Chapter 4 BWV 21 Ich Hatte Viel Bekümmernis in Meinem Herzen

Chapter 4 BWV 21 Ich hatte viel Bekümmernis in meinem Herzen.

I had so much sorrow within my heart.

PART 1

Sinfonia--chorus--aria (sop)--recit (tenor)--aria (tenor)--chorus.

PART 2

Recit (sop/bass)--aria (sop/bass)--chorus/chorale--aria (tenor)--chorus.

The third cantata of the cycle for the Third Sunday after Trinity

We approach a cantata which begins and ends differently from the first two of the cycle i.e. there is no simple closing chorale and the first movement replaces the expected chorus with a sinfonia. Most, or possibly all of this work is thought to have been written about 1713 (Dürr pp 408-9) but there is little certainty about the details. Suffice it to say that by the end of his third Sunday at Leipzig Bach had presented his congregations with forty-nine original movements. Perhaps they had all been composed prior to his taking up his appointment so although he was not under great creative pressure, nevertheless he contrived to present a huge range of invention and musical styles to his sophisticated audiences. One wonders to what degreethey appreciated it.

PART 1.

It is seldom if ever that a Bach sinfonia for oboe and strings lacks intense emotive power and this one is no exception. It is a continuous discourse between oboe and first violin, quite possibly suggestive of the dialogue structure (Christ and the Soul) to be found in later movements. The character reflects the opening words of the following chorus----my heart is deeply afflicted----thuspreparing us for this expression of human sadness and distress. On two occasions (bar 15 and just before the end) the melodic flow pauses, perhaps suggesting a contained sob and a catching of the breath. The supporting continuo line is one of almost unbroken quavers a throbbing, perhaps, of a heart under stress.

The chorus follows immediately in the same dark key of Cm. Three chords proclaim the one word, ich----I----giving a clear indication of individual focus upon the grief that is expressed. This cantata, at least at this early stage, is clearly an expression of personal grief not of communal entreaty. The choir then proceeds with a series of close entries of a single theme initially in the order S, A, T and B, makingstriking use of the repetition of a single note, a device which Bach employs frequently; it may suggest persistence, weary plodding, something ongoing/enduring or even a sense of determination, depending upon the context. The form is not that of a fugue but of close, intense imitation, conveying deep feelings of sorrow as the intensity of a single melodic strand is repeated and entwined within a closely wrought texture of counterpoint. It is astonishing how Bach contrives to spin so much musical meaning and feeling from the seemingly continuous repetition of a single idea.

Just as we might expect the movement to draw to a close there is a short rest, a necessary breathing space followed by two adagio chords. They introduce a buoyant vivace which expresses the rejuvenation of the soul through the comfort of God’s words. Indeed, the transformation seems little short of miraculous as bars of sweeping semi-quavers in all but the continuo parts suggest the revived Seele----soul. But the lighter mood is shortlived as the final bars return us to the slower tempo and prepare us for a movement of breathtaking intensity.

This aria for soprano,obligato oboe and continuo offers little in the way of consolation but much in the way of musical delight. The ritornello melody is a miracle of musical construction, meandering above a solid but unobtrusive continuo line. All is now melody, with little else in the texture to distract us. And yet, like the soprano messenger herself, we are distracted by twoabrupt and extraordinary cadences (bars 5 and 7). Without warning, the harmony suddenly shifts to startling diminished 7th dissonances suggesting the catching of the breath in moments of deepest misery----sobs and tears, fear and death all gnaw at my heart and distress me deeply. Indeed, were these moments anticipated by the instances of hiatus in the opening sinfonia?

The unexpected cadences return at bars 14 and 22 and the singer leaves us with a series of heavy descending musical sighs of anguish. The original oboe melody is too good not to be fully repeated in full; and so it is, to close the movement.

So far a sinfonia, a bipartite chorus, a deeply expressive aria and now a recitative; it cannot be said that Bach’s cantatas lack variety. This, for tenor, is accompanied by strings, a practice that Bach employed frequently at this stage of the cycle. The minor mode and the theme of isolation are both retained as the question is asked----why do You forsake me and ignore my distress?----You once delighted me but now, even though I seek You everywhere, You seem unaware of my anguish. The disposition of the vocal line lightens as bygone delights of God’s presence are recalled (bar 10-11) but the atmosphere of gloom is not dispelled. It is, in fact, accentuated in the final phrases leading to,not the expected perfect-cadence close, but a Phrygian cadence highlighting Db to C as the lastbass notes. In a technical sense this cantata could be viewed as a text book in the use of original and highly expressive cadences.

The dullest congregation member should have been able to make the connection between the continual semi-quaver movement of the tenor aria and the central image; streams, indeed floods of salt tears flowing continually. Both strings and voice create an image of continual movement; but it is a stream which must initially be somewhat constrained because of the contrast which is yet to erupt as it transmutes into a fully blown tempest----the storms and waves that are destroying me. There are only four bars of violence (from bar 24) but the faster tempo and long convoluted melisma on versehren----storm, tempest----has great dramatic effect.

But the prevailing mood is more of contained personal grief than it is an unconstrained outpouring of emotion and Bach returns to the original salty streams with a number of poignant pieces of word painting; note the sinking into the ground (33-4) and the peering into the jaws of hell itself (35).The aria concludes with a da capo recapitulation of the first section, closing just before the allegro bars.

Most unusually there are four choruses in this cantata; Bach’s singers must have been left in no doubt that their new Cantor intended to work them very hard right from the very beginning. This secondchorus is significant, not simply due to its placement at the precise centre of the cantata but because it makes the initial transition between the state of alienation and ultimate reunion with the Lord. The first part of this work deals principally with the former, the second part with the latter.

