Nach dir, Herr, verlanget mich

Nach dir, Herr, verlanget mich

BWV 150 performed by the Netherlands Bach Society
conducted by Shunske Sato
Groote Kerk, Maassluis

  • Menu
  • 1. Sinfonia
  • 2. Nach dir, Herr, verlanget mich
  • 3. Doch bin und bleibe ich vergnügt
  • 4. Leite mich in deiner Wahrheit
  • 5. Cedern müssen von den Winden
  • 6. Meine Augen sehen stets
  • 7. Meine Tage in dem Leide

Behind the music

Story
Story
Texts
Texts
Credits
Credits

Short and sweet

This delicate and small-scale cantata is one of Bach's earliest cantatas

In barely 14 minutes, the atmosphere in this cantata changes countless times. This kind of variation in tempo and character is typical of Bach’s early cantatas – and Nach dir, Herr, verlanget mich certainly belongs to that category. It is even referred to sometimes as his earliest cantata. This appears, among other things, from the acrostic that is incorporated in the odd parts of the cantata: the initial letters of the lines of these parts together form the name of the municipal councilor of Mühlhausen who had an important vote in the appointment of Bach as organist there in the year 1707.

Following a melancholy instrumental sinfonia, the singers enter with the first verse of Psalm 25. Bach illustrates the text very precisely. Long chromatic lines illustrate ‘Nach dir, Herr, verlanget mich’, while ‘zu Schanden werden’ is combined with a sort of downwards fall and the word ‘freuen’ is accompanied by quick laughing notes. Over the course of the piece, the impressive moments succeed one another, including the unusual terzetto ‘Cedern müssen von den Winden’, in which the bass seems to represent the rustling trees while the singers stand firm. There is a wonderful rising scale by the vocal and violin parts in ‘Leite mich’. And the string parts in ‘Meine Augen’ are also impressive. The cantata ends with an incredible final chorus in the form of a chaconne, whose bass line inspired Brahms for the final section of his Symphony no. 4.

BWV
150
Title
Nach dir, Herr, verlanget mich
Genre
cantatas
Year
ca. 1707
City
Mühlhausen
Lyricist
unknown, psalm 25:1-2, 5-6

With support from

Stichting Elise Mathilde Fonds

Extra videos

Vocal texts

Original

1. Sinfonia

2. Coro
Nach dir, Herr, verlanget mich.
Mein Gott, ich hoffe auf dich.
Laß mich nicht zuschanden werden,
dass sich meine Feinde nicht
freuen über mich.

3. Arie (Sopran)
Doch bin und bleibe ich vergnügt,
Obgleich hier zeitlich toben
Kreuz, Sturm und andre Proben,
Tod, Höll und was sich fügt.
Ob Unfall schlägt den treuen Knecht,
Recht ist und bleibet ewig Recht.

4. Coro
Leite mich in deiner Wahrheit
und lehre mich;
denn du bist der Gott, der mir hilft,
täglich harre ich dein.

5. Arie (Alt, Tenor, Bass)
Cedern müssen von den Winden
Oft viel Ungemach empfinden,
Niemals werden sie verkehrt.
Rat und Tat auf Gott gestellet,
Achtet nicht, was widerbellet,
Denn sein Wort ganz anders lehrt.

6. Coro
Meine Augen sehen stets
zu dem Herrn;
denn er wird meinen Fuß aus dem
Netze ziehen.

7. Ciaccona
Meine Tage in dem Leide
Endet Gott dennoch zur Freude;
Christen auf den Dornenwegen
Krönet Himmels Kraft und Segen.
Bleibet Gott mein treuer Schutz,
Achte ich nicht Menschentrutz,
Christus, der uns steht zur Seiten,
Hilft mir täglich sieghaft streiten.

Translation

1. Sinfonia

2. Chorus
Unto Thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
O my God, I trust in Thee.
Let me not be ashamed,
let not mine enemies
triumph over me.

3. Aria
Yet I am and shall remain content,
though cross, storm and other trials
may rage here on earth,
death, hell, and what must be.
Though mishap strike Thy faithful servant,
right is and remains ever right.

4. Chorus
Lead me in Thy truth,
and teach me:
for Thou art the God of my salvation;
on Thee do I wait all the day.

5. Aria
Cedars must before the tempest
often suffer much torment,
and are often uprooted.
Entrust to God both thought and deed,
do not heed what howls against you,
for His word teaches us quite otherwise.

6. Chorus
Mine eyes are ever
toward the Lord;
for He shall pluck my feet
out of the net.

7. Ciaccona
All my days of suffering
are ended by God in gladness;
Christians on the thorny paths
are led by heaven’s power and blessing.
If God remains my faithful jewel,
I shall ignore human affliction;
Christ, who stands by us,
helps me daily win the battle.

Credits

  • Release date
    3 September 2020
  • Recording date
    21 September 2019
  • Location
    Groote Kerk, Maassluis
  • Violin and direction
    Shunske Sato
  • Soprano
    Griet De Geyter
  • Alto
    Bernadett Nagy
  • Tenor
    Guy Cutting
  • Bass
    Drew Santini
  • Violin 2
    Pieter Affourtit
  • Cello
    Lucia Swarts
  • Double bass
    Robert Franenberg
  • Bassoon
    Benny Aghassi
  • Organ
    Leo van Doeselaar
  • Harpsichord
    Siebe Henstra
  • Director and editor
    Bas Wielenga
  • Music recording
    Guido Tichelman, Bastiaan Kuijt, Pim van der Lee
  • Music edit and mix
    Guido Tichelman
  • Camera
    Martin Struijf, Gideon Krijnen, Jesper Blok, Menco van Duren
  • Lights
    Zen Bloot, Henry Rodgers, Patrick Galvin, Fiona Verkleij
  • Assistant director
    Ferenc Soeteman
  • Set technique
    Justin Mutsaers
  • Project manager team eng
    Ron Vermeulen
  • Producer concert
    Imke Deters, Marco Meijdam
  • Producer film
    Jessie Verbrugh
  • Acknowledgement
    Groote Kerk Maassluis, Stichting Muziek tussen Maas en Sluis
  • With support from
    Stichting Elise Mathilde Fonds

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