Cantata 172
- Whit Sunday
- Epistle: Acts ii. 1-13 (The descent of the Holy Spirit)
- Gospel: John xiv. 23-31 (If a man loves Me, he will keep my word)
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Bach's appointment as organist to the ducal court at Weimar in 1708 made no formal demands on him to compose cantatas; during his early years there he produced only a few occasional works. Following his promotion to concertmaster in the spring of 1814, he was required to compose and perform one cantata each month. Cantata No. 172 ("Ring out, ye songs"), for Whit Sunday (the feast of Pentecost), was the third of these works, first performed in the ducal chapel on May 20, 1714. Although Bach composed three other cantatas for Pentecost (Nos. 59, 74, and 34), BWV 172 seems to have been a particular favorite of the composer's, being revived and revised by him several times after he took up his cantorship in Leipzig.
The text, like those of the majority of the cantatas Bach composed in Weimar, is probably the work of the Weimar court librarian and poet Salomo Franck. Formally it departs from the older style of through-composed Biblical cantatas Bach had written in his pre-Weimar days, introducing closed forms such as the recitative and da capo aria.
In keeping with the festive spirit of the day, the cantata opens with a brilliantly joyous four-part chorus with trumpets and timpani. A short bass recitative -- the only one in the cantata -- leads to a da capo aria in which the bass asks the Holy Trinity to "enter into us." The powerful plea is supported by three obligato trumpets; Bach takes this trinity symbolism a step further by writing the vocal part mainly in intervals of a third. This leads to another aria, this time for tenor, and in a completely contrasting mood. Here, gently flowing strings create a mood of tranquility, "wafting the soul" on the breath of the Holy Spirit. The following duet for soprano and alto takes the form of a dialogue between the impatient Soul and the Holy Spirit. It employs the kind of neo-erotic language often used in such duets, its "purified happiness" (as described by Albert Schweitzer) counterpointed by an ornamented version of Martin Luther's chorale "Veni creator Spiritus," heard first on the oboe, later on the organ. The cantata concludes with a strophe from Philip Nicolai's beautiful chorale "Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern." ~ All Music Guide
1 Chorus [S, A, T, B]
Tromba I-III, Timpani, Violino I/II, Viola I/II, Fagotto, Continuo
Erschallet, ihr Lieder, erklinget, ihr Saiten!Ring out, you songs, resound, you strings !O seligste Zeiten!Oh blessed times !Gott will sich die Seelen zu Tempeln bereiten.God will prepare our souls to be his temples.
2 Recitative [Bass]
Continuo
Wer mich liebet, der wird mein Wort halten,Who loves me will keep my wordund mein Vater wird ihn lieben, and my father will love himund wir werden zu ihm kommenand we shall come to himund Wohnung bei ihm machen. and make our dwelling with him. (John 14:23)
3 Aria [Bass]
Tromba I-III, Timpani, Fagotto, Continuo
Heiligste Dreieinigkeit,Most holy Trinity,Großer Gott der Ehren,great God of honour,Komm doch, in der Gnadenzeitcome then, in this time of grace,Bei uns einzukehren,to visit and stay with us,Komm doch in die Herzenshütten,come then into the shelter of our hearts,Sind sie gleich gering und klein,though they are poor and smallKomm und laß dich doch erbitten,come and allow us to ask you,Komm und ziehe bei uns ein!come and move in with us!
4 Aria [Tenor]
Violino I/II e Viola I/II all' unisono, Continuo
O Seelenparadies,O paradise of soulsDas Gottes Geist durchwehet,through which the Spirit of God breathes,Der bei der Schöpfung blies,who blew at the creation
Der Geist, der nie vergehet;the Spirit, who never passes away,Auf, auf, bereite dich,up, up, prepare yourself,Der Tröster nahet sich.the comforter draws near.
5 Aria (Duetto) Soprano (Soul) , Alto (Holy Ghost)
Oboe, Violoncello obligato
Komm, laß mich nicht länger warten,Come , let me wait no longer,Komm, du sanfter Himmelswind,come, you gentle wind of heaven,Wehe durch den Herzensgarten!blow through the garden of my heart
Ich erquicke dich, mein Kind.I refresh you, my child
Liebste Liebe, die so süße,Dearest love, who are so delightful,Aller Wollust Überfluß,abundance of all joys,Ich vergeh, wenn ich dich misse.I shall die, if I have to be without you
Nimm von mir den Gnadenkuß.Take from me the kiss of grace.
Sei im Glauben mir willkommen,Welcome in faith to me,Höchste Liebe, komm herein!Highest love, come within!Du hast mir das Herz genommen.You have taken my heart from me
Ich bin dein, und du bist mein!I am yours, and you are mine!
6 Chorale [S, A, T, B]
Violino I/II, Viola I/II, Fagotto, Continuo
Von Gott kömmt mir ein Freudenschein,A joyful light from God comes to meWenn du mit deinen Äugeleinwhen with your dear eyesMich freundlich tust anblicken.you look on me as a friend.O Herr Jesu, mein trautes Gut,Oh Lord Jesus, my beloved good,
Dein Wort, dein Geist, dein Leib und Blutyour word, your spirit, your body and bloodMich innerlich erquicken.refresh me within.Nimm michTake meFreundlichlike a friendIn dein Arme, daß ich warme werd von Gnaden:in your arms, so that I may become warm with your grace
Auf dein Wort komm ich geladen.To your word I come invited (Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern, Philipp Nicolai 1599)
7 Chorus [S, A, T, B]
Tromba I-III, Timpani, Violino I/II, Viola I/II, Fagotto, Continuo
Erschallet, ihr Lieder, erklinget, ihr Saiten!Ring out, you songs, resound, you strings !O seligste Zeiten!Oh blessed times !Gott will sich die Seelen zu Tempeln bereiten.God will prepare our souls to be his temples.