGA; Zahn
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)