Christ Jesus Lay In Death's Strong Bands

Christ lag in Todesbanden

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About this hymn

Date: 1524
Tune: Christ lag in Todesbanden
Composer: Anonymous, Walter’s Geistliche Gesangbüchlein (1524)
Key: C
Meter: 8 7 8 7 7 8 7 Alleluia4

Historical background

Luther’s Easter hymn adapts older German and Latin Easter-song traditions and was printed in the first Lutheran hymnals of 1524.

Theology & Scripture

It proclaims Christ’s victory over death and develops the Passover image of Christ as the true Paschal Lamb.

1Cor 15:54-57 · Acts 2:24 · 1Cor 5:7b · 2Tim 1:10

Musical background

Christ lag in Todesbanden is presented in the documented public-domain setting named by the source score. This edition contains four-part SATB harmony in C.

Sources & rights

Verified for United States on 2026-10-12. Public domain — source score marking

Words: Martin Luther, 1524. Translated by Richard Massie, 1854. Music: 'Christ lag in Tobes Banden' or 'Torgau' from Walter's Geistliche Gesangbüchlein, 1524. Setting: "Evangelical Lutheran Hymn-Book", 1931, alt. copyright: public domain. This score is a part of the Open Hymnal Project, 2008 Revision.