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Ich armer Mensch, ich Sündenknecht, BWV 55

December 18, 2023

Johann Sebastian Bach composed the church cantata Ich armer Mensch, ich Sündenknecht (I, wretched man, a servant to sin), BWV 55, in Leipzig for the 22nd Sunday after Trinity and first performed it on 17 November 1726.

Ich armer Mensch, ich Sündenknecht
BWV 55
Church cantata by J. S. Bach
The final page from the original manuscript of BWV 55, with the concluding four-part chorale
Occasion22nd Sunday after Trinity
Cantata textChristoph Birkmann
Chorale"Werde munter, mein Gemüte"
Performed17 November 1726 (1726-11-17): Leipzig
Movements5
Vocal
  • tenor solo
  • SATB choir
Instrumental
  • flauto traverso
  • oboe d'amore
  • 2 violins
  • viola
  • continuo

History and words edit

Bach wrote the cantata, a solo cantata for a tenor, in 1726 in Leipzig for the 22nd Sunday after Trinity. It is Bach's only extant cantata for tenor.[1]

The prescribed readings for the Sunday were from the Epistle to the Philippians, thanks and prayer for the congregation in Philippi (Philippians 1:3–11), and from the Gospel of Matthew, the parable of the unforgiving servant (Matthew 18:23–35). Christoph Birkmann, the poet of the cantata text stressed the opposites of the gospel, God's justice versus unjust men, in the words of the first aria "Er ist gerecht, ich ungerecht" ("He is just, unjust am I"). In the first two movements the singer reflects his sinful condition, in the following two he asks God for mercy, beginning both with Erbarme dich ("Have mercy"). The following closing chorale is verse 6 of Johann Rist "Werde munter, mein Gemüte" (1642). Bach used the same verse later in his St Matthew Passion, again following Erbarme dich, the aria of Peter, regretting his denial of Jesus.[1][2]

Bach led the first performance on 17 November 1726.[2]

Scoring and structure edit

The cantata in five movements is scored for a tenor soloist, a four-part choir (only for the final chorale), flauto traverso, oboe d'amore, two violins, viola, and basso continuo.[2]

  1. Aria: Ich armer Mensch, ich Sündenknecht ("I, wretched man, a servant to sin")[3]
  2. Recitative: Ich habe wider Gott gehandelt ("I have offended against God")
  3. Aria: Erbarme dich! Laß die Tränen dich erweichen ("Have mercy! Let my tears move Thee")
  4. Recitative: Erbarme dich! Jedoch nun tröst ich mich ("Have mercy! However, I console myself")
  5. Chorale: Bin ich gleich von dir gewichen, stell ich mich doch wieder ein ("Though I have turned aside from Thee, Yet shall I return")

Music edit

A rich polyphonic setting for flute, oboe d'amore and two violins, without viola, accompanies the opening aria. The motifs seem to illustrate the faltering steps and a despairing heart of the steward summoned before his master.[1] The second aria is as expressive, accompanied by a virtuoso flute. The first recitative is secco, but the second one accompanied by string chords.

The closing chorale is verse 6 of Johann Rist's "Werde munter", to Johann Schop's tune.[4] The same text and melody occur in the St Matthew Passion, there in a simpler four-part setting,[2] and Bach uses Schop's melody with other texts such as the well known "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" in Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben, BWV 147.

The last three movements of the autograph score differ from the Leipzig performance parts, leading some to conclude they were originally part of an earlier composition, possibly the lost 1717 Weimar Passion.[1][2]

Recordings edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d Gardiner, John Eliot (2010). Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) / Cantatas Nos 52, 55, 60, 89, 115, 139, 140 & 163 (Media notes). Soli Deo Gloria (at Hyperion Records website). Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d e Alfred Dürr (2006), The cantatas of J.S. Bach, Oxford University Press, pp. 616–619, ISBN 0-19-929776-2
  3. ^ Stokes, Richard (2004), J.S. Bach: The complete cantatas in German-English translation, Scarecrow Press, pp. 91–92, ISBN 0-8108-3933-4, the original German texts of all Bach's sacred and secular cantatas, accompanied by English translations
  4. ^ . www.bach-cantatas.com. Archived from " the original on 2010-12-07.

Sources edit

External links edit

  • Ich armer Mensch, ich Sündenknecht, BWV 55: performance by the Netherlands Bach Society (video and background information)

