Ach Gott, wie manches Herzeleid
| "Ach Gott, wie manches Herzeleid" | |
|---|---|
| Hymn | |
| English | Oh God, how much heartache |
| Text | by Martin Moller |
| Language | German |
| Published | 1587 |
| Melody anonymous, in Lochamer-Liederbuch (1455) | |
"Ach Gott, wie manches Herzeleid" (Oh God, how much heartache) is a German hymn in 18 stanzas attributed to Martin Moller (1587).[1] It is often catalogued as a paraphrase of the Latin "Jesu dulcis memoria", a medieval hymn attributed to Bernard of Clairvaux.,[2] but only a few lines refer directly to this song. The hymn is sung to an anonymous tune of "Herr Jesu Christ, meins Lebens Licht", which first appeared in Wolflein Lochamer's Lochamer-Liederbuch, printed in Nürnberg around 1455.[3]
Johann Sebastian Bach used it as the base for his chorale cantata Ach Gott, wie manches Herzeleid, BWV 3, composed in Leipzig for the second Sunday after Epiphany, 14 January 1725. He used the first stanza in the opening movement of his church cantata Ach Gott, wie manches Herzeleid, BWV 58, for the Sunday after New Year's Day, 5 January 1727.
Bach used the final three stanzas to conclude his cantata Schau, lieber Gott, wie meine Feind, BWV 153, already for the Sunday after New Year's Day, 2 January 1724, and the first stanza as movement 4 of Sie werden euch in den Bann tun, BWV 44, for Exaudi, the Sunday after Ascension, 21 May 1724.[1]
