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Chorale Texts used in Bach's Vocal Works
Ach bleib bei uns, Herr Jesu Christ
Text and Translation of Chorale |
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EKG: EG 246; Gemeindelieder 98; Wacht auf! (1974) 14
Author: Philipp Melanchthon (1551) / Nikolaus Selnecker (1572/1611)
Chorale Melody: Danket dem Herrn, heut’ und allzeit = Ach bleib bei uns, Herr Jesu Christ (Zahn 439) | Composer: Sethus Calvisius (1594), based on 13th century melody
Theme: Evening |
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Description: |
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Nikolaus Selnecker’s “Ach bleib’ bei uns, Herr Jesu Christ,” was first published in his Geistliche Psalmen (Nurnberg, 1611). Actually only stanzas 3-9 are by him, being an addendum to Philipp Melanchthon’s “Vespera jam venit, nobiscum Christe maneto” (St Luke, xxiv. 29). The Alto melody (supra), which also bears the name of N. Selnecker’s hymn, is found in a four-part setting of the hymn “Danket dem Herrn, heut’ und allzeit,” by Sethus Calvisius, in 1594. As a separate melody, however, its Alto part is at least as old as 1589. J.S. Bach uses it in the movement infra, in Cantata BWV 6 (1736), and Choralgesange, Nos. 1, 313. His text is invariable. Its variations of the original are not traced in Zahn. In Witt (No. 476) the hymn is set to another melody, as in the Gotha Cantional (Zahn, No. 613).
Source: Charles Stanfort Terry: Johann Sebastian Bach, Bach’s Chorals, vol. 3 The Hymns and Hymn Melodies of the Organ Works (1921), pp 72, 78-79
BWV 6/3: Philipp Melanchthon wrote "Vespera iam venit"?. This is a distichon, a poem consisting of two lines, a prayer in Latin based on Luke 24, dated 1551. Nikolaus Herman published in 1570 some songs to be sung after dinner (an stadt des Gracias zu singen, nach dem Essen). One of these is “Danket dem Herrn heut und allzeit“. The 8th stanza of this song is a translation of P. Melanchton’s short prayer. Nikolaus Selnecker in 1611 used the 8th stanza of N. Herman's song as the first stanza of a hymn of his own (Also a ‘composition’ if several already existing stanza’s. It is from this hymn that J.S. Bach used the first two stanzas in BWV 6. See: The Free Lutheran Chorale-Book.
Info provided by Dick Wursten (June 7, 2016) |
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Vocal Works by J.S. Bach:
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Chorale for Soprano Ach bleib bei uns, Herr Jesu Christ (Mvt. 3) from Cantata BWV 6 (verses 1-2)
The Alto melody of the above four-part setting, which Bach uses in the third movement (“Choral”), is associated also with the Hymns, “Ach bleib’ bei uns, Herr Jesu Christ,” “Wir danken dir, O frommer Gott,” and “Hinunter ist der Sonnenschein.” The Alto melody was in use at Leipzig in 1589, and the above four-part setting is found in Seth Calvisius’ Hymni sacri Latini et germanici (Erfurt, 1594). No doubt it is by him. There are other harmonisations of the Alto melody in the Choralgesange, Nos. 1, 313. Organ Works, N. xvi. 10. The words of the movement are the first and second stanzas of Nikolaus Selnecker’s Hymn, “Ach bleib’ bei uns, Herr Jesu Christ.” The first stanza, which is a translation of P. Melanchthon’s “Vespera jam venit, nobiscum Christe maneto” (founded on St Luke xxiv. 29), first appeared as a broadsheet in 1579, with Nikolaus Herman’s “Danket dem Herrn.” The whole Hymn was first published in N. Selnecker’s Geistliche Psalmen (Nürnberg, 1611). Only stanzas 3-9 are by him. |
Chorale Ach bleib bei uns, Herr Jesu Christ, BWV 253
Ref: RE 177; Br 177; KE 1; Birnstiel 182; AmB 46II p.98 & p.155; Penzel 118; BGA 1; BC F35.1 |
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Chorale Ach bleib bei uns, Herr Jesu Christ (Mvt. 5) from Cantata BWV Anh 4a (verse 1; music lost) |
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German Text (verses in bold print set by Bach) |
English Translation |
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1. Ach bleib bei uns, Herr Jesu Christ,
weil es nun Abend worden ist;
dein göttlich Wort, das helle Licht,
laß ja bei uns auslöschen nicht! |
1. Ah Jesu Christ, with us abide,
For now, behold, ’tis eventide:
And bring, to cheer us through the night,
Thy Word, our true and only light. |
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2. In dieser letz'n betrübten Zeit
verleih uns, Herr Beständigkeit,
daß wir dein Wort und Sakrament
rein b'halten bis an unser End'! |
2. In times of trial and distress
Preserve our truth and steadfastness,
And pure unto the end, O Lord,
Vouchsafe Thy Sacraments and Word. |
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3. Herr Jesu, hilf, dein' Kirch' erhalt,
wir sind gar sicher, faul und kalt!
Gib Glück und Heil zu deinem Wort,
damit es schall' an allem Ort! |
3. O Jesu Christ, Thy Church sustain;
Our hearts are wavering, cold, and vain:
Then let Thy Word be strong and clear
To silence doubt and banish fear. |
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4. Erhalt uns nur bei deinem Wort
und wehr' des Teufels Trug und Mord!
Gib deiner Kirchen Gnad' und Huld,
Fried', Einigkeit, Mut und Geduld! |
4. O guard us all from Satan’s wiles,
From worldly threats and worldly smiles,
And let Thy saints in unity
Know Thee in God and God in Thee. |
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5. Ach Gott, es geht gar übel zu,
auf dieser Erd' ist keine Ruh',
viel Sekten und viel Schwärmerei
auf einem Haufen kommt herbei. |
5. The days are evil: all around
Strife, errors, blasphemies abound,
And secret slander’s withering eye,
And soft-tongued, sleek hypocrisy. |
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6. Den stolzen Geistern wehre doch,
die sich mit G'walt erhöhen hoch
und bringen stets was Neues her,
zu fälschen deiner rechte Lehr'. |
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7. Die Sach' und Ehr', Herr Jesu Christ,
nicht unser, sondern dein ja ist;
darum so steh du denen bei,
die sich auf dich verlassen frei! |
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8. Dein Wort ist unsers Herzens Trutz
und deiner Kirchen wahrer Schutz;
dabei erhalt uns, lieber Herr,
daß wir nicht anders suchen mehr! |
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9. Gib, daß wir leb'n in deinem Wort
und darauf ferner fahren fort
von hinnen aus dem Jammertal,
zu dir in deinen Himmelssaal! |
9. From these and all of God abhorred,
O Christ, protect us by Thy Word;
Increase our faith and hope and love,
And bring us to Thy fold above. |
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Source of German Text: Hymnary.org (KGUG: 9 verses) | Lieder index | Monarchieliga (7 verses) | Christliche Liederdatenbank (7 verses) | Bach Digital (1 verse)
English Translation: Benjamin Hall Kennedy | Source of English Translation: Charles Sanford Terry: Johann Sebastian Bach, Bach’s Chorals, vol. 3 The Hymns and Hymn Melodies of the Organ Works (1921)
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (September 2018) |
