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Front Page arrow Titles (by Subject) arrow Cantata CLXXXV.: Barmherziges Herze der ewigen Liebe. Fourth Sunday after Trinity (1715) - Bach's Chorals, vol. 2 The Hymns and Hymn Melodies of the Cantatas and Motetts

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Subject Area: Music
Subject Area: Religion

Cantata CLXXXV.: Barmherziges Herze der ewigen Liebe. Fourth Sunday after Trinity (1715) - 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 CLXXXV.

Barmherziges Herze der ewigen Liebe. Fourth Sunday after Trinity (1715)

The words and melody of the concluding Choral are from Johannes Agricola’s Hymn, “Ich ruf’ zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ” (see Cantata 177).

The words are the first stanza of the Hymn:

  • Ich ruf’ zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ,
  • Ich bitt’: erhor’ mein Klagen,
  • Verleih’ mir Gnad’ zu dieser Frist,
  • Lass mich doch nicht verzagen;
  • Den rechten Weg, O Herr1 , ich mein’,
  • Den wollest du mir geben,
  • Dir zu leben,
  • Mein’m Nachsten nutz zu sein2 ,
  • Dein Wort zu halten eben.
  • B.G. xxxvii. 118.

Form. Embellished (Tromba, Oboe, Fagotto, Strings, Continuo). Choralgesange, No. 184.

In the opening movement of the Cantata (B.G. xxvii. 103), the Soprano-Tenor Duetto “Barmherziges Herze,” the melody of the Choral is introduced upon the Tromba or Oboe. The insertion of the melody transforms the Cantata, whose burden otherwise is a lament over human frailty.

[1 ] 1531 glauben, Herr.

[2 ] 1531 nutz sein.