Chorale Melodies used in Bach's Vocal Works
Jesu, du mein liebstes Leben

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

Melody & Text:

Johann Rist's Hymn, “Jesu, du mein liebstes Leben,” in 13 10-line stanzas, was first published in 1642 in Part v. of his Himlischer Lieder (Lüneburg):

Melody: Zahn 7891
Composer: Johann Schop (1642)

Text: Jesu, du mein liebstes Leben (NLBG 320; ELG 436)
Author: Johann Rist (1641)

Hymnal versions Bach may have known:

Melody & text of Das walt’ mein Gott, Vater, Sohn und heiliger Geist (NLGB 320) from the Neu Leipziger Gesangbuch, pp 826-831

Use of the Chorale Melody by Bach:

Text: Jesu, du mein liebstes Leben

Chorale Jesu, du mein liebstes Leben, BWV 356
Ref: Re 243; Br 243; KE 190; AmB 46II p.214; BGA 103; BC F113.1; CST 203

Use of the Chorale Melody by other composers:

Sources: Bach Digital; BGA; Zahn; BCML discussions on BCW; Charles Sanford Terry's Bach Chorals books
Photos from Gottfried Vopelius: Neu Leipziger Gesangbuch (Vopelius 1682) & Christian Friedrich Witt: Psalmodia Sacra, Oder: Andächtige und schöne Gesänge… (Gotha Hymnal, 1715), were taken from digital copies of the books downloaded from Bayerische Staatsbibliothek München. These copies are Out of copyright - non commercial re-use (Europeana Rights).
Prepared by Aryeh Oron (October 2018)