Der Friede sei mit dir
BWV 158 performed by the Netherlands Bach Society
conducted by Hans-Christoph Rademann
Grote Kerk, Harlingen
Behind the music
Story
Story
Extra videos
Extra videos
Texts
Texts
Credits
Credits
Heavenly peace and earthly unrest
We do not know for what occasion this austere cantata was intended
Was this piece composed for the third day of Easter or for the Purification? The music has survived only in copies, which refer to both occasions. The fact that the words are about Simeon argues in favour of the Purification, which celebrates the presentation of Jesus in the temple. According to the Gospel of Luke, the devout Simeon held the new-born baby Jesus in his arms, thus fulfilling the prophecy and allowing Simeon to die in peace. Arguing in favour of Easter, however, is the final chorale, which is a real Easter hymn. So the score stands at 1-1.
It is also possible that it concerns parts from various cantatas, put together at a later date by Bach or somebody else, for an unknown occasion. Four singers are needed for the final chorale, but only a bass and a soprano for the rest of the score. The cantata is extremely short and has an austere setting. All the movements revolve around the contrast between heavenly peace and earthly unrest. Heaven beckons, as the earth is filled with wars, fighting and vanity.
- BWV
- 158
- Title
- Der Friede sei mit dir
- Instrument
- bass
- Genre
- cantatas
- Year
- unknown
- City
- Weimar?/Leipzig?
- Lyricist
- unknown, chorales by Johann Georg Albinus and Martin Luther
- Occasion
- The Purification or the third day of Easter
- First performance
- unknown
- Special notes
- This cantata may be compiled of excerpts from two different pieces. It is thought that the second and third movements originated in Weimar and the first and fourth were added in Leipzig.
Vocal texts
Original
1. Rezitativ (Bass)
Der Friede sei mit dir,
du ängstliches Gewissen!
Dein Mittler stehet hier,
der hat dein Schuldenbuch
und des Gesetzes Fluch
verglichen und zerrissen.
Der Friede sei mit dir,
der Fürste dieser Welt,
der deiner Seele nachgestellt,
ist durch des Lammes Blut
bezwungen und gefällt.
Mein Herz, was bist du so betrübt,
da dich doch Gott durch Christum liebt?
Er selber spricht zu mir:
Der Friede sei mit dir!
2. Aria (Bass, Soprano)
Welt, ade, ich bin dein müde,
Salems Hütten stehn mir an,
Welt, ade, ich bin dein müde,
ich will nach dem Himmel zu,
wo ich Gott in Ruh und Friede
ewig selig schauen kann.
da wird sein der rechte Friede
und die ewig stolze Ruh.
Da bleib ich, da hab ich Vergnügen zu wohnen,
Welt, bei dir ist Krieg und Streit,
nichts denn lauter Eitelkeit;
da prang ich gezieret mit himmlischen Kronen.
in dem Himmel allezeit
Friede, Freud und Seligkeit.
3. Rezitativ, Arioso (Bass)
Nun, Herr, regiere meinen Sinn,
damit ich auf der Welt,
so lang es dir, mich hier zu lassen,
noch gefällt,
ein Kind des Friedens bin,
und lass mich zu dir aus meinen Leiden
wie Simeon in Frieden scheiden!
Da bleib ich, da hab ich
Vergnügen zu wohnen,
da prang ich gezieret mit himmlischen Kronen.
4. Choral
Hier ist das rechte Osterlamm,
davon Gott hat geboten,
das ist hoch an des Kreuzes Stamm
in heißer Lieb gebraten,
des Blut zeichnet unsre Tür,
das hält der Glaub dem Tode für,
der Würger kann uns nicht rühren.
Halleluja!
Translation
1. Recitative
Peace be unto you,
O troubled conscience!
Your intercessor stands here,
He has annulled and torn up
your book of guilt
and the curse of the Law.
Peace be unto you:
the Prince of this world,
who has lain in wait for your soul,
has been overcome and laid low
by the blood of the Lamb.
My heart, why are you so downcast,
since God loves you through Christ?
He Himself saith to me:
Peace be unto you!
2. Arie
World, farewell, I am weary of you,
Salem’s dwellings are what is meet for me,
World, farewell, I am weary of you,
I wish to enter Heaven,
where I may contemplate God
in peace and calm and eternal bliss.
where there is true peace
and eternal stately repose.
There shall I abide, there delight to dwell,
World, you know but war and strife,
naught but merest vanity;
there be crowned in the glory of heavenly splendour.
in Heaven there always reigns
peace, happiness and bliss.
3. Recitative, Arioso
Now, O Lord, govern my thoughts,
that I in this world,
for as long as it pleases Thee
to let me stay,
may be a child of peace,
and let me turn
from my affliction to Thee,
like Simeon, in peace!
There shall I abide, there delight to dwell,
there be crowned in the glory of heavenly splendour.
4. Chorale
Here is the true Easter Lamb,
that God has offered;
high on the tree of the cross
it was burned in ardent love.
His blood marks our door,
faith holds it up in the face of death,
the strangler cannot touch us.
Alleluia!
Credits
-
- Release date
- 1 July 2016
-
- Recording date
- 23 January 2016
-
- Location
- Grote Kerk, Harlingen
-
- Conductor
- Hans-Christoph Rademann
-
- Bass
- Matthew Brook
-
- Soprano
- Zsuzsi Tóth
-
- Ripieno alto
- Barnabás Hegyi
-
- Ripieno tenor
- Daniel Johannsen
-
- Violin
- Sayuri Yamagata
-
- Cello
- Lucia Swarts
-
- Double bass
- Robert Franenberg
-
- Oboe
- Martin Stadler
-
- Organ
- Bart Naessens
-
- Harpsichord
- Siebe Henstra
-
- Director
- Simon Aarden
-
- Assistant director
- Ferenc Soetman
-
- Music recording
- Guido Tichelman, Bastiaan Kuijt, Micha de Kanter
-
- Music producer and editor
- Guido Tichelman
-
- Gaffer
- Daan de Boer, Arjen Seykens
-
- Camera
- Bart ten Harkel, Thijs Struick, Chris Reichgelt
-
- Data handler
- Vincent Nugteren
-
- Editor
- Pjotr 's Gravesande
-
- Project manager
- Peter Ribbens
-
- Technique
- Martin Struijf, Glenn van den Eerden, Marco Korzelius
-
- Data management
- Jasper Blok
-
- Interview
- Gijs Besseling, Jan Van den Bossche
-
- Producer concert
- Imke Deters
-
- Producer film
- Marco Meijdam
-
- Acknowledgements
- Guusje Roos
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