BWV 262

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Original source: Chorale, Alle Menschen müssen sterben, BWV 262
Chorale Text: Alle Menschen müssen sterben*, by Johann Rosenmüller or Johann Georg Albinus (1652)
Tune: Alle Menschen müssen sterben, by Jakob Hintze (1678) (Zahn 6778)
First Performance: Unknown
Appearance in Early Collections (Key): Riemenschneider 153; Breitkopf 153; Birnstiel 157; AmB 46II p.174
Other Harmonizations: None

Notes

This chorale is an adaptation of a 3–voice setting by Johann Pachelbel, Erfurt 1683. [See NBA III/2.2, p.226]

This chorale survives without text. The text that appears here is the one provided by editors of the Bach Gesellschaft Ausgabe (BGA).

Speculation regarding liturgical occasion: Häfner identifies three possible Picander–Jahrgang cantatas as the possible origin of this setting:
1) Fasse dich, betrübter Sinn for Jubilate (Picander 33), in which case the 7th verse of the Alle Menschen müssen sterben would have been used for this setting.
2) Kömmt denn nicht mein Jesus bald for Trinity +26 (Picander 70), in which case the 6th verse would have been used.
3) Valet will ich dir geben for the 6th Sunday after Epiphany (Picander 18), in which case the 4th verse would have been used.
(See NBA III/2.2 KB, p.226)

View a complete listing of speculations regarding the liturgical occasions of individual BWV 253–438 chorales.