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Front Page arrow Titles (by Subject) arrow I.: Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied 1 - 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

I.: Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied 1 - 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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I.

Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied1

The middle section of the Double Chorus (Andante sostenuto) introduces (Coro II (only the third stanza of Johann Graumann’s Hymn, “Nun lob’, mein’ Seel’, den Herren,” with Johann Kugelmann’s (?) melody (see Cantata 17):

  • Wie sich ein Vat’r2 erbarmet
  • Ub’r seine junge Kinderlein3 ,
  • So thut der Herr uns allen4 ,
  • So wir ihn kindlich furchten rein.
  • Er kennt das arm’ Gemachte,
  • Gott weiss, wir sind nur Staub,
  • Gleich wie das Gras, vom Rechen,
  • Ein’ Blum’ und fallend Laub!
  • Der Wind nur druber wehet,
  • So ist es nicht mehr da5 ,
  • Also der Mensch vergehet,
  • Sein End’ das ist ihm nah’.
  • B.G. xxxix. 18.

Form. Extended. The lines of the Hymn, sung by Coro II, are interrupted by fragments of the first movement (Allegro moderato) introduced by Coro I as interludes.

[1 ] English versions of the Motett, “Sing ye to the Lord,” are published by Novello & Co. and Breitkopf & Haertel. Spitta (ii. 603) suggests that the Motett was composed for New Year’s Day.

[2 ] 1540 man.

[3 ] 1540 kindlein klein.

[4 ] 1540 armen.

[5 ] 1540 nymmer da.