Halt im Gedächtnis Jesum Christ
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Halt im Gedächtnis Jesum Christ (Hold in remembrance Jesus Christ), BWV 67, is a cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach.
The work was written for performance on April 16, 1724, the first Sunday after Easter (Quasimodogeniti). It thus belongs to the first cycle of cantatas Bach wrote during his time in Leipzig. It is scored for trumpet, flute, two oboes d'amore, strings, basso continuo, vocal soloists and choir. Except where noted below, the author of the text is unknown.
The piece is in seven parts:
- Chorus: Halt im Gedächtnis Jesum Christ - a lively chorus with words taken from 2 Timothy, 2:8.
- Aria: Mein Jesus ist erstanden ("My Jesus is arisen") - a tenor aria with obbligato oboe d'amore
- Recitative: Mein Jesu, heißest du des Todes Gift ("My Jesus, you are known as the bane of death") - an alto recitative that leads straight into:
- Chorale: Erschienen ist der herrlich Tag ("The glorious day is appeared") - Nikolaus Herman's 1560 chorale. The final "Alleluja" leads straight into:
- Recitative: Doch scheinet fast ("Yet it seems") - a reprise of the recitative before the chorale. This recitative-chorale-recitative structure can easily be considered a single movement. This idea of a solo singer alternating with a chorus is extended in the following movement:
- Aria and chorus: Friede sei mit euch! ("Peace be with you!") - An unusual movement with sharply contrasting sections: after a quick string introduction, piano sections in 3/4 time featuring a bass soloist solemnly intoning the words "Friede sei mit euch!" (taken from John, 20:19) accompanied by woodwind alternate with much livlier forte passages in 4/4 time for the choir without basses accompanied by strings. In the closing pages of the movement, these two contrasting elements are combined: the bassist sings his part over the tumult of the choir, and then the strings slip in beneath the winds in the final section. This movement was adapted for the Gloria of Bach's Mass in A major, BWV 234.
- Chorale: Du Friedefürst, Herr Jesu Christ ("Thou Prince of Peace, Lord Jesus Christ") - the first verse of Jakob Ebert's 1601 chorale.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Downloadable vocal score of the piece
- German text with English translation
- Various comments on the work
- Programme notes by Craig Smith
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