Jesu, der du meine Seele (Jesus, you who [rescued] my soul)[1] is a Lutheran Passion hymn in German with text by Johann Rist and a melody also attributed to him, first published in 1641. It reflects in 12 stanzas the Passion of Jesus cleansing the believer. Johann Sebastian Bach used it as the basis for his chorale cantata Jesu, der du meine Seele, BWV 78.
| "Jesu, der du meine Seele" | |
|---|---|
| Lutheran hymn | |
 Johann Rist, the author of the text | |
| Text | by Johann Rist |
| Language | German |
| Melody | by Johann Rist |
| Published | 1641 |
History
editJohann Rist wrote the text in 12 stanzas, reflecting the Passion of Jesus with a focus on cleansing the believer.[2] The hymn was published in 1641 with a melody also attributed to Rist.[3][4]
The song was contained in many hymnals, but interest faded in the 19th century.[4] In the 21st century, the hymn is no longer part of major hymnals in Germany, but of the Moravian Church.[5]
Music
editThe hymn became the basis for Johann Sebastian Bach's chorale cantata Jesu, der du meine Seele, BWV 78 for the 14th Sunday after Trinity, first performed on 10 September 1724.[6][7] Bach used the original text of the first and last stanzas, together with the melody, for the opening chorus and the closing chorale. He set the last stanza, "Herr, ich glaube, hilf mir Schwachen, laß mich ja verzagen nicht" (Lord, I believe, help my weakness, let me never despair),[1] for four parts.[7][8]
Reinhard Schwarz-Schilling composed an chorale prelude for organ in 1929.[3]
References
edit- ^ a b Dellal 2024.
- ^ Browne 2005.
- ^ a b Chorale melody 2006.
- ^ a b Hymnary 2024.
- ^ Evangelium 2024.
- ^ Bach Digital 2024.
- ^ a b Leininger 1999.
- ^ Dahn 2024.
Cited sources
edit- "Jesu, der du meine Seele BWV 78; BC A 130". Bach Digital. 2024.
- Browne, Francis (2005). "Jesu, der du meine Seele / Text and Translation of Chorale". Bach Cantatas Website. Retrieved 10 September 2010.
- Dahn, Luke (2024). "BWV 78.7". bach-chorales.com. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
- Dellal, Pamela (2024). "BWV 78 – "Jesu, der du meine Seele"". Emmanuel Music. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
- Leininger, Ulrich (1999). "Foreword". Johann Sebastian Bach / Jesu, der du meine Seele / Jesus, you have freed my spirit / BWV 78 (PDF). Carus-Verlag. p. 4. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- Oron, Aryeh (2024). "Cantata BWV 78 Jesu, der du meine Seele". Bach Cantatas Website. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- "Chorale Melodies used in Bach's Vocal Works Jesu, der du meine Seele". Bach Cantatas Website. 2006. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
- "Jesu, der du meine Seele". evangeliums.net (in German). 2024. Retrieved 10 September 2010.
- "Jesu, der du meine Seele hast durch deinen bittern Tod". hymnary.org. 2024. Retrieved 10 September 2010.