Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ
General information
For centuries this chorale was anonymously included in most German hymn books. This might be due to the fact that the author Agricola came into conflict with Martin Luther, which resulted in anonymous listing in the lutheran hymnbooks. Starting in the second half of the seventeenth century until far in the 19th century Paul Speratus was thought to be the author.
Wackernagel found in 1870 a Liederblatt printed in 1526 or 1526 with Jo[han]n Eyßleben des hertzzoch Hans von saschse[n] pridiger as author. As in some sources Agricola is called by his birthplace Eisleben, Wackernagel claims that he is the author. The melody might also be by Agricola. It is assumed that the chorale was included in Geistliche Lieder auffs new gebessert zu Wittenberg (1529). The earliest surviving source is the 1533 edition of this hymnbook.
Originally this chorale is titled: Ein neuwes lied zu bitten umb Glauben, Liebe, und Hoffnung, Unnd umb ein seliges leben
Author: Johann Agricola.
Settings by composers
- Johann Agricola SATB
- Johann Sebastian Bach SATB, with SAT soli (BWV177)
- Johann Crüger SATB with 2 violins & continuo (no. 114 from Geistliche Kirchen-Melodien)
- Johannes Eccard SATTB
- Melchior Franck SATB from Contrapuncti compositi deutscher Psalmen(v.1 only)
- Hans Leo Hassler
- Kirchengesäng no. 55 SATB (vv. 1-3)
- Psalmen und christliche Gesäng no. 14 SATB (v. 1 only)
- Orlando di Lasso SATTB (v. 1 only)
- Michael Praetorius SSAATTBB (v. 1)
- Heinrich Schütz SSSB soli from Kleine Geistliche Konzerte II (v. 1 only)
- Nicolaus Adam Strungk S solo (vv. 1-2)
- Alexander Utendal SSATB (v.1 only)
- Ivo de Vento SSA from Neue teutsche Lieder, 3vv
Texts and Translations
German text 1 Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ, 1: mäßigen, beschränken 2: Gefahr 3: zulassen |
English translation 1 I call to Thee, Lord Jesus Christ,
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