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Chorale Texts used in Bach's Vocal Works
Christus, der ist mein Leben
Text and Translation of Chorale |
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Ref. in hymnals/hymn books: EKG 316
Author: Anon (Jena, before 1608)
Chorale Melody: Christus, der ist mein Leben (Zahn 132) | Composer: Melchior Vulpius (1609)
Theme: Death & Dying chorale |
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Description: |
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The comforting Death & Dying chorale, "Christus, der ist mein Leben," Christ is my life) is best known today in Lutheran hymnals as "Abide with Us, Our Saviour," or "Abide, O Dearest Jesus." The latter is found in the current Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), No. 539 under the rubric "Sending" as a five-stanza liturgical closing hymn and previously in the Lutheran Book of Worship (1978) as No. 263 for the same "Close of Service." "Abide, O Dearest Jesus" previously was initially found in The Lutheran Hymnal (1941) No. 53 for the same purpose in six stanzas with the incipit based on Luke 24:29, "But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us" (kjv) in the post-Easter Walk to Emmaus. It is also found in this hymnal as No. 597, Death & Burial, "For Me to Live is Jesus," the eight-stanza Catherine Winkworth adaptation of the original, anonymous, before 1608 chorale in nine stanzas (EKG 316, http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Texts/Chorale038-Eng3.htm), the incipit based on Phi. 1:22, " But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not" (kjv). It is set to the Melchior Vulpius 1609 melody (Zahn 132, Christus, der ist mein Leben). The same two hymns are today found the Lutheran Service Book (2006) under the same rubrics, Nos. 742 and 919.
The text author is unknown except as "S. Graff," set to the melody of composer M. Vulpius (c.1560/70-1615) and first published in his "Ein schön geistlich Gesangbuch (Geneva, 1609), composed in ballad style with emphasis on the child-like naivete text as a prayer for the dying in the period of Lutheran Orthodoxy (c.1577-1617), Vulpius being its leading hymn composer. The first chorale in the category of "Death and Dying" (Von Tod und Sterben) was Johann Walther's 1524 chorale, “Mitten wir im Leben sind," a vernacular paraphrase of the Latin antiphon, Media vita in morte sumus (In the midst of life we are in death; see http://www.bach-cantatas.com/LCY/M&C-Trinity16.htm, "Motet Media vita, Luther hymn ‘Mitten wir’"), Bach setting BWV 383 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gR8wQqA-OA).
The hymn category of "Death & Dying" gained prominence and application during the third Reformation period of the Thirty Years War (1618-48) and its aftermath with the individual's search for understanding and consolation. For example, the Vulpius melody to the anonymous text, "Christus, der ist mein Leben," was also known as "Ach bleib mit deiner Gnade" (EG 347, Ah abide with thy grace), became well-known following its publication in the 1620s edition of Suspira Temporum (Rinteln 1628), with the text attributed to persecuted Lutheran pastor Joshua Stegmann (1588-1632). |
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By Bach's time, the Period of Pietism (1675-1750), "Death & Dying was one of the largest categories and was found near the omnes tempore (Ordinary Time) thematic end of the hymnbooks. For example Bach's Neu Leipziger Gesangbuch of 1682 lists 65 such entries (NLGB Nos. 324-389), with "Christus, der ist mein Leben" as No. 369. Bach initially listed in the Vulpius melody in his Weimar Orgelbüchlein (Little Organ Book) chorale preludes as No. 134 under “Death and Dying” but not set. Instead he probably utilized his youthful Neumeister collection organ chorale prelude with the same title, BWV 1112, before 1710 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEklFnxH89o), which is similar to plain chorale BWV 282 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mENwJuSn32I). Bach may have composed this four-voice setting originally for his 1716 extended funeral cantata for Weimar Prince Johann Ernst, "Was ist, das wir Leben nennen" (What is this that we call life?), just accepted as BWV 1142 in the new Bach Works Catalogue, 3rd edition (https://www.bach-digital.de/receive/BachDigitalWork_work_00001531?lang=en) with the first verse as No. 19 and the third, "Nun hab nun überwunden" (Now I have overcome), as the penultimate No. 21, set to the same harmonization.
