Jesu, der du meine Seele

Johann 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]

The 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]

• "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.