Recordings/Discussions
Background Information
Performer Bios

Poet/Composer Bios

Additional Information

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 Texts used in Bach's Vocal Works
Verleih uns Frieden gnädiglich
Text and Translation of Chorale

Ref. in hymnals/hymn books: NLGB 305; EG 421
Author: Martin Luther (verse 1: 1529); Johann Walter (verse 2: 1566)
Chorale Melody: Verleih uns Frieden gnädiglich (Wittenberg 1529), after an early church melody (first half), and Johann Walter (1566) (second half) (Zahn 1945) | Composer: Martin Luther (1529) & Johann Walter (1566)
Comment:
1. German version of "Da pacem Domine," Martin Luther (1529), with supplementary verse by Johann Walter (1566).
2. Die Christliche Liederdatenbank presents only verse 1.

Description:

The words of the first stanza of Martin Luther’s chorale “Verleih’ uns Frieden gnadiglich,” a translation of the Antiphon, “Da pacem, Domine”, appeared first in prose in 1527. The melody Martin Luther’s “Verleih’ uns Frieden gnadiglich,” was published, with the Hymn, in Kirchē gesenge, mit vil schönen Psalmen unnd Melodey (Nürnberg, 1531), and in metrical form in Joseph Klug’s Geistliche lieder auffs new gebessert (Wittenberg, 1535 (and in the lost Wittenberg hymn book of 1529). The musical texts are nearly identical, J.S. Bach’s version conforming rather to the latter. The tune bears relationship to that of M. Luther’s “Erhalt uns, Herr, bei deinem Wort”: both derive from the melody of the Antiphon, “Da pacem, Domine.” The melody occurs in the conculding Chorales Cantatas BWV 42 and BWV 126. There is late 16th century authority for the F. sharp at the fourth note, which J.S. Bach adopts. But his variation of the second line is not indicated by Zahn as occurring earlier.
The additional stanza, “Gieb unsern Fürsten,” founded on 1 Timothy ii. 1, 2, was attached to the Hymn in 1566. The melody of the additional stanza, “Gieb unsern Fürsten,” was first published, with the Hymn, in Das christlich Kinderlied D. Martini Lutheri (Wittenberg, 1566). The “Amen” which J.S. Bach uses is found in association with the melody in 1573.
According to Marshall and Leaver' article "Chorale" in The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, second edition (London: Macmillan Publishers, 2001), for some hymns Martin Luther adapted Gregorian chant melodies used in Catholic worship to fit new German texts, sometimes using the same melody more than once. For example, he fitted the melody of the hymn "Veni redemptor gentium" to three different texts, "Verleih uns Frieden gnädiglich", "Erhalt uns, Herr, bei deinem Wort", and "Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland".
Translations of the Hymn into English are noted in the Dictionary of Hymnology, p. 276.

Vocal Works by J.S. Bach:

Chorale Verleih uns Frieden gnädiglich (Mvt. 7) from Cantata BWV 42 (1725) (verses 1)

Form. Simple (2 Ob., Fagotto, Strings, Organ, Continuo). Choralgesange, No. 322.

Chorale Verleih uns Frieden gnädiglich (Mvt. 6) from Cantata BWV 126 (1725) (verses 1-2)

Form. Simple (Tromba, 2 Ob., Strings, Continuo). Choralgesänge, No. 321.

German Text (verses in bold print set by Bach)

English Translation

1. Verleih uns frieden gnädiglich,
Herr Gott! zu unsern zeiten
Es ist doch ja kein ander nicht,
Der für uns könnte streiten,
Denn du unser Gott alleine.

Graciously grant us peace
Lord God, in our time;
there is no one else

who could fight for us
except you ,our God, alone.

2. Gib unserm Land und aller Obrigkeit
Fried' und gut Regiment, daß wir unter
Ihnen ein christlich, ehrbar, geruhig
Leben führen mögen,
In aller Gottseligkeit und Wahrheit.

Grant to our princes and those in authority
peace and good government

so that we under them
may lead a calm and peaceful life
in all godliness and respectability.

Amen.

Amen.

   

Source of German Text: Hymnary.org | Monarchieliga | Die Christliche Liederdatenbank
English Translation by Francis Browne (July 2008)
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (September 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




 

Back to the Top


Last update: Friday, November 02, 2018 07:41