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“Gottlob es geht nunmehr zum Ende” (Thank God, the end is near, http://www.bach-chorales.com/BWV0321.htm, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28CPMekkcIY) is based on the text of Christian Weise (1680) of seven 6-line stanzas, to the melody (Zahn 2855) of Johann Balthasar Reimann (Hirschberg 1747, Birnstiel 1769). J.S. Bach set the hymn as plain chorale, BWV 321. J.S. Bach used an adaptation of the first verse of the C. Weise (1642-1708) poem “Der weinende Petrus” (The weeping Peter) for the text of the aria "Ach, mein Sinn" in Johannes-Passion (BWV 245). Gotha pietist poet Benjamin Schmolck (1672-1737) provided an alternate text to “Gottlob es geht nunmehr zum Ende,” called “Ich liegt und schlafe ganz mit Frieden” (I lie down and sleep completely in peace, Psalm 4:8), four stanzas in his Lieder und Gebete. “Gottlob es geht" is found in the current Lutheran Hymnal with new text as "The Death of Jesus Christ, Our Lord” (http://www.lutheran-hymnal.com/lyrics/tlh163.htm).
Source: Trinity 21-23, Death & Dying Chorales (William L. Hoffman, (December 3, 2017) |
