Chorale Melodies used in Bach's Vocal Works
Christ, der du bist der helle Tag

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

Melody & Text:

“Christ, der du bist der helle Tag” (Christ, you are the bright day) is an Erasmus Albeus evening hymn (1556) in seven 4-line stanzas to the associated melody (Zahn 384), based on the popular 6th century Ambrosian Lenten Compline, Christe qui lux es et dies (O Christ who art the light and day), first published in the Die Morgengeseng fur die Kinder (Nürnberg c1556), says Charles S. Terry (Organ Works, Ibid.) Gesangbuch der Böhm Brüder (Eisleben 1568). The Latin hymn (NLGB 204), set by various composers, is also known as the Evening Song Te lucis ante terminum (To Thee before the close of day, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Te_lucis_ante_terminum). The hymn “Christ, der du bist der helle Tag” is found in the NLGB as No. 205, listed in the Orgelbüchlein as Ov. 148, and in Schemelli as No 431 (without music) - all as Evening Hymns. J.S. Bach composed three settings (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aN8yHkICe9c): plain chorale BWV 273 (http://www.bach-chorales.com/BWV0273.htm, organ Chorale Variations (Partita) BWV 766 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rG0qcAwU9g) and as Neumeister chorale prelude, BWV 1120 (https://library.musicaneo.com/sheetmusic/purchase/sm-87666_christ_der_du_bist_der_helle_tag
_bwv_1120.html?key=43FmjqJD8iS6yB2LIULj-ldi-Q6AKwTW#87666).
Source: Devotional Hymns: Morning, Evening Songs (William L. Hoffman, December 14, 2017)

Melody: Zahn 384, based on the popular 6th century Ambrosian Lenten Compline, Christe qui lux es et dies
Composer: Cyriakus Spangenberg (Eisleben, 1568)

Text: Christ, der du bist der helle Tag (NLGB 205; EKG 354; EG 469)
Author: Erasmus Albeus (1556)

Bases on the Latin hymn: Te lucis ante terminum (NLGB 204)
Author: Ambrosius (6th century)

Use of the Chorale Melody by Bach:

Text: Christ, der du bist der helle Tag

Chorale Christ, der du bist der helle Tag, BWV 273
Ref: RE 230; Br 230; KE 32; AmB 46II p.202; Penzel 172; BGA 21; BC F24:1

Untexted:

Chorale Partita Christ, der du bist der helle Tag, BWV 766

These “Choralvariationen,” it is generally agreed, are a youthful work written while J.S. Bach was under the influence of Georg Böhm. Philipp Spitta assigns their composition to c1701-1702, when J.S. Bach was in his 16th or 17th year, resident at Lüneburg, and therefore in contact with G. Böhm, who was organist there1. Schweitzer points out that the number of Variations corresponds to the number of stanzas in the hymn. But the inference that each Variation pictures the corresponding stanza does not survive examination. It is difficult to imagine J.S. Bach tempted to distinguish in seven pictures moods so placid and invariable as the hymn maintains. He is not even moved, as in maturer years he might have been, by references to Satan and the angels; though the convolutions of the accompanying figure in Variations II, IV, VI may have been prompted by the image of the Serpent. On the other hand, it need not follow that the numerical correspondence between the hymn stanzas and the Variations is fortuitous. The opening broad and simple treatment of the melody looks like a statement of the cantus as a preliminary to singing the first stanza. The remaining movements may have been designed as improvisations between the stanzas. They are not in the ordinary sense Variations at all, but movements in Fantasia form written for the two-manualed “Pedalflugel.” The Pedal is introduced only in the last (seventh) Variation and is marked “con Pedale se piace” (i.e. ad libitum).
The text of the Variations in Peters’ edition was printed from a ms. once the possession of Forkel. Copies also exist in the Hauser Collection. Naumann records (1893) that the Autograph was “formerly” in the possession of Capellmeister Guhr.
Source: Chrales Stanford Terry: Johann Sebastian Bach, Bach’s Chorals, vol. 3 The Hymns and Hymn Melodies of the Organ Works (1921), pp 101-103

Chorale Prelude Christ, der du bist der helle Tag, BWV 1120

Use of the Chorale Melody by other composers:

Sources: Bach Digital; BGA; Zahn
Photos from Gottfried Vopelius Neu Leipziger Gesangbuch (Vopelius 1682), were taken from a digital copy of the book downloaded from Bayerische Staatsbibliothek. This copy is Out of copyright - non commercial re-use (Europeana Rights).
Prepared by Aryeh Oron (October 2018)