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Subject Area: Music
Subject Area: Religion

Mit Fried’ und Freud’ ich fahr’ dahin. - Johann Sebastian Bach, Bach’s Chorals, vol. 3 The Hymns and Hymn Melodies of the Organ Works [1921]

Edition used:

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

Part of: Bach’s Chorals, 3 vols.

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Mit Fried’ und Freud’ ich fahr’ dahin.

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

? Martin Luther 1524*

    • i.

      In peace and joy I now depart,
    • According to God’s will,
    • For full of comfort is my heart,
    • So calm and sweet and still;
    • So doth God His promise keep,
    • And death to me is but a sleep.
    • ii.

      ’Tis Christ hath wrought this work for me,
    • Thy dear and only Son,
    • Whom Thou hast suffered me to see,
    • And made Him surely known
    • As my Help when trouble’s rife,
    • And even in death itself my Life.
    • iii.

      For Thou in mercy unto all
    • Hast set this Saviour forth;
    • And to His kingdom Thou dost call
    • The nations of the earth
    • Through His blessed wholesome Word,
    • That now in every place is heard.
    • iv.

      He is the heathens’ saving Light,
    • And He will gently lead
    • Those who now know Thee not aright,
    • And in His pastures feed;
    • While His people’s joy He is,
    • Their Sun, their glory, and their bliss.
    • Martin Luther (1483-1546)     Tr. Catherine Winkworth1 .

Martin Luther’s free rendering of the Nunc dimittis was first published, with the melody, in Walther’s Wittenberg Hymn-book (1524). It is probable that the tune was composed by Luther himself.

Besides the Orgelbüchlein movement (infra) Bach uses the melody in Cantatas 83, 95, 106, 125 (1711-c. 1740), and Choralgesange, No. 249. His text differs from the original form (supra) only in the substitution of B flat for B natural as the second note of the third line supra, and of B natural for A natural as the first note of the second line supra. In both particulars he conforms to Witt’s text (No. 80).

[100]

N. xv. 50. The movement is one of two Preludes for the Purification in the Orgelbüchlein. It illustrates the first line of the aged Simeon’s song:

In peace and joy I now depart.

Bach therefore accompanies the cantus throughout with the rhythm image expressive of joy. The sturdy and reliant Pedal figure represents the confidence in God’s promise with which Simeon faces the unknown journey.

[* ] In later texts a [Editor: illegible character] here.

[1 ]Chorale Book for England, No. 81. The original hymn has four stanzas.