Ich habe genung

Ich habe genung

BWV 82 performed by the Netherlands Bach Society
conducted by Lars Ulrik Mortensen
Geertekerk, Utrecht

  • Menu
  • 1. Ich habe genung (Arie)
  • 2. Ich habe genung (Rezitativ)
  • 3. Schlummert ein (Arie)
  • 4. Mein Gott! (Rezitativ)
  • 5. Ich freue mich (Arie)

Behind the music

Story
Story
Extra videos
Extra videos
Texts
Texts
Credits
Credits

The lullaby for eternal sleep

Bach's work does not get much more intimate than this solo cantata

The Feast of the Purification for which it was composed commemorates the traditional purification sacrifice made by Mary forty days after the birth of Jesus. On this day, she met the old man Simeon, who immediately recognised the tiny Jesus as the Messiah and burst into a song of praise, singing ‘Now I have seen my Saviour, I can die in peace’. Simeon’s Song of Praise – also known as the Nunc Dimittis – was not only sung at the Feast of the Purification on 2 February, but was also given a regular place in the daily Mass at the close of day in monasteries. With the words of the Light of the World in mind, people could go to sleep in peace.

The way that mortality was viewed in the eighteenth century is expressed wonderfully in Ich habe genung. Death was seen as a deliverance from the earthly vale of tears, and as a chance to unite with your creator. So rather than being heart-rending, the music exudes a subdued melancholy. The first aria gives a more or less literal interpretation of Simeon’s emotions. The oboe opens with a plaintive upward leap (a minor sixth). This interval plays an important role throughout the aria.

Then comes the aria that Bach’s biographer Albert Schweitzer called ‘the lullaby for eternal sleep’: Schlummert ein, ihr matten Augen. It invites the listener to slip away from daily cares, gently but forever. And finally, a cheerful dance rhythm celebrates the approaching end. Throughout the cantata, the contribution of the solo wind instrument is crucial. Initially plaintive, then mellow and finally full of optimistic joy, the oboe drives the bass onwards.

 

BWV
82
Title
Ich habe genung
Instrument
bass, oboe
Genre
cantatas
Year
1727
City
Leipzig
Lyricist
unknown
Occasion
the Purification (2 February)
First performance
2 February 1727
Special notes
Arranged in 1731 for soprano and with transverse flute instead of oboe (has not survived intact), in 1735 for mezzo-soprano, in 1747 for bass or mezzo with the addition of oboe da caccia and organ. . There is also a version for organ (BWV Anh. 55) entitled ‘Herr Christ der einig Gotts Sohn.

Extra videos

Conductor Lars Ulrik Mortensen

“Lars Ulrik Mortensen talks about Bach's view on major and minor.”

Bass Thomas Bauer

“Genug or genung? Thomas Bauer pleads in defence of the original spelling.”

Oboe player Martin Stadler

“What if you strip Bach's famous oboe solo of all its frills.”

Vocal texts

Original

1. Arie (Bass)
Ich habe genung,
ich habe den Heiland,
das Hoffen der Frommen,
auf meine begierigen Arme genommen;
ich habe genung!
Ich hab ihn erblickt,
Mein Glaube hat Jesum ans Herze gedrückt;
nun wünsch ich, noch heute mit Freuden
von hinnen zu scheiden.
Ich habe genung!

2. Rezitativ (Bass)
Ich habe genung!
Mein Trost ist nur allein,
dass Jesus mein
und ich sein eigen möchte sein.
Im Glauben halt ich ihn,
da seh ich auch mit Simeon
die Freude jenes Lebens schon.
Lasst uns mit diesem Manne ziehn!
Ach! möchte mich von meines Leibes Ketten
der Herr erretten;
ach! wäre doch mein Abschied hier,
mit Freuden sagt ich, Welt, zu dir:
ich habe genung!

