Cantata BWV 161
2010, December 10
JS Bach Cantata BWV 161: Komm, du süße Todesstunde
(Come thou sweet death's hour)
Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity September 27 1716
Weimar Cantatas
Scoring: Two recorders, two violins, viola, continuo
Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass
Bärenreiter vol 9; p 27
Reading: Epistle Ephesians 3:13-21
Reading: Gospel Luke 7:11-17
Words: Salomo Franck
Bach Bibliography
Recordings
Bach: Christus Der Ist Mein Leben
Conductor: Philippe Herreweghe
Ensemble: Ghent Collegium Vocale, Ghent Collegium Vocale Choir
Soprano: Dorothee Mields
Alto: Matthew White
Tenor: Hans Jörg Mammel
Bass: Thomas Bauer
Label: Harmonia Mundi 901969
Date: 04/08/2008
Review
Discussion
Literature
Dürr p 542-546
Whittaker vol 1 p 156-160
Green p 346-348
Terry vol 2 p 432
Boyd p 256 Stephen A. Crist
Dürr states that this composition is of indescribable charm; he dwells at length on use of the chorale melody in all sections. Whittaker says this is the first cantata that uses the "Passion chorale" Herzlich tut mich verlangen. Dürr also mentions that the first section makes an impression on the listener similar to the opening of the St. Matthew Passion.
Recorders play an important part in this cantata which is a parable of life and death. Not for Advent or the Christmas season, this cantata is assigned to a Sunday in September.
1 Komm, du süße Todesstunde: Alto aria with chorale played by the organ
Recorders play a prominent part.
2 Welt, deine Lust ist Last: Tenor recitative
Herreweghe's recording brings out the cello part of the continuo in the arioso section at the end a little more strongly.
3 Mein Verlangen: Tenor aria
Enjoyable listening.
4 Der Schluß ist schon gemacht: Alto recitative
Very melodic declamation.
5 Wenn es meines Gottes Wille: Chorus
The music is quite light hearted.
6 Der Leib zwar in der Erden: Chorale
Discussion of the chorale by C.S. Terry;
Discussion of the chorale on Cantatas.com;
PDF of chorale with independent recorder part
The music
BWV 161 part 1 2 3 4 Harnoncourt
BWV 161 part 5 6 Harnoncourt
BWV 161.1 Leusink
BWV 161.3 Leusink
BWV 161.5 Leusink
BWV 161.5 Gardiner
PDF of cantata score in old clefs
Instruments and voices for each part
| Section | Instruments, voices |
|---|---|
| 1 | Aria, recorder I,II, organ, alto, Leipzig version adds soprano (Dürr states may be of doubtful authenticity), continuo (NBA: organ) |
| 2 | Tenor recitative, continuo (NBA: organ) |
| 3 | Tenor aria, violin I,II, viola, continuo (NBA: organ) |
| 4 | Alto recitativ, recorder I,II, violin I,II, viola, continuo (NBA: organ) |
| 5 | SATB, recorder I,II, violin I,II, viola, continuo (NBA: organ) |
| 6 | Chorale SATB, recorder I,II obbligato in unison, violin I with soprano, violin II with alto, viola with tenor, continuo (NBA: organ)/td> |
References
Emmanuel Notes BWV 161.Emmanuel Translation BWV 161.
Discussion from Bach Cantatas Website.
Recordingsfrom Bach Cantatas Website.
John Eliot Gardiner Cantatas Recording.
Classical.net discussion, Simon Crouch.
London Bach Society Database entry BWV 161
