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.

This is the first Urtext edition of this highly success...