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Subject Area: Music
Subject Area: Religion

Cantata XXXVIII.: Aus tiefer Noth schrei ich zu dir 2 . Twenty-first Sunday after Trinity ( c. 1740) - Johann Sebastian Bach, Bach’s Chorals, vol. 2 The Hymns and Hymn Melodies of the Cantatas and Motetts [1917]

Edition used:

Bach’s Chorals. Part I: 2 The Hymns and Hymn Melodies of the Cantatas and Motetts, by Charles Sanford Terry (Cambridge University Press, 1915-1921). 3 vols. Vol. 2.

Part of: Bach’s Chorals, 3 vols.

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Cantata XXXVIII.

Aus tiefer Noth schrei ich zu dir2 . Twenty-first Sunday after Trinity (c. 1740)

lf1393-02_figure_110

Melody: “Aus tiefer Noth schrei ich zu dir”

? Martin Luther 1524

A Choral Cantata, on Martin Luther’s free translation of Psalm cxxx, written in 1523 and published in 1524, with the melody, in Walther’s Geystliche gesangk Buchleyn (Wittenberg). An earlier version of the Hymn (with the melody) is in Eyn Enchiridion oder Handbuchlein (Erfurt, 1524), and (to another tune) in Etlich Christlich lider (Wittenberg, 1524). The tune is known as “Luther’s 130th,” and may be regarded with some probability as his composition.

The melody does not occur elsewhere in the Cantatas or Oratorios. Organ Works, N. xvi. 68, 72.

(a)

The words of the opening movement are the first stanza of Luther’s Hymn:

  • Aus tiefer Noth schrei ich zu dir,
  • Herr Gott, erhör’ mein Rufen!
  • Dein’ gnadig’ Ohr’ neig her zu mir1 ,
  • Und meiner Bitt’ sie offne.
  • Denn so du willt das sehen an,
  • Was Sund’ und Unrecht ist gethan;
  • Wer kann, Herr, vor dir bleiben?

  • B.G. vii. 285.

Translations of the Hymn into English are noted in the Dictionary of Hymnology, pp. 96, 1607.

Form. Choral Motett (2 Ob., 4 Trombones, Strings, Continuo). Erk, No. 150.

(b)

The words of the concluding Choral are the fifth stanza of Luther’s Hymn:

  • Ob bei uns ist der Sunden viel,
  • Bei Gott ist viel mehr Gnade,
  • Sein’ Hand zu helfen hat kein Ziel,
  • Wie gross auch ser der Schade.
  • Er ist allein der gute Hirt,
  • Der Israel erlosen wird
  • Aus seinen Sunden allen.

  • B.G. vii. 300.

Form. Simple (4 Trombones, 2 Ob., Strings, Continuo). Choralgesange, No. 31.

Bach introduces the melody (basso marcato) into the accompaniment of the Soprano Recitativo a battuta, “Ach! dass mein Glaube” (B.G. vii. 295).

[2 ] An English version of the Cantata, “From depths of woe I call on Thee,” is published by Novello & Co.

[1 ] 1524 Deyn gnedig oren ker zu myr.