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 Front Page arrow Titles (by Subject) arrow Cantata XLI.: Jesu, nun sei gepreiset 1 . Feast of the Circumcision (New Year's Day) ( c. 1740) - Bach's Chorals, vol. 2 The Hymns and Hymn Melodies of the Cantatas and Motetts

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Subject Area: Music
Subject Area: Religion

Cantata XLI.: Jesu, nun sei gepreiset 1 . Feast of the Circumcision (New Year’s Day) ( c. 1740) - Johann Sebastian Bach, Bach’s Chorals, vol. 2 The Hymns and Hymn Melodies of the Cantatas and Motetts [1917]

Edition used:

Bach’s Chorals. Part I: 2 The Hymns and Hymn Melodies of the Cantatas and Motetts, by Charles Sanford Terry (Cambridge University Press, 1915-1921). 3 vols. Vol. 2.

Part of: Bach’s Chorals, 3 vols.

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Cantata XLI.

Jesu, nun sei gepreiset1 . Feast of the Circumcision (New Year’s Day) (c. 1740)

lf1393-02_figure_116

Melody: “Jesu, nun sei gepreiset”

Anon. 1591

A Choral Cantata, on Johann Hermann’s New Year’s Hymn, “Jesu, nun sei gepreiset.” Words and melody were published together in the Wittenberg collection of Christmas Hymns, Cantilenae latinae et germanicae...Lateinische und Deutsche Weinacht Lieder (Wittenberg, 1591).

Of the author nothing positive is known. It is conjectured that he was a Lutheran theologian resident at Wittenberg 1548-63.

The melody, which Bach uses in the first and last movements, occurs also in Cantatas 171 and 190. In all three cases he introduces an important modification of the original tune by concluding with the opening phrases of the Hymn. There is another version of the melody in the Choralgesänge, No. 203, which is closer to the 1591 text.

(a)

The words of the opening movement are the first stanza of Hermann’s Hymn:

  • Jesu, nun sei gepreiset
  • Zu diesem neuen Jahr’,
  • Fur dein’ Gut’, uns beweiset
  • In aller Noth und Gefahr,
  • Dass wir haben erlebet
  • Die neu’, frohliche Zeit,
  • Die voller Gnade schwebet
  • Und ew’ger Seeligkeit;
  • Dass wir in guter Stille
  • Das alt’ Jahr hab’n erfüllet.
  • Wir woll’n uns dir ergeben
  • Jetzund und immerdar,
  • Behut’ Leib, Seel’1 und Leben
  • Hinfort durch’s2 ganze Jahr!3

  • B.G. x. 3.

Form. Choral Fantasia (3 Trombe, Timpani, 3 Ob., Strings, Organ, Continuo)4 .

(b)

The words of the concluding Choral are the third stanza of Hermann’s Hymn:

  • Dein ist allein die Ehre,
  • Dein ist allein der Ruhm;
  • Geduld im Kreuz uns lehre,
  • Regier’ all’ unser Thun,
  • Bis wir fröhlich5 abscheiden
  • In’s ewig’ Himmerlreich6 ,
  • Zu wahrem Fried’ und Freude,
  • Den Heil’gen Gottes gleich
  • Indess mach’s mit uns Allen
  • Nach deinem Wohlgefallen:
  • Solch’s singet heut ohn’ Scherzen
  • Die christgläubige Schaar,
  • Und wunscht mit Mund und Herzen
  • Ein selig’s neues Jahr.

  • B.G. x. 58.

Form. Extended (3 Trombe, Timpani, 3 Ob., Strings, Organ, Continuo). Choralgesange, No. 204.

[1 ] An English version of the Cantata, “Jesus, now will we praise Thee,” is published by Novello & Co.

[1 ] 1593 Behut uns Leib.

[2 ] 1593 das.

[3 ] Wackernagel, v. 195, prints from a text of 1593.

[4 ] See Spitta, iii. 101, on the hybrid form of the movement.

[5 ] 1593 getrost.

[6 ] 1593 Vaters Reich.