Recordings/Discussions
Background Information
Performer Bios

Poet/Composer Bios

Additional Information

Chorale Melodies: Sorted by Title | 371 4-Part Chorales sorted by Breitkopf Number | Explanation


Chorale Melodies used in Bach's Vocal Works
Kyrie, Gott Vater in Ewigkeit

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

 

Melody & Text:

The Litany is a recast of the “Kyrie summum bonum: Kyrie fons bonitatis,” printed, apparently at Wittenberg, in 1541. The melody is a literal adaptation of the Latin plainsong. It is printed supra from the Teutsch Kirchenamt (Erfurt, 1525), where it is set to other words. Bach’s melodic text, in Choralgesange, No. 225 (BWV 371), and the Organ movements infra, is invariable and follows the original (1525), to which Witt (No. 187) also conforms.
Source: Charles Sanford Terry: Bach’s Chorals, vol. 3 The Hymns and Hymn Melodies of the Organ Works (Cambridge University Press, 1921. pp 227-228

Melody: Zahn 8600c
Composer: Anon (Naumburg, 1537/1538), after Kyrie fons bonitatis (c950)

 

Text: Kyrie, Gott Vater in Ewigkeit (NLGB 423ff; EG 178.04; ELG 21)
Author: Anon (Naumburg, 1537/1538), a German translation of the Latin Kyrie summum bonum: Kyrie fons bonitatis

 
 

Use of the Chorale Melody by Bach:

Text: Kyrie, Gott Vater in Ewigkeit
Author: Anon

Chorale Kyrie! Gott Vater in Ewigkeit, BWV 371
Ref: Ri 132; Br 132; Birnstiel 134; AmB 46II p.83 & p.112; Penzel 104; BC F129

 

Untexted:

The two sets of three movements, the one long (N. xvi. 28-35), the other short (N. xvi. 36-38), are in the Clavierubung. Schweitzer points out that the majority of the long movements in the Clavierubung are worked out to such excessive length as to diminish the impression they would otherwise make. The criticism does not apply to the “Kyrie.” The longer set is developed in the style of Pachelbel rather than that of the Choral Fantasia, with magnificent tonal effect. The shorter set is of a different texture, written for the manuals only, and in another mood.
The chorale includes the melodies of the 3 following parts:

Part 1: Kyrie, Gott Vater in Ewigkeit

Chorale Prelude Kyrie, Gott Vater in Ewigkeit (I), BWV 669

 

Chorale Prelude Kyrie, Gott Vater in Ewigkeit (II), BWV 672

 

Part 2: Christe, aller Welt Trost

Chorale Prelude Christe, aller Welt Trost (I), BWV 670

 

Chorale Prelude Christe, aller Welt Trost (II), BWV 673

 

Part 3: Kyrie, Gott Heiliger Geist

Chorale Prelude Kyrie, Gott heiliger Geist (I), BWV 671

 

Chorale Prelude Kyrie, Gott heiliger Geist (II), BWV 674

 
 
 

Use of the Chorale Melody by other composers:

 
 

Sources: Bach Digital; BGA; Zahn; Charles Sanford Terry: Bach’s Chorals, vol. 3 The Hymns and Hymn Melodies of the Organ Works (Cambridge University Press, 1921. pp 227-228
Prepared by Aryeh Oron (October 2018)


Chorales BWV 250-438: Details and Recordings
Individual Recordings: Hilliard - Morimur | Chorales - N. Matt | Chorales - H. Rilling | Preludi ai Corali - Quartetto Italiani di Viola Da Gamba
Discussions: Motets & Chorales for Events in the LCY / Chorales by Theme | General Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Chorales in Bach Cantatas: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Passion Chorale
References: Chorales BWV 250-300 | Chorales BWV 301-350 | Chorales BWV 351-400 | Chorales BWV 401-438 | 371 4-Part Chorales sorted by Breitkopf Number | Texts & Translations of Chorales BWV 250-438
Chorale Texts: Sorted by Title | Chorale Melodies: Sorted by Title | Explanation
MIDI files of the Chorales: Cantatas BWV 1-197 | Other Vocal Works BWV 225-248 | Chorales BWV 250-438
Articles: The Origin of the Texts of the Chorales [A. Schweitzer] | The Origin of the Melodies of the Chorales [A. Schweitzer] | The Chorale in the Church Service [A. Schweitzer] | Choral / Chorale [C.S. Terry] | Hidden Chorale Melody Allusions [T. Braatz] | The History of the Breitkopf Collection of J. S. Bach’s Four-Part Chorales [T. Braatz] | The World of the Bach Chorale Settings [W.L. Hoffman]
Hymnals: Hymnals used by Bach | Wagner Hymnal 1697 | Evangelisches Gesangbuch 1995 | Dietel Chorale List c1734
Abbreviations used for the Chorales | Links to other Sites about the Chorales

Chorale Melodies: Sorted by Title | 371 4-Part Chorales sorted by Breitkopf Number | Explanation




 

Back to the Top


Last update: Thursday, October 04, 2018 14:37