Nicht so traurig, nicht so sehr
BWV 384 performed by the Netherlands Bach Society
Sint-Gertrudiskerk, Bergen op Zoom
Behind the music
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Story
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Musical island
A Bach chorale that generated relatively little interest
Some of the chorales that Bach set in four parts belong to a long tradition: their words are well-known and their melodies instantly recognisable. Moreover, many chorales recur in the organ works, Passions and cantatas by Bach himself and those of other composers. But the collection of chorale harmonisations published after Bach’s death also contained many cases – such as this BWV 384 – that stand alone and have remained almost a sort of musical island.
The words of Nicht so traurig, nicht so sehr are by the German preacher and poet Paul Gerhardt, and were published for the first time in 1647. The hymn became known mainly in a setting to a melody by Johann Crüger. The melody that Bach harmonises, however, is not seen anywhere else, which is why it was probably written by Bach himself. In hymn books published after Bach’s death as well, the text of Gerhardt’s hymn was always linked to another melody until far into the nineteenth century: sometimes the one by Crüger, and sometimes another one, but never the melody by Bach. In an Allgemeines und vollständiges Choralbuch, published in 1845, four different melodies are given for Nicht so traurig, nicht so sehr, none of which are by Bach.
Although it was most probably sung or played earlier somewhere, the first public performance we know of was in 1896, at a concert in Leipzig. Almost a century passed before Bach’s chorale generated more than average interest again. In 1984, the Polish composer Augustyn Bloch (1929-2006) took it as the starting point for his Canti per coro ed organo über den Chroral von Johann Sebastian Bach “Nicht so traurig, nicht so sehr”. The occasion was a commission for a composition for the festivities in Leipzig to celebrate the 300th anniversary of Bach’s birth. And now it’s the turn of All of Bach to draw attention to BWV 384.
- BWV
- 384
- Title
- Nicht so traurig, nicht so sehr
- Genre
- chorales
- Lyricist
- Paul Gerhardt (1647)
Extra videos
Vocal texts
Original
Nicht so traurig, nicht so sehr,
meine Seele, sei betrübt,
dass dir Gott Glück, Gut und Ehr
nicht so viel wie andern gibt,
nimm fürlieb mit deinem Gott,
hast du Gott, so hats nicht Not.
Ei, so richte dich empor,
du betrübtes Angesicht,
lass das Seufzen, nimm hervor
deines Glaubens Freudenlicht,
das behalt, wann dich die Nacht,
deines Kummers traurig macht
Führe deines Lebens Lauf
allzeit Gottes eingedenk;
wie es kömmt, nimm alles auf
als ein wohlbedacht Geschenk;
geht dirs widrig, lass es gehen,
Gott im Himmel bleibt dir stehn.
Translation
Don’t be envious, do not brood,
o my soul, don’t be upset
if what God has given you
is less than what others get.
Love your God, avoid all greed;
having God is all you need.
So then, lift your sights on high,
you, my troubled, downcast face;
leave behind that worried sigh
for the joy of faithful grace.
Hold on steady when the night
of your sorrows brings you fright.
Lead your life and stay on course,
always keep your God in mind;
take what comes, with no remorse
as a gift well-meant and kind.
In hard times, stay firm and true,
God in heaven stands with you.
translation © Ruth van Baak Griffioen, 2025
Credits
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- Release date
- 11 september 2025
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- Recording date
- 6 May 2024
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- Location
- Sint-Gertrudiskerk, Bergen op Zoom
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- Soprano
- Marta Paklar
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- Alto
- Sofia Gvirts
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- Tenor
- João Moreira
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- Bass
- Matthew Baker
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- Theorbe
- David Mackor
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- Director and editor
- Onno van Ameijde
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- Music recording
- Guido Tichelman, Pim van der Lee
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- Music edit and mix
- Guido Tichelman
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- Camera
- Jesper Blok, Jorne Tielemans
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- Focus pull
- Glenn van Neerden
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- Lights
- Jorne Tielemans, Patrick Galvin
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- Project manager nep
- Ron Vermeulen
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- Assistant music recording
- Marloes Biermans
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- Producer
- Lisanne Marlou de Kok, Stephan Esmeijer
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