The present form of the melody is an adaptation of the original and is the one used by J. S. Bach in his St. John’s Passion. “The tune is not one of the ‘grand’ chorales, but retains, even in its later version, a suave, song-like character.”
PRAISE
509. O that I had a thousand voices
Johann Mentzer, 1658-1734
Tr. Catherine Winkworth, 1829-78
1.
O dass ich tausend Zungen hätte
Und einen tausendfachen Mund,
So stimmt’ ich damit in die Wette
Vom allertiefsten Herzensgrund