abstract
| - %22Herzliebster Jesu%22 (often translated into English as %22Ah, Holy Jesus%22, sometimes as %22O Dearest Jesus%22) is a German hymn for Passiontide, written in 1630 by Johann Heermann, in 15 stanzas of 4 lines, first published in Devoti Musica Cordis in Breslau. As the original headline reveals, it is based on Augustine of Hippo; this means the seventh chapter of the so called %22Meditationes Divi Augustini%22, presently ascribed to John of Fécamp. Its tune, also called %22Herzliebster Jesu%22, was written ten years later by Johann Crüger and first appeared in Crüger's Neues vollkömmliches Gesangbuch Augsburgischer Confession.The tune has been arranged many times, including settings by J.S. Bach: one of the Neumeister Chorales for organ, BWV 1093, two movements of the St John Passion, and the St Matthew Passion. Johannes Brahms used it for one of his Eleven Chorale Preludes for organ, Op. 122: No. 2.). Max Reger's Passion, No. 4 from Seven Pieces for Organ, Op. 145 (1915–1916) ends in this melody.
|