Ich habe genung
BWV 82 performed by Thomas Bauer and the Netherlands Bach Society
conducted by Lars Ulrik Mortensen
Geertekerk, Utrecht
Behind the music
Story
Story
Extra videos
Extra videos
Texts
Texts
Credits
Credits
The lullaby for eternal sleep
Bachs 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
Vocal texs
Original
1. Arie
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.
2. Rezitativ
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
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
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
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
It is enough.
I have taken the Saviour,
the hope of the devout,
into my longing arms;
it is enough!
I have gazed on Him,
my faith has pressed Jesus
to my heart; I would now, even today,
gladly leave this world.
2. Recitative
It is enough.
My hope is this alone:
that Jesus should be mine
and I His.
In faith I cling to Him,
and like Simeon, I already see
the joy of that life beyond.
Let us go with this man!
Ah! If the Lord would only free me
from the bondage of my body;
ah! if only my departure were nigh,
with joy I’d say to you, O world:
It is enough.
3. Aria
Close in sleep, you weary eyes,
fall soft and blissfully to!
World, I shall dwell no longer here,
since I have no share in you?
that might avail my soul.
Here it is misery that I must tend,
but there, there I shall behold
sweet peace, silent repose.
4. Recitative
My God, when wilt Thou
utter fair word: Now!
When shall I journey in peace?
and rest in the soil of cool earth
and there at your bosom too?
My leave is taken, world, good night!
5. Aria
I look forward to my death,
ah, would that it were already here.
Then shall I escape all the affliction
that confined me here on earth.
Credits
-
- Release date
- 2 May 2014
-
- Recording date
- 1 February 2014
-
- Location
- Geertekerk, Utrecht
-
- Conductor and harpsichord
- 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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