Melchior Vulpius

Melchior Vulpius (c. 1570 in Wasungen – 7 August 1615 in Weimar) was a German singer and composer of church music.

He wrote and published church music, the best known being the setting of the hymn Ach bleib mit deiner Gnade (Ah, stay with your grace) on a text by Josua Stegmann.

This setting was often performed in Protestant churches on New Year's Day and at the end of the service.

Based on the several copies of music manuscripts that have been preserved in different archives in Finland, it can be concluded that the Passion became rather popular there.

Later, the Passion fell into oblivion, but from 2007 onwards, the Finnish Vulpius Passion tradition has been revived by Sonus Borealis, that has been performing it in several churches in Southeast Finland, and Kuninkaantien muusikot (Musicians of the King's Road), that has given multiple performances of the Passion in Southwest Finland,[1] Central Finland and Ostrobothnia.