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Subject Area: Music
Subject Area: Religion

Cantata CXXII.: Das neugebor’ne Kindelein. Sunday after Christmas ( c. 1742) - 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 CXXII.

Das neugebor’ne Kindelein. Sunday after Christmas (c. 1742)

lf1393-02_figure_173

Melody: “Das neugebor’ne Kindelein”

Melchior Vulpius 1609

A Choral Cantata1 , on Cyriacus Schneegass’ Christmas Hymn, “Das neugebor’ne Kindelein,” probably first published in his Weihenacht und New Jahrs-Gesang (Erfurt, 1595), and thence in his Geistliche Lieder und Psalmen (Erfurt, 1597).

Schneegass was born at Buffleben, near Gotha, in 1546. In 1573 he was appointed pastor of St Blasius’ Church at Freidrichoda, near Gotha, and died there in 1597.

The melody was first published, with the Hymn, in Melchior Vulpius’ Ein schön geistlich Gesangbuch (Jena, 1609). It may be attributed confidently to Vulpius himself.

The melody does not occur elsewhere in the Cantatas, Oratorios, or Motetts.

(a)

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

  • Das neugebor’ne Kindelein,
  • Das herzeliebe Jesulein,
  • Bringt abermal ein neues Jahr
  • Der auserwählten Christenschaar.

  • B.G. xxvi. 23.

Translations of the Hymn into English are noted in the Dictionary of Hymnology, p. 1014.

Form. Choral Fantasia (2 Ob., Taille2 , Strings, Continuo).

In the third movement, the Soprano Recitativo, “Die Engel, welche sich,” the Choral melody is in the accompaniment (3 Flutes and Continuo).

(b)

The Choral words of the fourth movement are the third stanza of the Hymn:

  • Ist Gott versöhnt und unser Freund,
  • Was kann1 uns thun der arge Feind?
  • Trotz Teufel und der2 Hollen Pfort’!
  • Das Jesulein ist unser Hort.

  • B.G. xxvi. 35.

Form. An “Arie” (Terzetto) for Soprano, Alto, and Tenor, the Alto (with Violino I and II and Viola in unison) having the melody (Continuo).

(c)

The words of the concluding Choral are the fourth stanza of the Hymn:

  • Es bringt das rechte Jubeljahr;
  • Was trauern wir denn immerdar?
  • Frisch auf! itzt ist es3 Singenszeit,
  • Das Jesulein wend’t alles Leid.

  • B.G. xxvi. 40.

Form. Simple (2 Ob., Taille, Strings, Continuo), Choralgesange, No. 57.

[1 ] See p. 33 supra.

[2 ] The Taille was a Tenor Bassoon.

[1 ] 1597 mag.

[2 ] 1597 Trotz Türcken, Bapst und.

[3 ] 1597 es ist itzt.