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Subject Area: Music
Subject Area: Religion

Cantata LXXXIII.: Erfreute Zeit im neuen Bunde. Purification of the B.V.M. (? 1724) - 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 LXXXIII.

Erfreute Zeit im neuen Bunde. Purification of the B.V.M. (? 1724)

lf1393-02_figure_158

Melody: “Mit Fried’ und Freud’ ich fahr’ dahin”

? Martin Luther 1524*

The melody and words of the concluding Choral are Luther’s “Mit Fried’ und Freud’ ich fahr’ dahin,” a free rendering of the “Nunc Dimittis,” first published, with the melody, in Johann Walther’s Geystliche gesangk Buchleyn (Wittenberg, 1524). With considerable probability the tune may be attributed to Luther.

The melody occurs also in Cantatas 95, 106, and 125. There is a harmonisation of it in the Choralgesänge, No. 249. Organ Works, N. xv. 50.

The words of the Choral are the fourth stanza of Luther’s Hymn, being the appointed Hymn for the Festival:

  • Er ist das Heil und selig Licht
  • Fur die Heiden,
  • Zur erleuchten1 , die dich kennen nicht,
  • Und zu weiden
  • Er ist dein’s Volks Israel
  • Der Preis, Ehr’, Freud’ und Wonne.

  • B.G. xx. (i) 76.

Translations of the Hymn into English are noted in the Dictionary of Hymnology, p. 760.

Form. Simple (Corno, 2 Ob., Strings, Continuo). Choralgesange, No. 250.

In the second movement (B.G. xx. (i) 64), marked “Intonazione (Nunc Dimittis) e Recitativo,” the Bass declaims the words, “Herr, nun lässest du deinen Diener in Friede fahren, wie du gesaget hast,” to the old Intonation of the “Nunc Dimittis.”

[* ] In later texts a ♭ here.

[1 ] 1524 leuchten.