Chorale Melodies used in Bach's Vocal Works
Christ lag in Todesbanden |
Melody & Text | Use of the CM by Bach | Use of the CM by other composers | Arrangements/Transcriptions |
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Melody & Text: Zahn: 7012a | EKG: 76 |
Origin of Melody: |
As explained in the CM page of Christ ist erstanden, the chorale with this melody, although not the same as the chorale Christ ist erstanden in the Luther version, has a common origin and has undergone a similar transformation. Here portions of the same Leise [3] are used, transformed and amended once again to create another Easter chorale, which like Luther’s Christ ist erstanden, still in use today in the EKG.
A melody form which Bach may have encountered or used as found in a late 17th-century hymnal appears thus: |
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There are numerous settings from the pre-Bach period including: |
1. Martin Luther: Melody (1524) |
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2. Johann Walter: Setting in "Wittembergisch Geistlisch Gesangbuch" (1524) |
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3. Lukas Osiander: 4-pt. setting (1585) |
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4. Hans Leo Hassler: 4-pt. setting (1608) |
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5. Samuel Scheidt: Setting (Görlitz, 1650) |
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Text: |
Author: Martin Luther (1524) |
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Use of the Chorale Melody by Bach: |
Text: Christ lag in Todesbanden | EKG: 76
Author: Martin Luther (1524) |
Ver |
Work |
Mvt. |
Year |
Br |
RE |
KE |
Di |
BC |
Score |
Music Examples |
- |
BWV 4 |
Mvt. 1 |
1707/08 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
A54:1 |
- |
Mvt. 1 (CCARH) [midi] | Mvt. 1 (Leusink) [ram] |
1 |
BWV 4 |
Mvt. 2 |
1707/08 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
A54:2 |
- |
Mvt. 2 (CCARH) [midi] | Mvt. 2 (Leusink) [ram] |
2 |
BWV 4 |
Mvt. 3 |
1707/08 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
A54:3 |
- |
Mvt. 3 (CCARH) [midi] | Mvt. 3 (Leusink) [ram] |
3 |
BWV 4 |
Mvt. 4 |
1707/08 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
A54:4 |
- |
Mvt. 4 (CCARH) | Mvt. 4 (RMM) [midi] | Mvt. 4 (Leusink) [ram] |
4 |
BWV 4 |
Mvt. 5 |
1707/08 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
A54:5 |
- |
Mvt. 5 (CCARH) [midi] | Mvt. 5 (Leusink) [ram] |
5 |
BWV 4 |
Mvt. 6 |
1707/08 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
A54:6 |
- |
Mvt. 6 (CCARH) | Mvt. 6 (RMM) [midi] | Mvt. 6 (Leusink) [ram] |
6 |
BWV 4 |
Mvt. 7 |
1707/08 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
A54:7 |
- |
Mvt. 7 (CCARH) | Mvt. 7a (CCARH) [midi] | Mvt. 7 (Leusink) [ram] |
7 |
BWV 4 |
Mvt. 8 |
1707/08 |
184 |
41 |
184 |
- |
A54:8 |
PDF | PDFv |
Mvt. 8 (CCARH) | Mvt. 8 (RMM) | Mvt. 8 (MG) |
Mvt. 8 ver (MG) [midi] | Mvt. 8 (Leusink) [ram] |
5 |
BWV 158 |
Mvt. 4 |
? |
261 |
40 |
261 |
24 |
A61:4
A171:4 |
PDF |
Mvt. 4 (MG) [midi] | Mvt. 4 (Leusink) [ram] |
BWV 158/4: date unknown, probably Leipzig period. |
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Untexted: |
Ver |
Work |
Mvt. |
Year |
Br |
RE |
KE |
Di |
BC |
Score |
Music Examples |
- |
BWV 277 |
- |
? |
15 |
38 |
15 |
- |
F26.1 |
PDF |
Chorale [midi] |
- |
BWV 278 |
- |
? |
370 |
39 |
371 |
133 |
F26.2 |
PDF |
Chorale [midi] |
- |
BWV 279 |
- |
? |
261 |
40 |
261 |
24 |
A61:4 |
PDF |
Chorale [midi] |
- |
BWV 625 |
- |
1713/15 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
K55 |
- |
- |
- |
BWV 695(a) |
- |
1700/17? |
- |
- |
- |
- |
K136 |
- |
- |
- |
BWV 718 |
- |
1700/17 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
K119 |
- |
- |
BWV 625: Orgelbüchlein No. 24.
BWV 695(a): of somewhat doubtful authenticity. 1700/1717? |
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Use of the Chorale Melody by other composers: |
Heinrich Schütz (1585-1672):
Christ lag in Todesbanden for 5 voices and 5 instruments |
Johann Heinrich Scheidemann (1595-1663):
Christ lag in Todesbanden, Chorale Prelude for Organ |
Franz Tunder (1614-1667):
Christ lag in Todesbanden, Chorale Prelude for Organ |
Johann Pachelbel (1653-1706):
Christ lag in Todesbanden, Chorale Prelude for Organ |
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Johann Kuhnau (1660-1722):
Cantata Christ lag in Todesbanden (1693 at the latest) |
Georg Böhm (1661-1733):
Christ lag in Todesbanden, Chorale Prelude for Organ |
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Friedrich Wilhelm Zachow (1663-1712):
Missa super chorale Christ lag in Todesbanden for SATB and bc. (1701 at the latest)
Christ lag in Todesbanden, Chorale Prelude for Organ |
Andreas Nicolaus Vetter (1666-1734):
Christ lag in Todesbanden, 2 Chorale Preludes for Organ |
Georg Friedrich Kauffmann (1679-1735):
Christ lag in Todesbanden, Chorale Prelude for Organ |
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Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767):
Mass based upon Christ lag in Todesbanden |
Gottfried August Homilius (1714-1785):
Christ lag in Todesbanden, Fugato for Organ |
Kurt Fiebig (1908-1988):
Christ lag in Todesbanden, Chorale Motet for a cappella Choir |
Hans Studer (1911-1984):
Christ lag in Todesbanden, Choralefantasia (1963) |
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Arrangements/Transcriptions of Bach's use of the Chorale Melody: |
Leopold Stokowski (1882-1977):
Christ lag in Todesbanden, BWV 4: Jesus
Christus Gottes Sohn (Mvt. 4), arranged for orchestra |
Mordechai Rechtman (b 1926):
Chorale Prelude Christ lag in Todesbanden BWV 625, Arrangement for Woodwind Quintet
Chorale Prelude Christ lag in Todesbanden BWV 625, Arrangement for 4 Saxophones (Sopran, Alt, Tenor, Baritone)
Chorale Prelude Christ lag in Todesbanden BWV 625, Arrangement for 4 Bassoons |
See list of Piano Transcriptions of BWV 4 by various composers/arrangers at the page:
Piano Transcriptions of Bach's Works - Index by BWV Number - Part 1: Cantatas |
See list of Piano Transcriptions of BWV 625, BWV 695 & BWV 718 by various composers/arrangers at the page: Piano Transcriptions of Bach's Works - Index by BWV Number - Part 4: Chorale Preludes for Organ |
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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 (February 2006, March 2008) |