In 1723, Bach set the first portion of BWV 282 to open his chorale chorus setting (also in 3/4 time) of "Death & Dying multi-chorale Cantata BWV 95, “Christus, der ist mein Leben,” for the 16th Sunday after Trinity (http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Scores/BWV095-V&P.pdf, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZ7R43p9SyI; details http://www.bach-cantatas.com/BWV95-D4.htm). The other four-part harmonization, BWV 281, "is one of several Bach chorales that are based on simple hymn settings from the Neu Leipziger Gesangbuch," says Luke Dahn, that Bach embellished (http://www.bach-chorales.com/BWV0281.htm, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgMuqQeJuYc). The fourth and last line of the hymn first stanza, "Mit Fried fahr ich dahin" (with joy I depart), is a paraphrase of Simeon's canticle, Nunc dimittis (Luke 2:29, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nunc_dimittis). The chorale also is found in the 1736 omnibus sacred song collection, Schemelli Gesangbuch, as No. 842 (76 Death Songs), and attributed to S. Graff, with many new pietist songs, for which Bach served as music editor.
William Hoffman (October 8, 2018) |
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Vocal Works by J.S. Bach: |
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Chorus (Chorale) [S,A,T,B] & Recitative [T] Christus, der ist mein Leben (Mvt. 1) from Cantata BWV 95 (verse 1)
Ref: Br 315; BC A136:1 |
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Chorale Christus, der ist mein Leben, BWV 281
Ref: RE 6; Br 7; KE 6; Birnstiel 8; AmB 46II p.165; Levy–Mendelssohn 33; Fasch p.27; BGA 28; BC F30:1 |
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Chorale Christus, der ist mein Leben, BWV 282
Ref: RE 316; Br 315; KE 316; Birnstiel 315; AmB 46II p.78; BGA 29; BC F30:2
BWV 282 vel 95/1 w/o instruments (Br. 315) [the same as BWV 95/1] |
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Chorale Christus der ist mein Leben (Mvt. 18) from Cantata BWV 1142 (1716) [music lost] (verse 1) |
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Chorale Nun hab ich überwunden (Mvt. 21) from Cantata BWV 1142 (1716) [music lost] (verse 3) |
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German Text (verses in bold print set by Bach) |
English Translation |
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1. Christus der ist mein Leben,
Sterben ist mein Gewinn;
Dem tu ich mer ergeben,
Mit Fried fahr ich dahin. |
Christ is my life,
to die is my gain,
to him I surrender myself,
with joy I depart, |
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2. Mit Freud' fahr ich von dannen
Zu Christ, dem Bruder mein,
Daß ich mög zu ihm kommen
Und ewig bei ihm sei. |
With joy I depart from here
to Christ, my brother,
so that I may come to him
and be with him for ever |
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3. Nun hab nun überwunden
Kreuz, Leiden, Angst und Not;
Durch sein' heilig' fünf Wunden
Bin ich versöhnt mit Gott. |
Now I have overcome
affliction, suffering anxiety and distress;
throughis five holy wounds
I am reconciled with God |
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4. Wenn meine Kräfte brechen,
Mein Atem schwer geht aus
Und kann kein Wort mehr sprechen:
Herr, nimm mein Seufzen auf! |
When my strength breaks,
my breathing becomes difficult
and I can no more say a word:
Lord, accept my sighs! |
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5. Wenn mein Herz und Gedanken
Vergehen wie ein Licht,
Das hin und her muß wanken,
Wenn ihm die Flamm' gebricht: |
When my heart and thoughts
fade away like a light,
that must flicker here and there
as the flame fails: |
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6. Alsdann fein sanft und stille,
Herr, laß mich schlafen ein
Nach deinem Rat und Willen,
Wenn kommt mein Stündelein. |
then gently and calmly,
Lord, let me fall asleep
according to your plan and wish,
when the hour of my death comes. |
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7. Und laß mich an dir kleben
Wie eine Klett' am Kleid
Und ewig bei dir leben
In Himmelswonn' und -freud'! |
And let me stick to you
like a burr to cloth
and live forever with you
in heaven’s joy and bliss. |
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8. Amen, das wirst du, Christe,
Verleihen gnädiglich!
Mit deinem Geist mich rüste,
Daß ich fahr' seliglich! |
Amen, that you will, Christ,
grant mercifully!
Arm me with your spirit
so that I may go blessedly. |
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Source: Gesangbuch.org
English Translation by Francis Browne (March 2005)
Contributed by Francis Browne (March 2006), William Hoffman (October 2018), Aryeh Oron (November 2018) |
