Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 – 1750) was a German
composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and
violinist of the Baroque period. He enriched many
established German styles through his skill in
counterpoint, harmonic and motivic organisation, and
the adaptation of rhythms, forms, and textures from
abroad, particularly from Italy and France. Bach's
compositions include the Brandenburg Concertos, the
Mass in B minor, the The Well-Tempered Clavier, his
cantatas, chorales, partitas, Passions, and...(+)
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 – 1750) was a German
composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and
violinist of the Baroque period. He enriched many
established German styles through his skill in
counterpoint, harmonic and motivic organisation, and
the adaptation of rhythms, forms, and textures from
abroad, particularly from Italy and France. Bach's
compositions include the Brandenburg Concertos, the
Mass in B minor, the The Well-Tempered Clavier, his
cantatas, chorales, partitas, Passions, and organ
works. His music is revered for its intellectual depth,
technical command, and artistic beauty.
Composed for the Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity, which
fell on April 2, 1725, Bach's Cantata No. 8 "Liebster
Gott, wann werd ich sterben" (Dearest God, when shall I
die) (BWV 8) sets the five-verse hymn by Caspar
Neumann, for which the unknown writer retained the
first and last verses of the hymn for the outer
movements of the cantata and paraphrased the hymn for
the central movements. The text dwells on thoughts of
inevitable death and just punishment for the wicked,
but holds out the hope for redemption through the
intercession of Jesus. The cantata is scored for tenor,
alto, bass and soprano soloists, chorus, a transverse
flute, a pair of oboe d'amore, strings, basso continuo,
and a solo trumpet doubling the sopranos in the outer
movements. The cantata is in E major with its first and
sixth movements in the tonic, its second, third and
fifth movement C sharp minor, and its fourth movement
in A major. The first movement opens with a wonderfully
evocative orchestral introduction for dueting oboes
d'amore, a tolling transverse flute above gently
plucked strings. The orchestra continues to dominate
the texture even after the chorus has entered with
brief statements of the first verse of Neumann's poem.
The second movement is a duet in the form of a trio
sonata between an oboe d'amore and the tenor soloist
above a pizzicato continuo. The third movement is a
mournful accompanied recitative for alto soloist. The
fourth movement is a sprightly dance for solo
transverse flute and strings with a manful bass
soloists plus continuo. The fifth movement is a
withdrawn Secco recitative for solo soprano. "Liebster
Gott, wann werd ich sterben" closes with a magnificent
setting of the last lines of Neumann's hymn performed
by the entire chorus and orchestra.
Although the Tenor Aria "Was willst du dich, mein
Geist, entsetzen" ("Why should you recoil, my spirit")
was originally composed for tenor, oboe d'amore and
continuo, I created this arrangement for Pipe Organ. |
SHEET MUSIC