Chorale Melodies used in Bach's Vocal Works
Jesu, meines Lebens Leben

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

Melody & Text:

"Jesu meines Lebens Leben". Passiontide. 1659, pt. i. p. 318, in 8 stanzas of 8 lines, entitled, "Hymn of Thanksgiving to his Redeemer and Saviour for His bitter Sufferings." This is Ernst Christoph Homburg's his most popular hymn, and has passed into many recent collections, including the Berlin Geistliche Lieder (ed. 1863), Kirchengesangbuch (Darmstadt, 1687),.
The composer of the tune is Wolfgang Weßnitzer (1661). It was first published in Das grosse Cantional: oder Kirchen-Gesangbuch (Darmstadt, 1687) to the text "Alle Menschen müssen sterben" by Johann Georg Albinus; some Baroque organ works are associated with that text. The tune became associated with E.C. Homburg's text since they were published together in Anhang, An das Gothaische Cantional (1776). The meditative tune is a good match for this text. It is in bar form (AAB) with a dotted pattern in each of the four lines, which provides rhythmic interest. Sing either in parts or in unison. Use a larger organ registration for the refrain. The tune is easily adapted for organ trio-style accompaniment (played on two manuals and pedal).
Source: Psalter Hymnal Handbook; John Julian: Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Melody: Zahn 6794
Composer: Wolfgang Weßnitzer (1661)

Text: Jesu, meines Lebens Leben (EG 86)
Author: Ernst Christoph Homburg (1659), bassed on Matt. 26:64-67

Hymnal versions Bach may have known:

Use of the Chorale Melody by Bach:

Text: Jesu, meines Lebens Leben

The text of verse 4 of this hymn is used in Mvt. 36 from Markus-Passion BWV 247. However, the music of this Passion is lost.

Untexted:

Chorale Prelude Jesu, meines Lebens Leben, BWV 1107 (Neumeister)

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)