Chorale Meters

Meter and Time Signatures in the Chorales

The vast majority (over 90%) of Bach’s chorales are written in simple quadruple meter with a 4/4 or "c" time signature. Below are all the others.

3/4 (Simple triple) (46 total): 11.6, 17.7, 19.7, 29.8, 43.11, 57.8, 65.2, 67.4, 70.7, 79.6, 113.1, 120a.8, 122.6, 130.6, 137.5, 145.5, 147.6=147.10, 153.9, 167.5, 187.7, 194.12, 229.2, 248(4).42(7), 266, 269, 282, 295, 299, 306, 320, 321, 326, 327, 342, 343, 344, 349, 356, 366, 368, 390, 391, 400, 403, 413, 441

3/2 (simple triple): 123.6

6/8 (compound duple): 107.7

12/8 (compound quadruple): 248.23

Chorales with half–note or whole–note beat: 27.6 (second half in 3/1), 119.9 (alla breve, marked "c"), 123.6 (3/2), 140.7 (alla breve, marked "c")

Mixed meter: 27.6 (4/4 to 3/1), 41.6=171.6 (4/4 to 3/4 to 4/4)

Chorale melodies presented in both quadruple and triple meters:
Christus, der ist mein Leben: 281 (4/4), 282 (3/4)
Ermuntre dich, mein schwacher Geist: BWVs 11.6 (3/4), 43.11 (3/4), 248.12 (4/4)
Freu dich sehr, o meine Seele: 19.7 (3/4), 25.6 (4/4), 30.6 (4/4), 32.6 (4/4), 39.7 (4/4), 70.7 (3/4), 194.6 (3/4)
Herr Jesu Christ, du höchstes Gut: 48.7 (4/4), 113.1 (3/4), 113.8 (4/4), 168.6 (4/4), 334 (4/4)
Herr Jesu Christ, meins Lebens Licht (melody #2): 3.6 (4/4), 153.9 (3/4)
Nun lasst uns Gott dem Herren: 79.6 (3/4), 165.6 (4/4), 194.12 (3/4)
Nun lob, mein Seel, den Herren: BWVs 17.7 (3/4), 29.8 (3/4), 167.5 (3/4), 389 (4/4), 390 (3/4)
Werde munter mein Gemüte: 55.5 (4/4), 146.8 (4/4), 147.6=147.10 (3/4), 154.3 (4/4), 244.40 (4/4), 359 (4/4), 360 (4/4)

Chorale melodies presented in both simple and compound meters:
Vom Himmel hoch da komm ich her: 248.9 (4/4), 248.17 (4/4), 248.23 (12/8)
Von Gott will ich nicht lassen: 73.5 (4/4), 107.7 (6/8), 417 (4/4), 418 (4/4), 419 (4/4)