Keep us, Lord, by your word, BWV 126

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bach cantata
Keep us, Lord, by your word
BWV: 126
Occasion: Sexagesimae
Year of origin: 1725
Place of origin: Leipzig
Genus: cantata
Solo : ATB
Choir: SATB
Instruments : Tr Ob 2Vl Va BC
text
unknown
List of Bach cantatas
Parable of the sower , etching by Jan Luyken

Preserve us, Lord, by your word ( BWV 126) is a church cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach . He composed the chorale cantata in Leipzig for the Sunday Sexagesimae and performed it for the first time on February 4, 1725.

Story and words

In his second year in Leipzig, Bach wrote the cantata in his year of choral cantatas for the Sunday Sexagesimae , the second Sunday before the Passion, and performed it for the first time on February 4, 1725. The prescribed readings were 2 Cor 11,19  LUT - 2 Cor 12,9  LUT and Lk 8,4–15  LUT , the parable of the sower . The basis for the cantata text is Martin Luther's chorale Receive us, Lord, in your word in a compilation with other verses, as they appeared as a unit in Bach's hymn books during Bach's time. It started with three stanzas of the Luther song in the order of 1586 (while in an earlier print the first two stanzas were swapped). This is followed by two stanzas by Justus Jonas , followed by Luther's German version Verleih uns Frieden gnädlicher von Da pacem Domine , which was printed after receiving us, sir (1534), and finally a stanza by Johann Walter based on 1 Tim 2,2  LUT is based. This results in seven stanzas:

  1. Keep us, Lord, by your word
  2. Prove your power, Lord Jesus Christ
  3. God the Holy Spirit, worthy comforter
  4. Your attack, sir, destroy
  5. So they will recognize
  6. Graciously grant us peace
  7. Give to our prince and to all authorities

The unknown lyricist formed six movements from this by leaving stanzas 1, 3, 6 and 7 unchanged, expanding 3 with recitatives and combining 6 with 7, while rewrapping 2, 4 and 5 to the corresponding movements of the cantata. The subject of the parable, like the chant, is the word of God. However, the poet refrained from making further references to the reading text, instead concentrating on the general request to God to keep his people faithful in his word, to protect them from enemies and to grant peace.

Occupation and structure

The cantata is occupied by three soloists, alto , tenor and bass , four-part choir, trumpet , two oboes , two violins , viola and basso continuo .

  1. Coro: Keep us, Lord, by your word
  2. Aria (tenor): Send your power from above
  3. Recitativo e chorale (alto, tenor): People's favor and power will be of little use - God Holy Spirit, worthy comforter
  4. Aria (bass): Fall to the ground, pompous pride!
  5. Recitativo (tenor): This is how your word and truth become manifest
  6. Chorale: Graciously grant us peace

music

A characteristic element of the opening choir is a four-note motif that is derived from the beginning of the chorale melody and is repeated by the trumpet throughout the movement to keep the words Preserve us, Lord present. The motif consists of the three notes of the A minor chord in the sequence ACAE; the higher notes fall on the stressed syllables, the highest on Herr . The cantus firmus is sung by the soprano, the lower voices underline the words in imitation. The voices are embedded in the independent orchestra.

The first aria is a prayer intensified by two oboes. In the middle section, the words “please” and “disperse” are illustrated by fast runs in the singing voice. The second aria, movement 4, is dramatic, especially in the restless continuo. In movement 3, the recitatives are sung alternately by alto and tenor, while the ornate chorale is sung as a duet, with the new voice singing the chorale while the other accompanies it. In movement 6, the two chorale stanzas by different authors are simply set in four parts.

Recordings

literature

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. John Eliot Gardiner : Cantatas for Sexagesima / Southwell Minster ( en , PDF) solideogloria.co.uk. 2009. Archived from the original on September 16, 2011. Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved January 30, 2011. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.solideogloria.co.uk