A new song we will start to sing

Luther’s chorales in the Bach Festival 2017

Ach Gott, vom Himmel sieh darein / Ah God, look down from heaven
Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir / From deep affliction I cry out to you
Christum wir sollen loben schon / We should praise Christ beautifully
Christ lag in Todes Banden / Christ lay in death's bonds
Christ, unser Herr, zum Jordan kam / Christ our Lord came to the Jordan
Der du bist drei in Einigkeit
Dies sind die heilgen zehn Gebot / These are the holy ten commandments
Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott / A mighty fortress is our God
Erhalt uns, Herr, bei deinem Wort / Preserve us, Lord, with your word
Es woll’ uns Gott genädig sein / May God be gracious to us
Herr Gott, dich loben wir / Lord God, we praise you
Jesaja, dem Propheten, das geschah / These Things the Seer Isaiah did befall
Jesus Christus, unser Heiland, der von uns den Gotteszorn wandt / Jesus Christ, our Savior, who turned God's wrath from us
Komm, Gott Schöpfer, heiliger Geist / Come, God Creator, Holy Ghost
Komm, Heiliger Geist, Herre Gott / Come, Holy Spirit, Lord God
Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin / With peace and joy I go on my way
Mitten wir im Leben sind / Though in Midst of Life we be
Nun bitten wir den Heiligen Geist / We now beg the holy spirit
Nun freut euch, lieben Christen g’mein / Be glad now all you Christians
Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland / Savior of the nations, come
Vater unser im Himmelreich / Our father in Heaven
Verleih uns Frieden gnädiglich / Give peace in our time, O Lord
Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her / From heaven above to earth I come
Wär Gott nicht mit uns diese Zeit / Were God not with us at this time
Wir glauben all an einen Gott / We all believe in one God
Chorales by Martin Luthers not in the programme
Organ trip to Eisleben, the city of Luther – On the way to Luther

»We know that music is hateful and intolerable to devils.  I really believe, and am not ashamed to assert, that next to theology there is no art equal to music, for it is the only one, except theology, which can give a quiet and happy mind.« (Martin Luther, Letter to Ludwig Senfl, October 1, 1530)


Martin Luther (engraving by Johann Georg Mentzel)


The 500th anniversary of the Reformation is an occassion to showcast works that are based on Luther’s chorales: sometimes, the complete text was used, more often only singles verses. But not only in vocal works, but also in instrumental pieces we can hear Luther’s chorales – most obviously in the organ chorales.

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