BA5897-90
Chorale settings form a central part of Telemann's œuvre. His 1754 setting of the church hymn Christus, der ist mein Leben, based on Melchoir Vulpius' melody from the Hamburg Hymnal, is especially well-suited to display his mastery in depicting the words of the chorale. The so-called "Ausfüllungsbass" (a vocal bass added to the principal bass in tutti passages) was probably necessitated by the acoustical properties of Hamburg's churches.