3. Arie (Bass)
Schlummert ein, ihr matten Augen,
fallet sanft und selig zu!
Welt, ich bleibe nicht mehr hier,
hab ich doch kein Teil an dir,
das der Seele könnte taugen.
Hier muss ich das Elend bauen,
aber dort, dort werd ich schauen
süssen Frieden, stille Ruh.

4. Rezitativ (Bass)
Mein Gott! wenn kömmt das schöne: Nun!
Da ich im Friede fahren werde
und in dem Sande kühler Erde
und dort bei dir im Schosse ruhn?
Der Abschied ist gemacht,
Welt, gute Nacht!

5. Arie (Bass)
Ich freue mich auf meinen Tod,
ach, hätt’ er sich schon eingefunden.
Da entkomm ich aller Not,
die mich noch auf der Welt gebunden.

Translation

1. Aria (Bass)
I have enough;
I have taken the savior,
the hope of the pious,
Into my eager arms;
I have enough.
I have beheld him;
My faith has pressed Jesus to my heart;
Now I wish, with joy, this very day
To depart from here:
I have enough.

2. Recitative (Bass)
I have enough.
My one and only consolation is
That Jesus would be my own
and I his.
I hold him in faith;
Thus, with Simeon, I, too, already see
The joy of that life [in heaven].
Let us go with this man [Jesus, to die].
Ah, that from my body’s chains
The Lord would rescue me;
Ah, were indeed my leave-taking here,
I would say with joy to you, world:
I have enough.

3. Aria (Bass)
Fall into [death’s] slumber, you languid eyes,
Droop gently and blissfully shut.
World, I will remain here no longer;
I have indeed no share in you
That could be fit for my soul.
Here [on earth] I must build up misery,
But there [in heaven], there I will look upon
Sweet peace, quiet rest.

4. Recitative (Bass)
My God, when will the beautiful “Now” come,
When I will go in peace,
And rest [here] in the sand of the cold earth
And there with you in the bosom [of Abraham—heaven]? I have taken my leave:
World, good night.

5. Aria (Bass)
I look forward to my death;
Ah, had it already come about.
Then I will escape all the distress
That [had] bound me yet in the world.

transl. © Daniel R. Melamed and Michael Marissen
For the annotated version of the text and translation, see here.

Credits

  • Release date
    2 May 2014
  • Recording date
    1 February 2014
  • Location
    Geertekerk, Utrecht
  • Harpsichord and direction
    Lars Ulrik Mortensen
  • Bass
    Thomas Bauer
  • Violin 1
    Shunske Sato, Sayuri Yamagata, Anneke van Haaften
  • Violin 2
    Pieter Affourtit, Paulien Kostense, Annelies van der Vegt
  • Viola
    Staas Swierstra, Femke Huizinga
  • Cello
    Lucia Swarts, Richte van der Meer
  • Double bass
    Robert Franenberg
  • Oboe
    Martin Stadler
  • Positive organ
    Siebe Henstra
  • Concert production
    Marco Meijdam, Imke Deters
  • Producer
    Frank van der Weij
  • Film director
    Lucas van Woerkum
  • Director of photography
    Sal Kroonenberg
  • Camera
    Robert Berger, Jorrit Garretsen, Benjamin Sparschuh
  • Film editor
    Lucas van Woerkum & Frank van der Weij
  • Music recording producer
    Leo de Klerk
  • Gaffer
    Roel Ypma
  • Best boy
    Chris Uitenwijk
  • Production assistant
    Zoë de Wilde
  • Score reader
    Jan Van den Bossche
  • Make up
    Marloes Bovenlander, Jamila el Bouch
  • Trainees camera
    Izak de Dreu, Indy Hamid
  • Music producer's assistant
    Mieneke van der Velden
  • Music recording assistants
    Jaap Firet, Gilius Kreiken, Jaap van Stenis
  • Data handler
    Joep Bannenberg
  • Music edit & mix
    Leo de Klerk, Frank van der Weij
  • Music edit & mix assistant
    Martijn Snoeren
  • Colorist
    Geert van Schoot
  • Acknowledgements
    Rob van Stek

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