Bach’s care in reflecting both the meaning and disposition of the short tract of text in the structure of the movement is noteworthy and is best set out as follows:

Section 1, bars 1-10: a sumptuous, almost romantically expressive putting of the essential question----why, Soul are you so dejected?

Section 2,bars 10-25: a spirited portrayal of the disturbed state of being in which the soul presently exits, ending abruptly and unexpectedly.

Section 3, bars 26-42: I shall wait upon God and give Him thanks:a return to the slow tempo with the inclusion of a short, deeply expressive oboe solo evoking the sense of time itself standing.

Section 4, bars43-74: a return to the faster tempo and the affirmation that He is the help of my countenance and, most significantly, He is my God. A double fugal exposition (initially in the order A, S, T, B and thence B,T, A and S) conveys this message with reiterated vigour. (Note, yet again, the repeated notes of the fugal subject).

The coda is an adagio restatement of the words----[He}remains my God. The point has been made and, although the tremulous soul may subsequently wish for further reassurance from the Saviour, the essential transition from estrangement to delivery has begun.

PART 2.

Part 2 begins, somewhat unusually, with a recitative for soprano and bass. But there is good reason for this. The previous chorus provided a lifeline, a simple and direct solution to the worried Christian’s doubts and fears. But now is the moment for any lingering doubts to be expressed and allayed. This is achieved through a dialogue between Soul and Christ and it takes place as a direct discourse. This was a well established convention of the time and Bach composed four ‘dialogue’ cantatas for just the two voices following the second cycle (see Cs 57, 32, 49 and 58, Vol 3, chapters 7, 11, 30 and 35)

The text, bound by tradition, allows for little of deep sentiment or originality; but it serves its purpose by developing the immortal soul’s relationship with the Saviour----where are You?----all is darkness and I need Your radiance. Jesus utters words of comforting reassurance and much of the misery and alienation depicted in the earlier movements seems dispelled. There are numerous subtle examples of word painting: the low C on ‘nacht’----night (bar 6) the motion of the upper strings at the mention of the night fiends (bar 9) and the representation of ‘sweet refreshment’ after the struggles with estrangement (final bars).

The dialogue is continued in the following aria as the soul seeks replenishment and continues to vacillate between doubt and certainty. There is still a degree of unrest----yes, I am lost (no, you are chosen) ---- no, You hate me (ah, but I love You). All of this is clearly expressed in the shapings of the melodic lines. Bach structures the initial dialogue so that Soul’s and Christ’s questions and answers appear at first with a sense of reserve, but they rapidly draw closer. Key words such as ‘delight’ and ‘living’ are emphasised through melismas.

From bar 37the 4/4 time signature gives way to 3/8 and a rustic dance ensues, a happy event which seems to evoke characteristics of both the minuet and the gigue----sweeten my heart, vanish sorrow and anguish. A short reprise of the first section ends the movement, the continuo having the last word as the principal melody of the movements quietly melts away.

The third chorus simply confirms and ruminates upon what has gone before----be content my soul, for the Lord comforts you. This is a long (over 200 bars) and fully developed movement in which the tenor(latterly the soprano) sings a verse of the hymn, enclosed within a tapestry of counterpoint wrought by the other three voices. The chorale stanzas make the point that sorrow is meaningless and simply brings more woe upon itself----think not that you are forsaken and that God only favours the fortunate. Soprano, bass and alto entwine around each other in carefully balanced falling, then rising, scales. The effect is one of measured and committed acceptance, the Soul is convinced and reassured; doubts have been fully dispelled. It is a sumptuous and tender setting, giving the congregation an opportunity to reflect upon the main thesis of the work.

In a sense the final aria for tenor might be considered musically one of the slightest; it is a continuo aria without an obligato instrument and its infectious jollity lacks the profundity of earlier movements. But the joy of the redeemed Christian is not a complex, intense or philosophical matter; it is a genuine reflection of human pleasure and satisfaction. One might,perhaps, have expected the soprano,previously the voice of the soul, to have presented this assertion of affirmation, as indeed some recordings do. But perhaps the universality of acceptance of faith is emphasised by its expression through a different voice.

The theme is one of rejoicing and banishing sorrow, the images are of pure wine, singing and the burning of the uncorrupted flame of love. The rolling bass line is probably intended to reflect them all—the overtpouring of wine with the rhythmic catches perhaps reflecting the flickering flame. But above all, the mood is one of joy and acceptance; and might there also be a hinted suggestion of relief?

If the aria seems a trifle superficial, the same criticism cannot be made of the closing chorus. At last the Leipzig congregation are to hear what Bach can to with three trumpets and timpani, forces he frequently calls upon for celebratory events but which he has so far kept waiting in the wings. The stately and dignified opening proclaims the worthiness of the Slain Lamb----it may now receive power, wealth, wisdom and glory; a fitting conclusion for a work which is preoccupied with rediscovered faith.

But Bach is not quite finished and he erupts into a grandiose fugue subject based upon the initial notes of the first trumpet. The voices enter, symbolically, from lowest to highest, B, T, A and S. The countersubject is a stream of semiquavers which leads naturally into the deluge of amens and alleluias which conclude this extraordinary work. Redemption has been offered and accepted and it is now appropriate to give honour, praise and glory to God for now and for all eternity

Although Dürr is of the view that this cantata was not conceived as a single artistic unity, some movements being added at a later stage, it is difficult to escape the conclusion that structurally it is an almost perfect holistic expression of the theme of alienation followed by the regaining of faith and intimacy. If indeed Bach did extend it latterly, it demonstrates the degree to which he was able to re-enter into the essence of the original work andperfectly recapture its spirit.

LINK: