I am happy in myself
Bach cantata | |
---|---|
I am happy in myself | |
BWV: | 204 |
Occasion: | unknown |
Year of origin: | 1726/27 |
Place of origin: | Leipzig |
Genus: | cantata |
Solo : | S. |
Instruments : | Ft, 20b; 2Vl, Va; Bc |
text | |
Christian Friedrich Hunold | |
List of Bach cantatas |
I am delighted in myself ( BWV 204) is a secular cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach , which he composed in Leipzig in 1726/27 for an unknown event.
history
Bach composed this cantata in Leipzig in 1726/27 for an unknown occasion. The text comes from the work of Christian Friedrich Hunold . Hunold and Bach are believed to have met, however the librettist died in 1721, years before the cantata was composed. The music of the final aria was used again in the wedding cantata Lustiert PleißenStadt , BWV 216 (1728).
Occupation and structure
The cantata is written for soprano soloists and features a transverse flute , two oboes , two violins , a viola and the figured bass .
The cantata has eight movements:
- Recitative: I am happy within myself
- Aria: Calm and self-satisfied
- Recitative: You souls who are outside yourselves
- Aria: The estimability of the wide earth
- Recitative: It is difficult to have a lot of vain
- Aria: Be happy with my soul
- Recitative: A noble person is like pearl shells
- Aria: Heavenly amusement.
music
The opening recitative is harmoniously active, but melodically fragmented, as balanced couplets are used unusually often . The first aria is characterized by a "restless feeling of exertion" that begins immediately after the short instrumental ritual and is the only one in da capo form. The second recitative is the only one that is accompanied, with the string instruments supporting a harmony that “begins to slide around like quicksand”. The second aria has a flowing Ritornello theme that the figured bass and obbligato - violin is played. The third recitative is a secco recitative with “two outbreaks of operatic virtuosity”. The third aria is ternary and in a minor key. The fourth recitative contains an Arioso passage that ends with an “extraordinarily strange” cadenza . The last movement is the only one that contains all instrumental parts with a dance opening theme and an ABAB structure.
Recordings
- Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir , Ton Koopman . JS Bach: Complete Cantatas Vol. 4 . Erato, 1996
- Bach Collegium Stuttgart , Helmuth Rilling . Edition Bach Academy Vol. 62 . Hänssler Verlag , 1998
- Württemberg Chamber Orchestra , Rudolf Ewerhart . Bach Cantatas . Vox, 1966.
Web links
- Structure and text
- I'm happy inside, BWV 204 : Sheet Music and Audio Files in the International Music Score Library Project
- I am happy in myself BWV 204; BC G 45 Bach Digital
Individual evidence
- ^ Cantata BWV 204 I am happy in myself . Retrieved March 10, 2014.
- ↑ a b Mincham, Julian: Chapter 102 BWV 204 . December 2010. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
- ↑ BWV 204 . University of Alberta. Retrieved May 17, 2013.