Chorale Melodies used in Bach's Vocal Works
Lobet den Herren, denn er ist sehr freundlich

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

Melody & Text:

“Lobet den Herrn, denn er ist sehr freundlich” (Praise the Lord, for he is good) is a paraphrase of Psalm 147, to an anonymous text before 1579, set to the associated melody (Zahn 975, EG 304) of Antonio Scandello in Newe Teutsche Geistliche Liedlein (New German Hymns; Nuremberg 1568). Set in six 7-line stanzas, it is an After Meal hymn that is found in the NLGB as No. 223, in the Orgelbüchlein, No. 154 (from Gotha-Witt Hymnbook No. 456), and in the Telemann 1730 chorale book, No 166, Christian Life. J.S. Bach set it as plain chorale, BWV 374 (http://www.bach-chorales.com/BWV0374.htm, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrOS5geolAQ.
Source: Blessing & Thanks Hymns as Chorales at Meals; Tafelmusik (William L. Hoffman, December 21, 2017)

Melody: Zahn 975
Composer: Antonio Scandello (Dresden/Nürnberg, 1568)

Text: Lobet den Herren, denn er ist sehr freundlich (NLGB 223; EG 304; ELG 596; GBEB 24)
Author: Anon (before 1579), after Psalm 147

Use of the Chorale Melody by Bach:

Text: Lobet den Herren, denn er ist sehr freundlich

Chorale Lobet den Herren, denn er ist sehr freundlich, BWV 374
Ref: Ri 227; Br 227; AmB 46II p.200; Ref: BC F135.1

Use of the Chorale Melody by other composers:

Sources: Bach Digital; BGA; Zahn
Prepared by Aryeh Oron (October 2018)