DCCLXVII. BACH, J.S.: Cantata #8: Liebster Gott, wenn werd ich sterben, BWV 8

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

Cantata #8: Liebster Gott, wenn werd ich sterben, BWV 8 (1724)
1. [Coro]: Liebster Gott, wenn werd ich sterben
2. Aria (Tenore): Was willst du dich, mein Geist, entsetzen
3. Recitative (Alto): Zwar fühlt mein schwaches Herz
4. Aria (Basso): Doch weichet, ihr tollen, vergeblichen Sorgen!
5. Recitativo (Soprano): Behalte nur, o Welt, das Meine!
6. Choral (Coro): Herrscher über Tod und Leben
Munich Bach Orchestra and Choir
Karl Richter, cond.
(23:46)

A chorale cantata composed for the 16th Sunday after Trinity. All of Bach's cantatas for this occasion meditate on death, linked to the Gospel readings: Ephesians 3:13-21 and Luke 7:11-17.

The text is based on the Lutheran hymn by Caspar Neumann (ca. 1690). Bach adapted Daniel Vetter's setting of the hymn nearly verbatim in the first and last movements.

This is one of the greatest cantatas. Dürr:

"The opening chorus presents the listener with a sublime vision of the hour of death."

1. [Coro]: Liebster Gott, wenn werd ich sterben

The flute -- both in staccato repetitions, and arpeggios -- represents the death knell.

The pizzicato strings and the solemn pluck on beats 1 and 3 of the usually busy continuo contribute to the musical imagery.

Dearest God, when will I die?
My time runs ever on
And the heirs of old Adam
One of whom I am also
Have as the inheritance from their father
That they are not even a short time
Poor and miserable on earth
And then become earth themselves

2. Aria (Tenore): Was willst du dich, mein Geist, entsetzen

Moving to the relative minor -- C-Sharp Minor. Here, an expressive oboe d'amore interplays with the tenor. Bach tone-paints "pity" in the same way as he did with the alto aria Erbarme dich from the Matthew Passion.

Compare the two:

Again, the striking clock (on the word schlägt ["strikes"])

and a long melisma on the word tausend ("thousand') and a sustained note on Ruh ("rest") ...

Why willst thou be fearful, my spirit
When my last hour strikes?
My body bows daily nearer the earth
And there its place of rest must be
Wither so many thousands of are carried

3. Recitative (Alto): Zwar fühlt mein schwaches Herz

Bach often uses the Phrygian mode to form a sense of questioning/anxiety:

My faint heart indeed feels

Fear, sorrow, pain:
Where will my body find rest?
And who will free
And release the soul
From the yoke of sin laid upon it?
What is mine will be dispersed
And wither will my dear ones
In their sadness
Be separated and driven?

4. Aria (Basso): Doch weichet, ihr tollen, vergeblichen Sorgen!

Moving to the subdominant (A Major), a complete change of mood with a 12/8 gigue, for this joyous bass aria:

But make way, you senseless, vain worries!

My Jesus calls me who should not go?
Nought that pleases me
The world possesses
Appear to me, blessed, joyful morning
To stand transfigured and glorious before Jesus

5. Recitativo (Soprano): Behalte nur, o Welt, das Meine!

Diminished third!

Just keep, o world, what is mine!
You yourself take my flesh and my bones
So take my misery too
Enough, that our of God's superabundance
The greatest blessing must become mine
Enough, that I am rich and blessed there
What, then, is to be inherited from me
But my faith in God as Father?
It is made new every morning
And cannot die.

6. Choral (Coro): Herrscher über Tod und Leben

Ruler over death and life
Let one day my end be good
Teach me to give up the ghost
With good composure and courage
Help that I have an honourable grave
Beside pious Christians
And finally in the earth
Nevermore come to any harm!