Amazing pieces of classical music - 51
The Cantata BWV 82, "Ich habe genug" ("I have enough"), is a profound 1727 solo cantata written by J.S. Bach for the Feast of the Purification of Mary. It reflects a deep, peaceful Lutheran longing for death, framing the end of life not as a tragedy, but as a joyful reunion with the divine. It's a piece that was originally written in C minor for only a bass soloist and solo oboe.
The anonymous libretto is based on the biblical story of Simeon from the Gospel of Luke. According to the scripture, an old, devout man named Simeon was promised by the Holy Spirit that he would not die until he had seen the Messiah. When Mary and Joseph brought the infant Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem, Simeon held the baby and uttered his famous prayer (known as the Nunc Dimittis), asking God to let him depart in peace.
The Nunc Dimittis (Latin for "Now you let depart") is a very famous Christian canticle from the second chapter of the Gospel of Luke. Also known as the Song of Simeon, it's in Anglican Church traditionally sung or chanted during Evensong, a church service traditionally held near twilight, and usually paired with the Magnificat. The prayer itself comes directly from the Bible (Luke 2:29–32), and it translates in the King James Bible thus:
"29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:
30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel."
The cantata as written by J.S. Bach is structured as a musical dialogue between the solo singer and an obbligato (prominent) instrument, originally thus a soaring, plaintive oboe. For me personally, this gives the piece its extra musical and cutural worth because the music itself features three arias connected by short recitatives, capturing a real progression of emotions:
- First Aria: "Ich habe genug" - The sweeping melody of the oboe weaves intimately with the voice, expressing ultimate peace, gratitude, and trust.
I have enough;
I have taken the savior, the hope of the pious,
Into my eager arms;
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.
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.
- Second Aria: "Schlummert ein, ihr matten Augen" - This profound, mesmerizing aria is essentially a sacred lullaby. It asks weary eyes to close in sleep, acting as a metaphor for a peaceful death.
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.
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.
- Third Aria: "Ich freue mich auf meinen Tod" - Defying modern, mournful views of mortality, Bach ends the cantata with a bright, dance-like aria of pure, optimistic joy, enthusiastically welcoming death as the gateway to salvation.
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
Perhaps the included recording isn't the best but I always did have a soft spot for Hermann Prey because he was a baritone with such great warmth and complete control of all dynamic variations. BWV 82 featuring Hermann Prey, the Deutsche Bachsolisten, and conductor Helmut Winschermann (1987) is one celebrated for its deeply expressive and introspective interpretation. Just listen how he accentuates the word "Nun" (Now).
And now, with joy, I wish this very day!
[media=https://youtu.be/afMOgfiwPWc]
[media=https://youtu.be/vBmBzDsQwMY]
The anonymous libretto is based on the biblical story of Simeon from the Gospel of Luke. According to the scripture, an old, devout man named Simeon was promised by the Holy Spirit that he would not die until he had seen the Messiah. When Mary and Joseph brought the infant Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem, Simeon held the baby and uttered his famous prayer (known as the Nunc Dimittis), asking God to let him depart in peace.
The Nunc Dimittis (Latin for "Now you let depart") is a very famous Christian canticle from the second chapter of the Gospel of Luke. Also known as the Song of Simeon, it's in Anglican Church traditionally sung or chanted during Evensong, a church service traditionally held near twilight, and usually paired with the Magnificat. The prayer itself comes directly from the Bible (Luke 2:29–32), and it translates in the King James Bible thus:
"29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:
30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel."
The cantata as written by J.S. Bach is structured as a musical dialogue between the solo singer and an obbligato (prominent) instrument, originally thus a soaring, plaintive oboe. For me personally, this gives the piece its extra musical and cutural worth because the music itself features three arias connected by short recitatives, capturing a real progression of emotions:
- First Aria: "Ich habe genug" - The sweeping melody of the oboe weaves intimately with the voice, expressing ultimate peace, gratitude, and trust.
I have enough;
I have taken the savior, the hope of the pious,
Into my eager arms;
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.
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.
- Second Aria: "Schlummert ein, ihr matten Augen" - This profound, mesmerizing aria is essentially a sacred lullaby. It asks weary eyes to close in sleep, acting as a metaphor for a peaceful death.
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.
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.
- Third Aria: "Ich freue mich auf meinen Tod" - Defying modern, mournful views of mortality, Bach ends the cantata with a bright, dance-like aria of pure, optimistic joy, enthusiastically welcoming death as the gateway to salvation.
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
Perhaps the included recording isn't the best but I always did have a soft spot for Hermann Prey because he was a baritone with such great warmth and complete control of all dynamic variations. BWV 82 featuring Hermann Prey, the Deutsche Bachsolisten, and conductor Helmut Winschermann (1987) is one celebrated for its deeply expressive and introspective interpretation. Just listen how he accentuates the word "Nun" (Now).
And now, with joy, I wish this very day!
[media=https://youtu.be/afMOgfiwPWc]
[media=https://youtu.be/vBmBzDsQwMY]
