Der Herr ist mein getreuer Hirt, BWV 112
Der Herr ist mein getreuer Hirt | |
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Wolfgang Meuslin | |
Performed | 8 April 1731 Leipzig : |
Movements | 5 |
Vocal | SATB choir and solo |
Instrumental |
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Der Herr ist mein getreuer Hirt (The Lord is my faithful Shepherd),
Bach, the
History and words
In his second year as Thomaskantor in Leipzig, Bach composed chorale cantatas between the first Sunday after Trinity of 1724 and Palm Sunday of 1725, but for Easter he returned to cantatas on more varied texts.[2] He had not composed a chorale cantata yet for the occasion Misericordias Domini, the second Sunday after Easter. The prescribed readings for that Sunday were from the First Epistle of Peter (Christ as a model – 1 Peter 2:21–25), and from the Gospel of John, (the Good Shepherd – John 10:11–16).[3]
During the
Bach first performed the cantata at the Nikolaikirche on 8 April 1731.[6]
Music
Structure and scoring
Bach structured the cantata in five movements. The text and tune of the hymn are kept in the outer choral movements, a chorale fantasia and a four-part closing chorale, which frame an alternating arias and a recitative. Bach scored the work for four vocal soloists (soprano, alto, tenor, bass), a four-part choir and a Baroque instrumental ensemble of two horns (Co), two oboes d'amore (Oa), two violins (Vl), viola (Va) and basso continuo.[8]
In the following table of the movements, the scoring follows the
4).[3]
No. | Title | Text | Type | Vocal | Winds | Strings | Key | Time |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Der Herr ist mein getreuer Hirt | Meuslin | Chorale fantasia | SATB | 2Co 2Oa | 2Vl Va | G major | |
2 | Zum reinen Wasser er mich weist | Meuslin | Aria | A | Oa | 6 8 | ||
3 | Und ob ich wandelt im finstern Tal | Meuslin | Recitative | B | 2Vl Va | |||
4 | Du bereitest für mir einen Tisch | Meuslin | Aria (Duetto) | S T | 2Vl Va | D major | ||
5 | Gutes und die Barmherzigkeit | Meuslin | Chorale | SATB | 2Co 2Oa | 2Vl Va | G major |
Movements
In the opening chorus, a
The inner three movements quote the text of the hymn without change, but their music is not related to the hymn tune. The alto
8.[6] The steady flow of the oboe can be seen as depicting the "pure water" mentioned in the text, the steps in the continuo as "the steps made on this significant journey" "on the pathway of the righteousness of His commandments".[10]
The central movement begins as an arioso, accompanied by the continuo, illustrating the walk through the "valley of darkness". The second part is a dramatic recitative with strings, first expressing "Verfolgung, Leiden, Trübsal" (persecution, sorrow, trouble)[1] in a broken melodic line against sustained string chords, then "Thy rod and Thy staff comfort me", where the "first violins weave a comforting little melody".[7][10]
The following duet expresses enjoyment at God's table in a dance, a bourrée.[7]
The cantata closes with a four-part chorale, most instruments playing
Recordings
The selection is taken from the listing on the Bach Cantatas Website.[11] Ensembles playing period instruments in historically informed performances are marked green.
Title | Conductor / Choir / Orchestra | Soloists | Label | Year | Instr. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
J. S. Bach: Cantatas BWV 112 & BWV 185 | Hans GrischkatSchwäbischer Singkreis StuttgartBach-Orchester Stuttgart | Teldec | 1951 | ||
J. S. Bach: Cantata BWV 112 | Gewandhausorchester
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Fidelio | 1954 | ||
East German Revolution | Gewandhausorchester
|
PILZ | 1970s | ||
J. S. Bach: Das Kantatenwerk • Complete Cantatas • Les Cantates, Folge / Vol. 28 | Nikolaus HarnoncourtTölzer KnabenchorConcentus Musicus Wien |
|
Teldec | 1979 | Period |
Die Bach Kantate Vol. 9 | Helmuth RillingGächinger KantoreiBach-Collegium Stuttgart | Hänssler
|
1981 | ||
Bach Edition Vol. 21 – Cantatas Vol. 12 | Holland Boys ChoirNetherlands Bach Collegium
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Brilliant Classics | 2000 | Period | |
Bach Cantatas Vol. 23: Arnstadt/Echternach / For the 1st Sunday after Easter (Quasimodogeniti) / For the 2nd Sunday after Easter (Misericordas Domini) | John Eliot GardinerMonteverdi ChoirEnglish Baroque Soloists | Soli Deo Gloria | 2000 | Period | |
J. S. Bach: Complete Cantatas Vol. 20 | Ton KoopmanAmsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir | Antoine Marchand | 2003 | Period | |
J. S. Bach: Cantatas Vol. 52 – Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, Cantatas · 29 · 112 · 140 (Cantatas from Leipzig 1730s–40s (I)) | Masaaki SuzukiBach Collegium Japan | BIS | 2011 | Period
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References
- ^ a b Dellal, Pamela. "BWV 112 – Der Herr ist mein getreuer Hirt". Emmanuel Music. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
- ^ a b Wolff, Christoph. "The Cantatas of the Picander cycle and of the early 1730s" (PDF). Bach Cantatas Website. pp. 22, 27. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-19-929776-4.
- ^ "Der Herr ist mein getreuer Hirt / Text and Translation of Chorale". Bach Cantatas Website. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
- ^ "Chorale Melodies used in Bach's Vocal Works / Allein Gott in der Höh sei Her / The German Gloria (in excelsis Deo)". Bach Cantatas Website. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
- ^ a b c d e Hofmann, Klaus (2012). "Der Herr ist mein getreuer Hirt / The Lord is my Faithful Shepherd, BWV 112" (PDF). Bach Cantatas Website. pp. 6–7. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
- ^ a b c d Gardiner, John Eliot (2007). Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) / Cantatas Nos 42, 67, 85, 104, 112, 150 & 158 (Media notes). Soli Deo Gloria (at Hyperion Records website). Retrieved 27 April 2019.
- ^ a b Bischof, Walter F. "BWV 112 Der Herr ist mein getreuer Hirt". University of Alberta. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
- ISBN 3-423-04080-7.
- ^ a b c Mincham, Julian (2010). "Chapter 54 BWV 112 Der Herr ist mein getreuer Hirt / The Lord is my true Shepherd". jsbachcantatas.com. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
- ^ Oron, Aryeh. "Cantata BWV 112 Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele". Bach Cantatas Website. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
Sources
- Der Herr ist mein getreuer Hirt, BWV 112: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
- Der Herr ist mein getreuer Hirt BWV 112; BC A 67 / Chorale cantata (3rd Sunday of Easter) Bach Digital
- BWV 112 Der Herr ist mein getreuer Hirt: English translation, University of Vermont
- Luke Dahn: BWV 112.5 bach-chorales.com