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Subject Area: Music
Subject Area: Religion

Cantata CVI.: Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit 1 . “Actus Tragicus 2 ” (1711) - 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 CVI.

Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit1 . “Actus Tragicus2 ” (1711)

lf1393-02_figure_165

Melody: “Ich weiss mir ein Roslein hübsch und fein”

Anon. 1589

lf1393-02_figure_166

Melody: “Ich hab’ mein Sach’ Gott heimgestellt”

Anon. 1609

(a)

Into the opening movement Bach introduces a melody which he has not employed elsewhere in the Cantatas, Motetts, or Oratorios. It is found in Johann Rhau’s Gesangbuch (Frankfort a. Main, 1589) as the Tenor in a four-part setting of the secular song, “Ich weiss mir ein Roslein hübsch und fein,” and becomes the melody of the Hymn “Ich hab’ mein Sach’ Gott heimgestellt” in Melchior Vulpius’ Ein schön geistlich Gesangbuch (Jena, 1609). Bach uses it in the orchestral accompaniment of this movement. The first line of the melody is identical with the 1565 tune, “Warum betrübst du” (see Cantata 47). The 1589 descant melody was appropriated to the same Hymn in 1598 and is used by Bach in Choralgesange, No. 182; Organ Works, N. xviii. 54, 58.

(b)

The words and melody of the Choral in the third movement are from Luther’s version of the “Nunc Dimittis,” “Mit Fried’ und Freud’ ich fahr’ dahin” (see Cantata 83). The words are the first stanza of the Hymn:

  • Mit Fried’ und Freud’ ich fahr’ dahin
  • In Gottes Willen;
  • Getrost ist mir mein Herz und Sinn,
  • Sanft und stille.
  • Wie Gott mir verheissen hat;
  • Der Tod ist mein Schlaf worden.

  • B.G. xxiii. 166.

Form. A Dialogus for Alto and Bass, the Alto having the melody (2 Viole da gamba, Continuo).

(c)

The melody of the concluding Choral is Seth Calvisius’ “In dich hab’ ich gehoffet, Herr” (see Cantata 52).

The words are the seventh stanza of Adam Reissner’s Hymn, “In dich hab’ ich gehoffet, Herr” (see Cantata 52):

  • Glorie, Lob, Ehr’ und Herrlichkeit
  • Sei dir, Gott Vater1 und Sohn bereit,
  • Dem heil’gen Geist mit Namen!
  • Die göttlich’ Kraft
  • Mach’ uns sieghaft
  • Durch Jesum Christum. Amen.

  • B.G. xxiii. 173.

Form. Choral Fantasia (2 Fl., 2 Viole da gamba, Continuo)2 .

[1 ] English versions of the Cantata are published by Novello & Co., “God’s time is the best,” and Breitkopf & Haertel, “God’s time is best.”

[2 ] Spitta, i. 456, suggests that the Cantata was written for the funeral of Philipp Grossgebauer, Rector of the school at Wermar, in 1711. Schweitzer, ii. 125, conjectures that the libretto was written by Bach himself.

[1 ] 1533 Sei Gott vatern.

[2 ] See Spitta, i. 463, on the movement.