Gottfried Vopelius

Gottfried Vopelius (28 January 1645 – 3 February 1715), was a German Lutheran academic and hymn-writer, mainly active in Leipzig. He was born in Herwigsdorf, now a district of Rosenbach, Oberlausitz, and died in Leipzig at the age of 70.^[2]

Neu Leipziger Gesangbuch

Vopelius is primarily remembered for the Neu Leipziger Gesangbuch (New Leipzig Hymnal) which he published in 1682.^[2]^[3]^[4] The subtitle of the publication reads:

... Von den schönsten und besten Liedern verfasset, In welchem Nicht allein des sel. Herrn D. Lutheri und andere mit Gottes Wort, und unveränderter Augsburgischer Confession überein stimmende, und in Christlicher Gemeine allhier, wie auch anderer reinen Evangelischen Orten und Landen eingeführete und gebräuchliche Gesänge, Lateinische Hymni und Psalmen, Mit 4. 5. bis 6. Stimmen, deren Melodeyen Theils aus Johann Herman Scheins Cantional, und andern guten Autoribus zusammen getragen, theils aber selbsten componiret; Sondern auch die Passion nach den heiligen Evangelisten Matthaeo und Johanne, die Auferstehung, die Missa, Praefationes, Responsoria und Collecten, auf die gewöhnlichen Sonn- und hohen Festtage, das Magnificat nach den 8. Tonis, Te Deum laudamus, Symbolum Nicaenum, &c. Choraliter, Und was sonsten bey dem ordentlichen Gottesdienste gesungen wird, zu finden
— Gottfried Vopelius, title page of the Neu Leipziger Gesangbuch

Or, translated:

... Compiled from the most beautiful and best songs; In which not only songs of the blessed Dr. Luther, and other (songs) with the Word of God, and in accord with the unmodified Augsburg Confession, but also (songs) as introduced and customary in other untainted Evangelical places and regions, and Latin hymns and psalms, set for four, five and up to six voices, the settings of which are partly collected from Johann Herman Schein's Cantional, and from other good authors, and partly also composed by myself, —in particular also the Passion according to the saint Evangelists Matthew and John, the Resurrection, the Mass, Prefaces, Responsories and Collects, for ordinary Sundays and high Feasts, the Magnificat in the eight tones, Te Deum laudamus, Symbolum Nicenum, etc. choraliter, and whatever else is sung in regular church services— are to be found

In his Leipzig time (1723–1750), Johann Sebastian Bach used this hymnal as a reference work for many of his sacred compositions.^[5]

Legend to the table
column		content
1	Page	Page numbers in Neu Leipziger Gesangbuch, linking to page(s) of the digital facsimile at the BSB website (or another at Google books)
2	Context	Characteristics as mentioned in the title or introduction of the song, inasmuch as such information is not covered by other columns of the table. Chapters of the book are indicated by rows with a grey background colour: Von der Menschwerdung Jesu Christi ("On the Incarnation of Jesus Christ", pp. 1–24) Von der Geburt Jesu Christi ("On the Birth of Jesus Christ", pp. 24–89) Auff das neue Jahr ("On the New Year", pp. 89–103]])
3	Incipit	Text incipit (usually considered to be the name of the hymn or text)
4	Author	Text author, as attributed in the book (may be incomplete and/or incorrect); "(transl.)" indicates that the author is mentioned as translator.
5	Setting	Type of musical setting, e.g. "SATB hymn" refers to a hymn set as a four-part chorale, "Bc" refers to thoroughbass (basso continuo) accompaniment; Alternatively, page number of another hymn tune if so indicated in the book.
6	Composer	Composer of the setting, as attributed in the book (may be incomplete and/or incorrect). For part songs this usually refers to the composer of the harmonisation.
7	Occasion	Occasion for which the hymn is suitable, according to the "First Register" (after p. 1104)