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Did Bach write any hymns that are sung today?


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We sing "O Sacred Head, Now Wounded" at my church (very traditional with hymn books, etc.) which I believe is a Bach chorale. Amy Grant recorded it on an album a long time ago, too. That's the only one I can think of right off the top of my head.

 

ETA: I just researched it a bit and it turns out someone else wrote the tune but Bach added the harmony to that one.

 

Here is a website that lists a lot of hymns written by Bach.

 

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/bio/b/a/c/bach_js.htm

 

You can click on the titles and listen to the tunes as well as read the words, so you can sing along.

Edited by Kathleen in VA
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We have 8 of them in our hymnal (I have it open in front of me...I'm not that good.)

 

Songs of Thankfulness and Praise

O Sacred Head, Now Wounded

O Spirit of Life

O Bread of Life from Heaven

Come with Us, O Blessed Jesus

Our Father, We have Wandered

Let the Whole Creation Cry

(plus another one that is the same tune as O Sacred Head)

 

:)

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He didn't write the words to any hymns that I know of.

 

He didn't even write very many hymn tunes, although he did write a few.

 

But he wrote settings and embellishments to many, many Lutheran hymns that were already familiar to his congregations. And they are outstanding.

 

Also, he incorporated hymn tunes into oratorios that he wrote. So, for instance, his Christmas Oratorio includes the tune to "Oh Sacred Head, Now Wounded", but it is solemnly joyful rather than so sad in feeling.

 

You might want to look for a CD of his preludes, which often embellish hymn tunes.

 

My favorite of his pieces include "Wachet Auf, Ruft Uns Die Stimme". In TLH that is "Wake, Awake, for Night is Flying". He also has an amazing setting for "Nun Danket Alle Gott" ("Now Thank We All Our God" TLH 36).

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