Ich hatte viel Bekümmernis, BWV 21
Ich hatte viel Bekümmernis (I had much affliction), BWV 21, is a church cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach. Bach probably composed the cantata in Weimar in 1713 for the third Sunday after Trinity, but first performed it after revision on 17 June 1714. A further revision occurred in the Köthen years, specifically in 1720 (a performance is thought to have occurred by 1722); a Leipzig performance occurred on 13 June 1723, and a final revision took place in Leipzig in 1731. Bach's own catalogue of his works notes e per ogni tempo, indicating that the cantata could be suited for any occasion, as the readings and the texts are quite generic.
Theme
The prescribed readings for the day are 1 Peter 5: 6-11 and Luke 15: 1-10. The text of the work draws on the work of several authors[1], namely:
- Psalm 94, verse 19 (movement 2)
- probably Salomo Franck (movements 3-5)
- Psalm 42, verse 5 (movement 6)
- probably Salomo Franck (movements 7-8)
- Psalm 116, verse 7 (movement 9)
- probably Salomo Franck (movement 10)
- Book of Revelation, chapter 5, verses 12-13 (movement 11)
The chorale theme Wer nur den lieben Gott läßt walten was written by Georg Neumark in his 1657 Fortgepflantzter Musikalisch-Poetischer Lustwald, published in Jena.
The cantata features themes of deep suffering, pain and mourning, which dominate the music in the first part of the cantata, starting with the opening sinfonia, with solo oboe and violin. A sighing motif, the picture of a storm of tears, and the flood image conjured by the upwelling music characterizes the dark and oppressive feeling. In the second part of the cantata, the mood changes: through the trust of sinners in the grace of God, the mood transforms into curls of joy, with the final movement forming a strong hymn of praise.
Scoring and structure
The piece is scored for trombe I//II/III, timpani, trombone I//II/III/IV, oboe, bassoon, violins I/II, viola, and basso continuo (fagotto and organo are explicitly indicated), three vocal soloists (soprano, tenor, and bass) and four-part choir. It is in eleven movements, divided in two parts (1–6 to be performed before, and 7–11 after the sermon):
- Sinfonia
- Coro: Ich hatte viel Bekümmernis in meinem Herzen
- Aria (soprano): Seufzer, Tränen, Kummer, Not
- Recitativo (tenor): Wie hast du dich, mein Gott
- Aria (tenor): Bäche von gesalznen Zähren
- Coro: Was betrübst du dich
- Recitativo (Dialogus soprano, bass): Ach Jesu, meine Ruh
- Aria (soprano, bass): Komm, mein Jesu, und erquicke/Ja, ich komme und erquicke
- Coro: Sei nun wieder zufrieden, meine Seele
- Aria (tenor): Erfreue dich, Seele, erfreue dich, Herze
- Coro: Das Lamm, das erwürget ist
Music
The cantata is opened by a Sinfonia similar to the one of the cantata Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen, BWV 12, possibly the slow movement of a concerto for oboe and violin.
The music for this early cantata is using motet style in the choral movements. Bible words are used in a prominent way. They are treated in choral movements, different from other cantatas of the Weimar period where they were typically composed as recitatives.
Similar to other cantatas of that time, ideas are expressed in dialog: in movements 7 and 8 the soprano portrays the Seele (soul), the bass, as the Vox Christi, Jesus. The style of the poetry suggests Salomo Franck as the author, as in Erschallet, ihr Lieder, erklinget, ihr Saiten! BWV 172.
