Chorale Texts used in Bach's Vocal Works
So gehst du nun, mein Jesu, hin
Text and Translation of Chorale

Ref. in hymnals/hymn books: Zahn 7631a
Author: Caspar Friedrich Nachtenhöfer (1667; not 1699)
Chorale Melody: So gehst du nun, mein Jesu, hin | Composer: Christoph Wagner (1699)
Theme:

Description:

The 1699 date appears to stem from Zahn 7631a, where, according to the information available to him 130 years ago, he ascribes his source as a from # 88 in the Darmstadt hymnal printed in 1699. However, Zahn is not at all certain about the author or the composer of the melody as he indicates: “Mel. v. Christoph Wagner. (?)” and that the author of the text could be either Christoph Wagner or Caspar Friedrich Nachtenhöferr. Zahn does not list C.F. Nachtenhöfer in his long list of melody composers or text authors.

The assignation of the year 1697 based on a information from a later edition of the Zerbst hymnal where it is assumed that the earlier 1697 edition would contain exactly the same chorale text places this source in question as well, since it is generally the case with German hymnals printed at that time in subsequent editions that additions and deletions of verses and even entire chorales was fairly common practice then.

This leaves the 1667 date for the publishing of C.F. Nachtenhöfer's chorale text as indicated by a fairly reliable source, the NBA KB III/2.1, p.119, (its main author was Frieder Rempp) as the best option available currently despite the lack of any further documentation. Rempp, using Zahn as his source for the composer of the melody now, in contrast to Zahn, firmly lists Christoph Wagner as the chorale’s composer and the date indicated there remains 1699. Rempp indicates that he also based his information, if not otherwise indicated on Terry (but T.B. could not find anything more about this chorale in Terry).

Of greater interest here is J.S. Bach composed a 4-pt. setting of this chorale (BWV 500a) for inclusion in the St. Mark Passion (1726) and returned to it a decade later in 1736 for its reuse in the Schemelli Song Book # 296 (BWV 500) where he provided the basso continuo part for the same melody.

The NBA III/2.1 presents the Schemelli original with the music and all 5 verses of the chorale text. Verse 4 is missing in the Zerbst hymnal. In the 17th and 18th centuries in Germany with numerous hymnals being repeatedly printed for many different cities, verses were often deleted or added, sometimes only as space allowed. In this particular case, the argument is strongly in favor of the Schemelli 5 verse version since the text is in the form of a dialogue between the Soul and Jesus. With verse 4 missing, we would lose the alternation between both and have 2 verses of the Soul in direct sequence, thus skipping the all important 4th verse of Jesus’ reply. Therefore, it makes much more sense to assume 1667 as the correct date for the origin of the text because it falls within the lifespan of the author.

The final answer to all the questions surrounding C.F. Nachtenhöfer's text and its associated melody may already be present in the series of volumes currently being issued by Bärenreiter. They are prohibitively too expensive and are not available in a university library or online.

Contributed by Thomas Braatz, Kim Patrick Clow & Aryeh Oron (June 2019)

Vocal Works by J.S. Bach:

BWV 500: Sacred Song, Verses 1-5 (1736)
Ref: NBA No. 23; Schemelli No. 296; BC: F241
BWV 500a, Chorale setting for chorus [S, A, T, B], strings & continuo (1726)

German Text (verses in bold print set by Bach)

English Translation

1. Seele:
So gehst du nun, mein Jesu, hin,
den Tod für mich zu leiden,
für mich, der ich ein Sünder bin,
der dich betrübt in Freuden.
Wohlan! Fahr fort,
du edler Hort,
mein Augen sollen fließen
ein Tränensee,
mich Ach und Weh,
die Leiden zu begießen.

To be added

2. Jesus:
Ach Sünd! Du schädlich Schlangengift,
wie weit kannst du es bringen!
Dein Lohn, der Fluch, mich itzt betrifft,
in Tod tut er mich bringen.
Itzt kommt die Nacht
Der Sündenmacht
Fremd Schuld muss ich abtrage.
Betracht es recht,
du Sündenknecht,
nun darfst du nicht mehr zagen.

3. Seele:
Ich, ich, Herr Jesu, sollte zwar
der Sündenstrafe leiden
an Leib und Seel, an Haupt und Haar,
auch ewig aller Freuden
beraubet sein
und leiden Pein,
so nimmst du hin die Schulde.
Dein Blut und Tod
Bringt mich für Gott,
ich bleib in deiner Hulde.

4. Jesus:
Ja, liebe Seel, ich büß die Schuld,
die du hättst sollen büßen.
Erkenne daraus meine Huld,
die ich dir ließ genießen.
Ich nehm den Fluch,
und einzig Sach,
vom Fluch dich zu befreien.
Denk meiner Lieb,
durch deren Trieb
die Segen dir gedeihen.

5. Seele:
Was kann vor solche Liebe dir,
Herr Jesu, ich wohl geben?
Ich weiß und finde nichts an mir,
doch will, weil ich wird leben,
mich Liebster dir,
hier nach Gebühr,
zu dienen ganz verschreiben,
auch nach der Zeit,
in Ewigkeit,
dein Diener sein und bleiben.

English Translation by Francis Browne (March 2008)
Contributed by Francis Browne (March 2008)