Melchior Vulpius

File:Porin triviaalikoulun nuottikirjat, Discantus, Melchior Vulpius Matteus-Passio.jpg

The beginning of Vulpius' St Matthew Passion in Pori trivial school's Discantus part book (1725). Text in Swedish and in Finnish

Melchior Vulpius (c. 1570, Wasungen – 7 August 1615, Weimar) was a German singer and composer of church music.

Vulpius came from a poor craftsman's family. He studied at the local school in Wasungen (in Thuringia) with Johannes Steuerlein. From 1588, he attended the school in Speyer. After marrying in 1589, he obtained a position at the Gymnasium in Schleusingen. In 1596, he was named cantor in Weimar.

He wrote and published church music, the best known being the setting of the hymn Ach, bleib mit deiner Gnade (Ah, stay with your grace) on a text by Josua Stegmann. This setting was often performed in Protestant churches on New Year's Day and at the end of the service. Important compilations were Cantiones sacrae (1602, 1604), Kirchengesänge und geistliche Lieder Dr. Luthers (1604), Canticum beatissimae (1605) and Ein schön geistlich Gesangbuch (1609). The Cantional (a collection of songs) was published posthumously in 1646 in Gotha.

The St Matthew Passion is another of Vulpius’ well-known works. Already in the middle of the 17th century did the music spread also to Sweden and later to Finland. Based on the several copies of music manuscripts that have been preserved in different archives in Finland, it can be concluded that the Passion became rather popular there. According to historical sources, this was the very first polyphonic passion composition ever performed in Finland. Later, the Passion fell into oblivion, but in 2007, the Finnish Vulpius Passion tradition was revived with Sonus Borealis performing it in several churches in Southeast Finland.

Song melodies

• "Ach bleib mit deiner Gnade"
• "Die beste Zeit im Jahr ist mein", text by Martin Luther
• "Der Tag bricht an und zeiget sich"
• "Die helle Sonn"
• "Christus, der ist mein Leben"
• "Gelobt sei Gott im höchsten Thron", text by Michael Weiße
• "Hinunter ist der Sonne Schein"
• "Jesu, deine Passion"
• "Lobt Gott den Herrn ihr Heiden all"
• "Zieh an die Macht du Arm des Herrn"

List of selected works

• Pars prima Cantionum sacrarum (1602)
• Pars secunda selectissimarum Cantionum sacrarum (1603)
• Kirchen Geseng und Geistliche Lieder D. Martini Lutheri und anderer frommen Christen (1604)
• Erster Theil Deutscher Sonntäglicher Evangelien Sprüche (1612)
• Das Leiden und Sterben Unsers Herrn Erlösers Jesu Christi auß dem heiligen Evangelisten Matthäo (1613, new edition 1981)
• Der ander Theil Deutscher Sonntäglicher Ev. Sprüche (1614)

External links

• Free scores by Melchior Vulpius in the Choral Public Domain Library (ChoralWiki)
• Melchior Vulpius (Bach-Cantatas.com)
• Free scores by Melchior Vulpius at the International Music Score Library Project
• Sheet music and MIDIs for some of Vulpius' motets