December 18, 2023
armer, mensch, sündenknecht, johann, sebastian, bach, composed, church, cantata, armer, mensch, sündenknecht, wretched, servant, leipzig, 22nd, sunday, after, trinity, first, performed, november, 1726, armer, mensch, sündenknechtbwv, 55church, cantata, bachthe. Johann Sebastian Bach composed the church cantata Ich armer Mensch ich Sundenknecht I wretched man a servant to sin BWV 55 in Leipzig for the 22nd Sunday after Trinity and first performed it on 17 November 1726 Ich armer Mensch ich SundenknechtBWV 55Church cantata by J S BachThe final page from the original manuscript of BWV 55 with the concluding four part choraleOccasion22nd Sunday after TrinityCantata textChristoph BirkmannChorale Werde munter mein Gemute Performed17 November 1726 1726 11 17 LeipzigMovements5Vocaltenor solo SATB choirInstrumentalflauto traversooboe d amore2 violinsviolacontinuo Contents 1 History and words 2 Scoring and structure 3 Music 4 Recordings 5 References 6 Sources 7 External linksHistory and words editBach wrote the cantata a solo cantata for a tenor in 1726 in Leipzig for the 22nd Sunday after Trinity It is Bach s only extant cantata for tenor 1 The prescribed readings for the Sunday were from the Epistle to the Philippians thanks and prayer for the congregation in Philippi Philippians 1 3 11 and from the Gospel of Matthew the parable of the unforgiving servant Matthew 18 23 35 Christoph Birkmann the poet of the cantata text stressed the opposites of the gospel God s justice versus unjust men in the words of the first aria Er ist gerecht ich ungerecht He is just unjust am I In the first two movements the singer reflects his sinful condition in the following two he asks God for mercy beginning both with Erbarme dich Have mercy The following closing chorale is verse 6 of Johann Rist Werde munter mein Gemute 1642 Bach used the same verse later in his St Matthew Passion again following Erbarme dich the aria of Peter regretting his denial of Jesus 1 2 Bach led the first performance on 17 November 1726 2 Scoring and structure editThe cantata in five movements is scored for a tenor soloist a four part choir only for the final chorale flauto traverso oboe d amore two violins viola and basso continuo 2 Aria Ich armer Mensch ich Sundenknecht I wretched man a servant to sin 3 Recitative Ich habe wider Gott gehandelt I have offended against God Aria Erbarme dich Lass die Tranen dich erweichen Have mercy Let my tears move Thee Recitative Erbarme dich Jedoch nun trost ich mich Have mercy However I console myself Chorale Bin ich gleich von dir gewichen stell ich mich doch wieder ein Though I have turned aside from Thee Yet shall I return Music editA rich polyphonic setting for flute oboe d amore and two violins without viola accompanies the opening aria The motifs seem to illustrate the faltering steps and a despairing heart of the steward summoned before his master 1 The second aria is as expressive accompanied by a virtuoso flute The first recitative is secco but the second one accompanied by string chords The closing chorale is verse 6 of Johann Rist s Werde munter to Johann Schop s tune 4 The same text and melody occur in the St Matthew Passion there in a simpler four part setting 2 and Bach uses Schop s melody with other texts such as the well known Jesu Joy of Man s Desiring in Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben BWV 147 The last three movements of the autograph score differ from the Leipzig performance parts leading some to conclude they were originally part of an earlier composition possibly the lost 1717 Weimar Passion 1 2 Recordings editBach Cantatas Vol 5 Karl Richter Munchener Bach Chor Munchener Bach Orchester Ernst Haefliger Archiv Produktion 1959 Bach Made in Germany Vol 3 Cantatas II Erhard Mauersberger Thomanerchor Gewandhausorchester Leipzig Peter Schreier Eterna 1968 Bach Solokantaten Hans Martin Linde Schola Cantorum Basiliensis Nicolai Gedda EMI 1971 J S Bach Das Kantatenwerk Sacred Cantatas Vol 3 Gustav Leonhardt Knabenchor Hannover Leonhardt Consort Kurt Equiluz Telefunken 1975 Die Bach Kantate Vol 57 Helmuth Rilling Gachinger Kantorei Bach Collegium Stuttgart Adalbert Kraus Hanssler 1982 J S Bach Solo Kantaten und Arien Peter Schreier RIAS Kammerchor Kammerorchester Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach Peter Schreier Philips 1994 J S Bach Kantate BWV 55 Concerto a Moll Matthias Eisenberg Thomanerchor Leipzig Leipziger Barockorchester Martin Petzold RAM 1998 Cantatas Arias amp Motet Ludwig Guttler Virtuosi Saxoniae Christoph Genz Dresden Classics 1999 Bach Cantatas Vol 12 John Eliot Gardiner Monteverdi Choir English Baroque Soloists James Gilchrist Soli Deo Gloria 2000 J S Bach Complete Cantatas Vol 18 Ton Koopman Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra amp Choir Christoph Pregardien Antoine Marchand 2002 J S Bach Cantatas for the Complete Liturgical Year Vol 1 Sigiswald Kuijken La Petite Bande Sophie Karthauser Petra Noskaiova Christoph Genz Dominik Worner Accent 2004 J S Bach Cantatas Vol 38 Solo Cantatas Masaaki Suzuki Bach Collegium Japan Gerd Turk BIS 2006References edit a b c d Gardiner John Eliot 2010 Johann Sebastian Bach 1685 1750 Cantatas Nos 52 55 60 89 115 139 140 amp 163 Media notes Soli Deo Gloria at Hyperion Records website Retrieved 28 October 2018 a b c d e Alfred Durr 2006 The cantatas of J S Bach Oxford University Press pp 616 619 ISBN 0 19 929776 2 Stokes Richard 2004 J S Bach The complete cantatas in German English translation Scarecrow Press pp 91 92 ISBN 0 8108 3933 4 the original German texts of all Bach s sacred and secular cantatas accompanied by English translations Chorale Melody Werde Munter mein Gemuthe www bach cantatas com Archived from the original on 2010 12 07 Sources editIch armer Mensch ich Sundenknecht BWV 55 Scores at the International Music Score Library Project Ich armer Mensch ich Sundenknecht BWV 55 BC A 157 Sacred cantata 22nd Sunday after Trinity Bach Digital Cantata BWV 55 Ich armer Mensch ich Sundenknecht history scoring sources for text and music translations to various languages discography discussion Bach Cantatas Website BWV 55 Ich armer Mensch ich Sundenknecht English translation discussion Emmanuel Music Ich armer Mensch ich Sundenknecht English translation University of Vermont Ich armer Mensch ich Sundenknecht text scoring University of Alberta Chapter 32 BWV 55 Ich armer Mensch ich Sundenknecht I a desolate man am in bondage to sin Julian Mincham 2010External links editIch armer Mensch ich Sundenknecht BWV 55 performance by the Netherlands Bach Society video and background information Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ich armer Mensch ich Sundenknecht BWV 55 amp oldid 1105854154, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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