Cantata BWV 179
2011, April 23
JS Bach Cantata BWV 179: Siehe zu, dass deine Gottesfurcht nicht Heuchelei sei
(See to it that thy God-fearing be not hypocrisy)
Eleventh Sunday after Trinity August 8 1723
Scoring: Oboe or Oboe da caccia I, II, Violin I,II, Viola, Continuo
Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass
Bärenreiter vol 8; p 104
Reading: Epistle 1 Corinthians 15:1-10
Reading: Gospel Luke 18:9-14
Words: Anonymous
Bach Bibliography
Recordings
Discussion
Literature
Dürr p 493-496
Whittaker vol 1 p 594-600
Green p 380-381
Terry vol 2 p 456
Boyd p 449
Unlike the last two cantatas which started with a chorus built: Instrumental introduction, