DCCXXXVIII. BACH, J.S.: Cantata #56: Ich will dene Kreuzstab gerne tragen, BWV 56

DCCXXXVIII. BACH, J.S. (1685-1750)

Cantata #56: Ich will dene Kreuzstab gerne tragen, BWV 56 (1726)
1. Aria (Basso): Ich will dene Kreuzstab gerne tragen
2. Recitativo (Basso): Mein Wandel auf der Welt
3. Aria (Basso): Endlich, endlich wird mein Joch
4. Recitativo (Basso): Ich stehe fertig und bereit
5. Choral (Coro): Komm, o Tod, du Schlafes Bruder
Netherlands Bach Society
Fabio Bonizzoni, cond.
(19:32)

It was only a few years ago that Bach scholars more or less definitively identified the author of the text: Christoph Birkmann, who borrowed Neumeister's 1711 Ich will den Kreuzweg gerne gehen. Kreuzweg -- or "the way of the Cross," refers to the Stations of the Cross and more generally to the cross, as the burden of any Christian. However, Birkmann replaced the word with Kreuzstab, which can refer to a pilgrim's staff, but also a navigational instrument, which Birkmann would have known from his interest in astronomy.

The term is apt with the text's emphasis on the sea voyage.

This is from Bach's third cantata cycle, during which he showed a preference for solo cantatas -- like this one, with a bass soloist.

The prescribed readings: Ephesians 4:22-28 and Matthew 9:1-8.

1. Aria (Basso): Ich will dene Kreuzstab gerne tragen

The C-Sharp dramatically emphasizes the first part of the unusual word (Kreuz-stab), followed by descending, sighing figures, with long melismas on the words tragen ("carry") and plagen ("worry") ... the end of the aria introduces triplets before the da capo ...

I will my cross-staff gladly carry

It comes from God's beloved hand
It leads me safe thru all my trouble
To God in His long Promised Land
There will I entomb all my sorrow and sighs
My Saviour will wipe all the tears from my eyes

2. Recitativo (Basso): Mein Wandel auf der Welt

The cello plays 16th-note arpeggios -- decorating the text with the feeling of being on a ship at sea -- and they stop when the text indicates that they the ship is now "safely home."

My journey thru' the world
Is like a ship at sea
Affliction, woe, and want
Are billows rising high to smite me
And which with death each day affright me
The anchor that will hold me fast
Is His compassion vast
Whereby He oft delights my soul
He calls out thus to me
Stand by thee
And I will never leave thee nor forsake thee
And when at length is calmed the angrily raging foam
My trusty ship will sail me safely home
Home there in Heaven high
Where Righteous Ones are dwelling
Carefree, in joy all joy excelling

3. Aria (Basso): Endlich, endlich wird mein Joch

Joyful oboe accompaniment, with melismas on Joch ("yoke") and weichen ("soft/light") ...

Joyful, joyful, now am I

For the yoke is light upon me
On God's defense do I rely
With eagle's wings aloft I fly
Far up above the planets soaring
In tireless ease, the world ignoring
O, O may the day be nigh!

4. Recitativo (Basso): Ich stehe fertig und bereit

Two-part recitative; declamatory then a change to 3/4 and the triplet section from the end of the opening aria ("My Saviour wipes away my tears") ...

Here ready and prepared I stand
To take the boon from Jesus' hand
The boon for which I yearn

And hope that one day I may earn
Ah, how will I be blest
When I at last shall find my Port of Rest!
There He will deep bury my sorrow and sighs
My Saviour will wipe all the tears from my eyes

5. Choral (Coro): Komm, o Tod, du Schlafes Bruder

The voyage concluded, only Death awaits, as God brings us "safely into port."

Come, O death and end my voyage
Make my journey smooth and short
Furl my sails and drop my anchor
Bring me safely into port
Others shun and dread to meet Thee
I with eager joy will greet Thee
'Tis thru death that I may be
Ever, Jesus mine, with Thee