Movement 9 for choir combines Bible words from Psalm 116:7 with verses 2 and 5 of the chorale Wer nur den lieben Gott lässt walten, the only chorale of the cantata. Possibly the cantata originally ended with that movement. In a Leipzig performance Bach had four trombones double the voices in this movement only.[2]
Recordings
- J.S. Bach: Kantaten BWV 21, 110 (Ramin Edition Vol. 1), Günther Ramin, Thomanerchor, Gewandhausorchester, boy soloist of the Thomanerchor, Elisabeth Meinel-Asbahr, Gert Lutze, Friedrich Härtel, organ: Diethard Hellmann, Fidelio 1947
- J.S. Bach: Cantata BWV 21, Jonathan Sternberg, Wiener Kammerchor, Wiener Symphoniker, Rosl Schwaiger, Hugues Cuénod, Alois Pernerstorfer, Bach Guild 1950
- J.S. Bach: Cantata BWV 21, Fritz Lehmann, Berliner Motettenchor, Berliner Philharmoniker, Gunthild Weber, Helmut Krebs, Hermann Schey, Deutsche Grammophon 1952
- J.S. Bach: Cantata BWV 21, Marcel Couraud, Stuttgarter Chor & Orchester, Friederike Sailer, Fritz Wunderlich, Robert Titze, Les Discophiles 1955
- J.S. Bach: Cantata BWV 21, Jonathan Sternberg, Vienna Conservatory Chorus, orchestra of the Vienna State Opera, Teresa Stich-Randall, Nathalie Narischkine, Helmut Loeffler (actually Waldemar Kmentt), Paul Schöffler, Le Club Francaix du Disque 1950s
- Les Grandes Cantates de J.S. Bach Vol. 11, Fritz Werner, Heinrich-Schütz-Chor Heilbronn, Pforzheim Chamber Orchestra, Edith Selig, Georg Jelden, Erich Wenk, Erato 1962
- Bach Cantatas Vol. 3 - Ascension Day, Whitsun, Trinity, Karl Richter, Münchener Bach-Chor, Münchener Bach-Orchester, Edith Mathis, Ernst Haefliger, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Archiv Produktion 1969
- J.S. Bach: Kantate No. 21 Ich hatte viel Bekümmernis, Helmuth Rilling, Gächinger Kantorei, Bach-Collegium Stuttgart, Nancy Burns, Friedrich Melzer, Günter Reich, Supraphon 1970
- J.S. Bach: Das Kantatenwerk - Sacred Cantatas Vol. 2, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Wiener Sängerknaben, Chorus Viennensis, Concentus Musicus Wien, boy soloist of the Wiener Sängerknaben, Kurt Equiluz, Walker Wyatt, Teldec 1973
- Die Bach Kantate Vol. 14, Helmuth Rilling, Indiana University Chamber Singers, Bach-Collegium Stuttgart, Arleen Augér, Adalbert Kraus, Wolfgang Schöne, Hänssler 1976
- Bach Made in Germany Vol. 4 - Cantatas IV, Hans-Joachim Rotzsch, Thomanerchor, Neues Bachisches Collegium Musicum, Arleen Augér, Peter Schreier, Siegfried Lorenz, Eterna 1983
- J.S. Bach: Magnificat BWV 243 · Cantata BWV 21, Sigiswald Kuijken, Nederlands Kamerkoor, La Petite Bande, Greta de Reyghere, Christoph Prégardien, Peter Lika, Virgin Classics 1983
- J.S. Bach: Ich hatte viel Bekümmernis, Philippe Herreweghe, Collegium Vocale Gent, La Chapelle Royale, Barbara Schlick, Howard Crook, Peter Harvey, Harmonia Mundi 1990
- J.S. Bach: Cantatas Ich hatte viel Bekümmernis BWV 21 & Wo soll ich fliehen hin BWV 5, Jacques Vanherenthals, Chapelle des Minimes, Diane Verdoodt, Dina Grossberger, Ludwig Van Gijsegem, Dirk Snellings, La Chapelle des Minimes Français 1991
- J.S. Bach: Complete Cantatas Vol. 1, Ton Koopman, Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir, Barbara Schlick, Guy de Mey, Klaus Mertens, Antoine Marchand 1994
- J.S. Bach: Cantatas Vol. 6, Masaaki Suzuki, Bach Collegium Japan, Monika Frimmer, Gerd Türk, Peter Kooy, BIS 851 1997
References
- ^ C. S. Terry and D. Litti, Bach's Cantata Libretti, Journal of the Royal Musical Association 1917 44(1):71-125; doi:10.1093/jrma/44.1.71
- ^ Alfred Dürr: Johann Sebastian Bach: Die Kantaten. Bärenreiter, Kassel 1999, ISBN 3-7618-1476-3
External links