Ach Gott, wie manches Herzeleid, BWV 58

For the cantata by the same title, see Ach Gott, wie manches Herzeleid, BWV 3.

Ach Gott, wie manches Herzeleid (Oh God, how much heartache), BWV 58, is a sacred cantata composed by Johann Sebastian Bach.

It was composed in Leipzig at the end of 1726 for the Sunday after New Year's Day of 1727, which occurred that year on 5 January, date of the work's first performance. During Bach's lifetime, the cantata was performed again on 7 January 1733.

The prescribed readings for the day are 1 Peter 4: 12-19 and Matthew 2: 13-23. The text of the cantata comprises the words of the hymn published by Martin Moller in 1587, in movement 1, as well as, for the chorale, poetry published by Martin Behm in the second volume (1610) of the Centuria precationum rhythmicarum. Authorship of verses 2-4 is unknown.

The chorale theme (Zahn 533a) is the melodic line of Herr Jesu Christ, meins Lebens Licht II, which first appeared in Wolflin Lochamer's 1455 Liederbuch, printed in Nürnberg (a comprehensive discussion of the melody's origin can be found at bach-cantatas.com).

Scoring and structure

The piece is scored for oboes I/II, oboe da caccia (identified in some scores as "taille"), violins I/II , viola, basso continuo, and two vocal soloists (soprano and bass). There are no choral interventions. It is in five movements:

1. Duetto: "Ach Gott, wie manches Herzeleid" for soprano & bass soloists, oboes, strings, and continuo.
2. Recitativo: "Verfolgt dich gleich die arge Welt" for bass and continuo.
3. Aria: "Ich bin vergnügt in meinem Leiden" for soprano, violino solo, and continuo.
4. Recitativo: "Kann es die Welt nicht lassen" for soprano and continuo.
5. Chorale: "Ich hab für mir ein schwere Reis" for soprano & bass soloists, oboes, strings, and continuo.

Recordings

• Bach Aria Group, Frank Brieff, Bach Aria Group, Bach Aria Group orchestra, Eileen Farrell, Norman Farrow, Decca 1960
• Bach Cantatas Vol. 1 - Advent and Christmas, Karl Richter, Münchener Bach-Chor, Münchener Bach-Orchester, Sheila Armstrong, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Archiv Produktion 1970
• Die Bach Kantate Vol. 20, Helmuth Rilling, Gächinger Kantorei, Bach-Collegium Stuttgart, Ingeborg Reichelt, Wolfgang Schöne, Hänssler 1971
• J.S. Bach: Das Kantatenwerk - Sacred Cantatas Vol. 3, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Tölzer Knabenchor, Concentus Musicus Wien, soloists of the Tölzer Knabenchor, Ruud van der Meer, Teldec 1976
• Bach Cantatas, Michel Corboz, Ensemble Vocal de Lausanne, Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne, Christiane Baumann, Philippe Huttenlocher, Erato 1976
• J.S. Bach: Dialogue Cantatas - Nos. 57, 58, 59 & 152, Pál Németh, Savaria Vocal Ensemble, Capella Savaria, Mária Zádori, László Polgár, Hungaroton 1988
• J.S. Bach: Cantatas BWV 82 · 49 · 58, Sigiswald Kuijken, La Petite Bande, Nancy Argenta, Klaus Mertens Accent 1993
• Bach Cantatas Vol. 17: Berlin, John Eliot Gardiner, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, Ruth Holton, Peter Harvey, Soli Deo Gloria 2000
• Bach Edition Vol. 18 - Cantatas Vol. 9, Pieter Jan Leusink, Holland Boys Choir, Netherlands Bach Collegium, Ruth Holton, Bas Ramselaar, Brilliant Classics 2000
• J.S. Bach: Complete Cantatas Vol. 17, Ton Koopman, Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir, Johannette Zomer, Klaus Mertens, Antoine Marchand 2003
• J.S. Bach: Cantatas Vol. 38 (Solo Cantatas), Masaaki Suzuki, Bach Collegium Japan, Carolyn Sampson, Peter Kooy, BIS 2006

Sources

• Craig Smith, Programme notes - BWV 58, Emmanuel Music.
• Walter F. Bischof, Text and orchestration for BWV 58, Bach Cantatas, University of Alberta.

External links

• Piano & vocal score of BWV 58 on bach-cantatas.com
• Discussion of the work on bach-cantatas.com