Christian Keymann


Christian Keymann was a German hymnwriter. He is known for writing the chorale "Meinen Jesum laß ich nicht" in 1658, which served as the base for Bach's chorale cantata Meinen Jesum laß ich nicht, BWV 124, and other compositions.

Career

Keymann was born in Pankratz, Habsburg Bohemia, in 1607, the son of Zacharias Keimann, a Lutheran pastor. From 1627 to 1634, he studied at the University of Wittenberg. After graduation he worked at the gymnasium of Zittau, first as associate director, then as rector in 1638. He died of a stroke in 1662.

Hymns

Two of his most popular hymns were translated into English; "O rejoice, ye Christians, loudly" found in Chorale Book, No. 33, and "Jesus will I never leave" found in United Brethren's Hymn Book, No. 464. Donald G. Bloesch in his book The struggle of prayer describes it as a "moving hymn". His hymns in general have been described as "being of genuine poetic ring, fresh, strong, full of faith under manifold and heavy trials, and deeply spiritual".

Music

Keymann collaborated with composer Andreas Hammerschmidt who created tunes for Keymann's hymns. In 1646, a collection of hymns Mnemosyne sacra was published by Keymann in Leipzig, including five tunes by Hammerschmidt. In 1658, the collection Fest-, Buß- und Danklieder was printed in Zittau, containing the hymn "Meinen Jesum laß ich nicht".
In 1725, Johann Sebastian Bach based his chorale cantata for the first Sunday after Epiphany on this entire hymn, but he also used single stanzas in other cantatas, from the same chorale in Wachet! betet! betet! wachet! BWV 70, Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan, BWV 98 and Mein liebster Jesus ist verloren, BWV 154. In the first version of his St Matthew Passion, Part I was concluded with the final stanza of the chorale, "Jesum laß ich nicht von mir". He used a stanza from "Freuet euch, ihr Christen alle", also on a melody by Hammerschmidt, in Darzu ist erschienen der Sohn Gottes, BWV 40.
Max Reger based three compositions on "Meinen Jesum laß ich nicht", a chorale prelude, a composition for soprano, mixed choir, violin, viola and Organ, and again a chorale prelude. Sigfrid Karg-Elert wrote a chorale improvisation for organ, Op. 65 No 49.