Christ lag in Todes Banden, (BWV 718)

This fine prelude is from the "Miscellaneous Chorale Preludes" of Bach.

"Christ lag in Todesbanden" - "Christ lay in death's bonds") is an Easter hymn by Martin Luther. Its melody is by Luther and Johann Walter. Both the text and the melody were based on earlier examples. It was published in 1524 in the Erfurt Enchiridion and in Walter's choral hymnal Eyn geystlich Gesangk Buchleyn. Various composers, including Pachelbel, Bach and Telemann, have used the hymn in their compositions.

The hymn celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus, with particular reference to a struggle between Life and Death. The third verse quotes from 1 Corinthians 15, saying that Christ's Atonement for sin has removed the "sting" of Death. The fifth verse compares the sacrifice with that celebrated by Jews in the Pascal Lamb at Passover. The sacrificial "blood" ("Its blood marks our doors") refers to the marking of the doors before the exodus from Egypt. The final stanza recalls the tradition of baking and eating Easter Bread, with the "old leaven" alluding again to the exodus, in contrast to the "Word of Grace", concluding "Christ would ... alone nourish the soul."

The melody as set by Luther (with help from Walter) seems to have strong correlations with parts of the Sequence Hymn at the Easter Sunday Mass, "Victimae paschali laudes", believed to have been written by Wipo of Burgundy in the 11th century. This was transformed, gradually into a "Leise", a devotional German pre-Reformation song with a number of stanzas, but maintaining strong characteristics of plainsong.

There seem to be two "versions" of this prelude. One is more elaborate with many more ornaments, and the other is more unadorned. I chose the more "elaborate" version, but this may well be more editorial as the piece was passed down over the years.

The score I used is attached, as well as some very early printed versions of the melody.

English version of the 1st verse is in the First Comment.

Peace and blessings to All!