Archive for Weekends with Bach

I’ve Had Enough

Weekends with Bach

BWV 82 Ich habe genung The Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary (The Presentation of Christ in the Temple). Poet unknown. 2 February 1727, Leipzig; again 2 February 1731, perhaps also in 1730, transposed to E minor for flute and soprano. BG 20, 1; NBA I/28. 1. Aria (B) I have now enough, I have [...]

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I Am Content

Weekends with Bach

BWV 204 Ich bin in mir vergnügt Von der Vergnügsamkeit Occasion unknown. Christian Friedrich Hunold, a contamination of two works from Academische Neben-Stunden allerhand neuer Gedichte (Halle and Leipzig, 1713): Der vergnügte Mensch and Cantata/ Von der Zufriedenheit, with lines 3ff. of Movement 7 and Movement 8 from an unknown source; Facs: Neumann T, p. [...]

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Come, Hasten & Hurry!

Weekends with Bach

BWV 249 Kommt, eilet und laufet, ihr flüchtigen Füßen (Oster-Oratorium) Easter. Poet unknown (probably Picander). 1 April 1725, Leipzig; revised, ca. 1735; Parody: 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 < — BWV 249a. BG 21, 3; NBA II/7. Easter Oratorio Mary, daughter of James (S), Mary Magdalene (A), Peter (T), John (B) 1. Sinfonia 2. Adagio [...]

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St. Matthew’s Passion

Weekends with Bach

Sometime in the Middle Ages, Christian churches began observing Holy Week by retelling the story of Christ’s crucifixion in music. Those beginnings were simple—Bible verses set to simple chant melodies—but eventually they would culminate in one of the most ambitious musical compositions of all time. When J. S. Bach came to write his St. Matthew [...]

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I Go & Search for Thee

Weekends with Bach

BWV 49 Ich geh und suche mit Verlangen (Dialogus) Twentieth Sunday after Trinity. Poet unknown. 6. Philipp Nicolai, verse 7 of “Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern,” 1599, with interpolated aria. 3 November 1726, Leipzig. BG 10; NBA I/25. Dialogue 1. Sinfonia 2. Aria (B) Jesus I go and search for thee with longing, Thee, O [...]

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Who will set me free?

Weekends with Bach

BWV 48 Ich elender Mensch, wer wird mich erlösen Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity. Poet unknown. 1. Romans 7:24, with the chorale melody of “Herr Jesu Christ,” Freiburg, 1620; 3. Martin Rutilius, verse 4 of “Ach Gott und Herr,” 1604 (Fischer-Tümpel, I, #52); 7. verse 12 of “Herr Jesu Christ,” Freiburg, 1620 (Fischer-Tümpel, I, #574). 3 [...]

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He Who Would Be Called True Christian

Weekends with Bach

BWV 47 Wer sich selbst erhöhet, der soll erniedriget werden Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity. Johann Friedrich Helbig, Auffmunterung Zur Andacht (Eisenach, 1720); Facs: Neumann T, p. 304. 1. Lk. 14:11 and 18:14; 5. verse 11 of “Warum betrübst du dich, mein Herz?,” ca. 1560 (Wackernagel, IV, #90). 13 October 1726, Leipzig. BG 10; NBA I/23. [...]

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Then Cry Aloud, Thou Fallen Town of God

Weekends with Bach

BWV 46 Schauet doch und sehet, ob irgendein Tenth Sunday after Trinity. Poet unknown. 1. Lam. 1:12; 6. Johann Matthäus Meyfart, a supplemental verse 9 added in 1633 to Balthasar Schnurr’s “O großer Gott von Macht” (Fischer-Tümpel, III, #321). 1 August 1723, Leipzig; Parody: 1 —> Mass in B Minor, BWV 232/8. BG 10; NBA [...]

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It Hath Thee Been Told

Weekends with Bach

BWV 45 Es ist dir gesagt, Mensch, was gut ist Eighth Sunday after Trinity. Poet unknown (Christoph Helm?);(1) PT (Rudolstadt, 1726). 1. Mic. 6:8; 4. Mt. 7:22-23; 7. Johann Heermann, verse 2 of “O Gott, du frommer Gott,” 1630 (Fischer-Tümpel, I, #355). 11 August 1726, Leipzig. BG 10; NBA I/18. First Part 1. Chorus [Dictum] [...]

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