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Subject Area: Music
Subject Area: Religion

Cantata CXVII.: Sei Lob und Ehr’ dem höchsten Gut ( c. 1733) 1 - 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 CXVII.

Sei Lob und Ehr’ dem höchsten Gut (c. 1733)1

A Choral Cantata, on Johann Jakob Schütz’ Hymn of Thanksgiving, “Sei Lob und Ehr’ dem hochsten Gut,” first published in his Christliches Gedenckbüchlein, zu Beforderung eines anfangenden neuen Lebens (Frankfort a. Main, 1675).

Schütz was born at Frankfort a. Main in 1640, practised as an advocate, and died there in 1690.

The melody “Es ist das Heil uns kommen her” (see Cantata 9), which Bach uses for the Hymn, is generally associated with it in the Hymn books.

(a)

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

  • * Sei Lob und Ehr’ dem höchsten Gut,
  • Dem Vater aller Güte,
  • Dem Gott, der alle Wunder thut,
  • Dem Gott, der mein Gemuthe
  • Mit seinem reichen Trost erfüllt,
  • Dem Gott, der allen Jammer stillt.
  • Gebt unserm Gott die Ehre!

  • B.G. xxiv. 161.

Translations of the Hymn into English are noted in the Dictionary of Hymnology, p. 1018.

Form. Choral Fantasia (2 Fl., 2 Ob., Strings, Continuo).

(b)

The words of the fourth movement are the fourth stanza of Schütz’ Hymn:

  • * Ich rief dem Herrn in meiner Noth:
  • Ach Gott, vernimm mein Schreien!
  • Da half mein Helfer mir vom Tod
  • Und liess mir Trost gedeihen.
  • Drum dank’, ach Gott, drum dank’ ich dir;
  • Ach danket, danket Gott mit mir!
  • Gebt unserm Gott die Ehre!

  • B.G. xxiv. 172.

Form. Simple (Continuo). Choralgesange, No. 90.

(c)

The words of the concluding Choral are the ninth stanza of Schütz’ Hymn:

  • * So kommet vor sein Angesicht
  • Mit jauchzenvollem Springen;
  • Bezahlet die gelobte Pflicht,
  • Und lasst uns frohlich singen:
  • Gott hat es Alles wohl bedacht
  • Und Alles, Alles wohl gemacht!
  • Gebt unserm Gott die Ehre!

  • B.G. xxiv. 172.

Form. Simple (Continuo). Choralgesange, No. 90.

[1 ] The Score does not indicate the occasion for which the Cantata was designed. Every movement of the Cantata is a stanza of the Hymn.