Chorale Melodies used in Bach's Vocal Works
Hilf, Herr Jesu, lass gelingen

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

Melody & Text:

Hilf Herr Jesu, lass gelingen is New Year Hymn by Johann Rist in 16 6-line stanzas, first published in the third Part of J. Rist’s Himlischer Lieder (Lüneburg, 1642). The hymn is based on: Psalm 118, 25: O HERR, hilf! o HERR, laß wohl gelingen!; 1. Thessalonicher 5, 10: der für uns alle gestorben ist, auf daß, wir wachen oder schlafen, wir zugleich mit ihm leben sollen; Lukas 4, 19: und zu verkündigen das angenehme Jahr des HERRN.; Psalm 91, 12: daß sie dich auf Händen tragen und du deinen Fuß nicht an einen Stein stoßest.
English translations of the Hymn are noted in the Dictionary of Hymnology, p. 523.
The melody assicated with the hymn was composed by Johann Schop (1642) (or Joachim Neander) and was also published in 1642. This melody is also usd for Benjamin Schmolck' hymn "Tut mir auf die schöne Pforte" (1730; EG 166; not used by J.S. Bach).

Melody 1: Zahn 3687
Composer: Johann Schop (1642) / Joachim Neander

Melody 2: Not in Zahn
Composer: J.S. Bach (1734)

For the conmcluding chorale of the 4th Cantata of Weihnachts-Oratorium BWV 248, J.S. Bach did not use the melody of Johann Schop associated with Johann Rist's hymn. As in Parts I, II, and III, he rounds off Part IV by connecting its opening and closing movements (Nos. 36 and 42). He does so in this case by inventing a melody, an Aria rather than a hymn-tune (cf. the concluding Choral of the Motett “Komm, Jesu, komm”), clearly derived from the Chorus “Come and thank Him” (No. 36), and by repeating the orchestral colour of that number.
The words of the Choral are the 15th stanza of Johann Rist’s New Year Hymn, “Hilf, Herr Jesu, lass gelingen.”
Source: Charles Sanford Terry: Johann Sebastian Bach, Bach’s Chorals, vol. 1 The Hymns and Hymn Melodies of the “Passions” and Oratorios [1915], p 60

Text: Hilf, Herr Jesu, laß gelingen (NLGB 47; EKG 41; EG 61; Gemeindelieder 199; Glaubenslieder 467; Jesus unsere Freude! 681; Singt zu Gottes Ehre 66; ELG 581)
Author: Johann Rist (Lüneburg, 1642)

Hymnal versions Bach may have known:

Melody & text of Hilf, Herr Jesu, lass gelingen (NLGB 47) from the Neu Leipziger Gesangbuch, pp 97-100

Use of the Chorale Melody by Bach:

Text: Hilf, Herr Jesu, laß gelingen

Melody 1:
Chorale, Hilf Herr Jesu, lass gelingen, BWV 344
Ref: RE 155; Br 155; KE 173; Birnstiel 159; AmB 46II p.123, BGA 91; BC F97.1; CST 183

Melody 2:
Chorale Jesus richte mein Beginnen (Mvt. 7 (42)) from Weihnachts-Oratorium BWV 248/4
Ref: RE 368; Br 367; Dietel 146; AmB 46II p.331

Form. Extended (Colla parte - S: violin 1, oboe 1 & 2. A: violin 2. T: viola. B: (continuo). InstrumentS: violin 1, violin 2, viola, 2 oboes, 2 horns, continuo).

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)