Selig ist der Mann
BWV 57 performed by the Netherlands Bach Society
conducted by Fabio Bonizzoni
Walloon Church, Amsterdam
Behind the music
Story
Story
Extra videos
Extra videos
Texts
Texts
Credits
Credits
A martyrdom instead of a crib
On Boxing Day, the Feast of St Stephen dampens the party spirit
Bach did not often write the word ‘cantata’ above his pieces. In fact, most of his cantatas have no title at all. This one does, however. It is called ‘Concerto in dialogo’. And that is actually a much better description than our term ‘cantata’. Nowadays, we use the term ‘concerto’ mainly as a name for a three-part instrumental piece with a soloist. In Bach’s day, however, the term had a much more general meaning. All music with distinct groups could be called a concerto. And in this case, it is a concerto in dialogue.
There are two ‘speakers’ Anima – the human soul – and Jesus. Here, as is often the case, the soul longs for death and to be united with the Creator. The soul is then put to the test. It all seems rather serious for Boxing Day, but 26 December was the day that the Feast of the martyr St Stephen was celebrated in Leipzig. In the first recitative, different emotions succeed one another in rapid tempo: relief, fear and hope are all dealt with, above adventurous modulations. Jesus provides a steadfast, stable beacon, showing his involvement in a powerful aria. The cheerful duet is followed by an intimate closing chorale.
- BWV
- 57
- Title
- Selig ist der Mann, Concerto in dialogo
- Instrument
- bass, soprano
- Genre
- cantatas
- Year
- 1725
- City
- Leipzig
- Lyricist
- Georg Christian Lehms
- Occasion
- St Stephen's Day (26 December)
- First performance
- 26 December 1725
Extra videos
Vocal texts
Original
1. Arie (Bass - Jesus)
Selig ist der Mann,
der die Anfechtung erduldet,
denn, nachdem er bewähret ist,
wird er die Krone des Lebens empfangen.
2. Rezitativ (Sopran - Seele)
Ach! dieser süsse Trost
erquickt auch mir mein Herz,
das sonst in Ach und Schmerz
sein ewig Leiden findet,
und sich als wie ein Wurm in seinem Blute windet.
Ich muss als wie ein Schaf
bei tausend rauhen Wölfen leben;
ich bin ein recht verlass'nes Lamm,
und muss mich ihrer Wut
und Grausamkeit ergeben.
Was Abeln dort betraf,
erpresset mir auch diese Tränenflut.
Ach! Jesu, wüsst' ich hier
nicht Trost von dir,
so müsste Mut und Herze brechen
und voller Trauer sprechen:
3. Arie (Sopran - Seele)
Ich wünschte mir den Tod, den Tod
wenn du, mein Jesu, mich nicht liebtest.
Ja, wenn du mich annoch betrübtest,
so hätt' ich mehr als Höllennot.
4. Rezitativ (Sopran - Seele, Bass - Jesus)
Ich reiche dir die Hand,
und auch damit das Herze.
Ach! süsses, liebes Pfand,
du kannst die Feinde stürzen,
und ihren Grimm verkürzen.
5. Arie (Bass - Jesus)
Ja, ja, ich kann die Feinde schlagen,
die dich nur stets bei mir verklagen,
drum fasse dich, bedrängter Geist.
Bedrängter Geist, hör' auf zu weinen,
die Sonne wird noch helle scheinen,
die dir jetzt Kummerwolken weist.
6. Rezitativ (Sopran - Seele, Bass - Jesus)
In meinem Schoss liegt Ruh' und Leben,
dies will ich dir einst ewig geben.
Ach! Jesu, wär' ich schon bei dir,
ach! striche mir
der Wind schon über Gruft und Grab,
so könnt ich alle Not besiegen.
Wohl denen, die im Sarge liegen,
und auf den Schall der Engel hoffen.
Ach! Jesu, mache mir doch nur,
wie Steffano, den Himmel offen.
Mein Herz ist schon bereit
zu dir hinauf zu steigen.
Komm, komm, vergnügte Zeit!
Du magst mir Gruft und Grab,
und meinem Jesum zeigen.
7. Arie (Sopran - Seele)
Ich ende behende mein irdische Leben,
mit Freuden zu verscheiden verlang' ich jetzt eben.
Mein Heiland, ich sterbe mit höchster Begier,
hier hast du die Seele, was schenkest du mir?
8. Choral
Richte dich, Liebste,
nach meinem Gefallen und gläube
dass ich dein Seelenfreund
immer und ewig verbleibe,
der dich ergötzt
und in den Himmel versetzt
aus dem gemarterten Leibe.
Translation
1. Aria (Bass - Jesus)
Blessed is the man
that endureth temptation:
for when he is tried,
he shall receive the crown of life.
2. Recitative (Soprano - Soul)
Ah! this sweet comfort
quickens my heart as well,
which otherwise finds endless suffering
in pain and lamentation,
and writhes like a worm in its blood.
I must live like a sheep
among a thousand savage wolves;
I am a truly forsaken lamb,
and must submit to their rage
and cruelty.
What happened once to Abel,
draws from me, too, this flood of tears.
Ah! Jesus, if I did not know
that Thou wilt comfort me,
my courage and my heart would fail
and say with deepest sorrow:
3. Aria (Soprano - Soul)
I would desire to die, to die,
if Thou, my Jesus, didst not love me.
Yea, if Thou wert still to sadden me,
I would suffer more than the pain of hell.
4. Recitative (Soprano - Soul, Bass - Jesus)
I give you my hand,
and with it my heart as well.
Ah! sweetest pledge of love,
thou canst lay low my enemies
and diminish their fury.
5. Aria (Bass - Jesus)
Yes, yes, I can strike your enemies,
who always accuse you before me,
so have no fear, troubled soul.
Troubled soul, cease your weeping;
the sun will soon be shining
that sends you clouds of sorrow now.
6. Recitative (Soprano - Soul, Bass - Jesus)
In my bosom lie peace and life,
which one day I shall give you forever.
Ah, Jesus, were I already with Thee!
Ah, were the wind
already wafting over my tomb and grave,
I could conquer every affliction.
How blest are they who lie in their coffins
and hope to hear the sound of angels!
Ah, Jesus, open for me too,
as for Stephen once, the gates of heaven!
My heart is already prepared
to soar aloft to Thee.
Come, come, blessèd hour!
And show me tomb and grave
and my own Jesus!
7. Aria (Soprano - Soul)
I swiftly end my earthly life,
I long at this time to depart with joy.
My Saviour, I die with the greatest longing;
here is my soul, what dost Thou give me?
8. Chorale
Comply, my beloved,
with my wishes, and believe
that I shall be your close friend
forever,
who shall delight you?
and bring you to heaven
from out of your tortured body.
Credits
-
- Publicatiedatum
- 10 juli 2015
-
- Date
- 17 January 2015
-
- Location
- Walloon Church, Amsterdam
-
- Conductor and organ
- Fabio Bonizzoni
-
- Bass
- Matthias Winckhler (Jesus)
-
- Soprano
- Maria Keohane (Soul)
-
- Alto
- Barnabás Hegyi
-
- Tenor
- Robert Buckland
-
- Violin 1
- Shunske Sato, Pieter Affourtit, Anneke van Haaften
-
- Violin 2
- Sayuri Yamagata, Paulien Kostense, Annelies van der Vegt
-
- Viola
- Staas Swierstra, Jan Willem Vis
-
- Cello
- Lucia Swarts, Richte van der Meer
-
- Double bass
- Robert Franenberg
-
- Oboe
- Martin Stadler, Peter Frankenberg, Yongcheon Shin
-
- Bassoon
- Benny Aghassi
-
- Church organ
- Leo van Doeselaar
-
- Concert production
- Erik van Lith, Marco Meijdam
-
- Producer
- Frank van der Weij
-
- Film director
- Joost Honselaar
-
- Director of photography
- Simon Aarden
-
- Camera
- Simon Aarden, Ruben van den Broeke, Jorrit Garretsen, Benjamin Sparschuh, Indy Hamid
-
- Film editor
- Joost Honselaar
-
- Music recording producer
- Leo de Klerk
-
- Gaffer
- Zen Bloot
-
- Production assistant
- Zoë de Wilde
-
- Score reader
- Niek Wijns
-
- Make up
- Marloes Bovenlander, Jamila el Bouch
-
- Camera assistant
- Izak de Dreu
-
- Best boy
- Jur Oster
-
- Music recording assistants
- Jaap Firet, Jaap van Stenis, Bobby Verbakel
-
- Music edit and mix
- Leo de Klerk, Frank van der Weij
-
- Music edit and mix assistant
- Nina Kraszewska
-
- Colorist
- Jef Grosfeld
-
- Interview
- Gijs Besseling, Kasper Koudenburg
-
- Acknowledgements
- Nienke Meuleman
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