Ich hatte viel Bekümmernis

Ich hatte viel Bekümmernis ("My heart was deeply troubled"), BWV 21, is a cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach

Origins

The origins of this cantata are not clear. It was first performed on the 3rd Sunday after Trinity in 1714 in Weimar, although not with all the verses which were eventually included in the final version of 1723. It may well have been constructed much earlier; Bach may have composed it himself as an original work or amalgamated pieces already in existence when he applied for the position of organist in Halle in 1713. It is also possible that the two parts of the cantata were originally planned as separate works. The text of the cantata probably comes from Salomon Franck.

Theme

The cantata features themes of deep suffering, pain and mourning, which dominate the music in the first part of the cantata, starting with the opening sinfonia, with solo oboe and violin. A sighing motif, the picture of a storm of tears, and the flood image conjured by the upwelling music characterizes the dark and oppressive feeling. In the second part of the cantata, the mood changes: through the trust of sinners in the grace of God, the mood transforms into curls of joy, with the final movement forming a strong hymn of praise.

Movements

#Sinfonia
#Chorus: Ich hatte viel Bekümmernis
#Aria (Soprano): Seufzer, Tränen, Kummer, Not
#Recitative (Tenor): Wie hast du dich, mein Gott
#Aria (Tenor): Bäche von gesalznen Zähren
#Chorus: Was betrübst du dich, meine Seele
#Recitative (Soprano, Bass): Ach Jesu, meine Ruh
#Aria - Duet (Soprano, Bass): Komm, mein Jesu, und erquicke
#Chorus & Chorale: Sei nun wieder zufrieden, meine Seele
#Aria (Tenor): Erfreue dich, Seele, erfreue dich, Herze
#Chorus: Das Lamm, das erwürget ist

Musical components

*Solos: Soprano, Tenor, Bass
*Four part Choir
*Orchestra: 3 Trumpets, timpani, oboe, bassoon, first and second violins , viola, basso continuo

In the performance of 1723 the orchestra was strengthened by four trombones.

Notable features

This cantata stands out of Bach's cantata creations in many aspects. The duration of 40 minutes alone is remarkable. Also, Bach achieves a great intensity and drama in this work, which is reminiscent of his major works.

Literature

*Alfred Dürr: "Johann Sebastian Bach: Die Kantaten." Bärenreiter, Kassel 1999, ISBN 3-7618-1476-3
*Alfred Dürr: "The Cantatas of J.S. Bach", Oxford University Press, 2006. ISBN 0-19-929776-2
*Werner Neumann: "Handbuch der Kantaten J.S.Bachs", 1947, 5th Ed. 1984, ISBN 3-7651-0054-4
* Hans-Joachim Schulze: "Die Bach-Kantaten: Einführungen zu sämtlichen Kantaten Johann Sebastian Bachs". Leipzig: Evangelische Verlags-Anstalt; Stuttgart: Carus-Verlag 2006 (Edition Bach-Archiv Leipzig) ISBN 3-374-02390-8 (Evang. Verl.-Anst.), ISBN 3-89948-073-2 (Carus-Verl.)
*Christoph Wolff/Ton Koopman: "Die Welt der Bach-Kantaten" Verlag J.B. Metzler, Stuttgart, Weimar 2006 ISBN-13: 978-3-476-02127-4

External links

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* [http://www.bach-cantatas.com/BWV21.htm Cantata BWV 21]