Bleib bei uns, denn es will Abend werden, BWV 6

Bleib bei uns, denn es will Abend werden (Stay with us, for evening falls), BWV 6, is a cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach.

It was written in Leipzig for Easter Monday, and was first performed on 2 April 1725. It is based on chorales by Nikolaus Selnecker and Martin Luther. The text of the first movement comes from Luke 24:29.

The piece is written for two oboes, oboe da caccia, strings (violins, violas and basso continuo), vocal soloists and choir. It is in six movements:

1. Chorus: "Bleib bei uns, denn es will Abend werden" - a freely polyphonic movement in ternary form for the entire ensemble. The middle section is fugal in texture (C minor).
2. Aria: "Hochgelobter Gottessohn" ("Highly-praised Son of God") - for alto, oboe da caccia and continuo (E-flat major).
3. Chorale: "Ach bleib bei uns, Herr Jesu Christ" ("Ah, stay with us, Lord Jesus Christ") - a setting of Hermann's chorale for solo soprano, piccolo cello and continuo (B-flat major). Bach later arranged this movement for organ as one of the Schübler Chorales, BWV 649.
4. Recitative: "Es hat die Dunkelheit an vielen Orten" ("The darkness has [taken over] in many places") - for bass and continuo (G minor).
5. Aria: "Jesu, laß uns auf dich sehen" ("Jesus, let us look upon you") - for tenor, strings and continuo (G minor).
6. Chorale: "Beweis dein Macht, Herr Jesu Christ" ("Reveal your strength, Lord Jesus Christ") - the last verse of the chorale, sung and played by the whole ensemble (G minor).

Recordings

• Les Grandes Cantates de J.S. Bach Vol. 7, Heinrich-Schütz-Chor Heilbronn, Pforzheim Chamber Orchestra, Marga Höffgen, Helmut Krebs, Franz Kelch, conductor Fritz Werner, Erato 1960 (reissued)
• J.S. Bach: Complete Cantatas Vol. 14 - Bogna Bartosz, Jörg Dürmüller, Klaus Mertens, Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir, Ton Koopman conductor. Label: Antoine Marchand

External links

• Cantatas, BWV 1-10: Free scores at the International Music Score Library Project.
• Vocal score of the piece
• German text with an English translation
• Various comments on the piece
• Programme notes by Craig Smith