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

Melody & Text: Zahn: 7880a | EKG: 25

Melody:

The composer of the chorale melody is Andreas Hammerschmidt. This melody first appeared in print in Hammerschmidt’s “Vierter Theill Musicalischer Andachten” Freiberg in Saxony, 1646, where it included an additional Halleluja section to be sung before the first verse of the chorale melody and once more after the last verse. It was called a “Sacred Concerto [Bach often used the term ‘Concerto’ to designate his cantatas] for 3 male voices, 5-part choir and basso continuo.”

Here is an example of the melodies for the entire composition as it is still given in the EKG today:

Text: Freuet euch, ihr Christen alle by Christian Keymann (1645) | EKG: 25

Use of the Chorale Melody by Bach:

Text: Freuet euch, ihr Christen alle | EKG: 25
Author: Christian Keymann (1645)

Ver

Work

Mvt.

Year

Br

RE

KE

Di

BC

Score

Music Examples

4

BWV 40

Mvt. 8

1723

8

105

8

-

F67, A12:8

PDF

Mvt. 8 (YFM) [midi] | Mvt. 8 (MG) [midi] | Mvt. 8 (Leusink) [ram]

Use of the Chorale Melody by other composers:

We have not been able to find any other instances of this CM by other composers, yet it is still included in the present-day hymnal for the Evangelical Lutheran Churches of Germany.

Arrangements/Transcriptions of Bach's use of the Chorale Melody:

See list of Piano Transcriptions of BWV 40/8 by various composers/arrangers at:
Piano Transcriptions of Bach's Works - Index by BWV Number Part 1: Cantatas

Sources: NBA, vols. III/2.1 & 2.2 in particular [Bärenreiter, 1954 to present] and the BWV ("Bach Werke Verzeichnis") [Breitkopf & Härtel, 1998]
The PDF files of the Chorales were contributed by Margaret Greentree J.S. Bach Chorales
Software: Capella 2004 Software, version 5.1.
Prepared by Thomas Braatz & Aryeh Oron (October 2005)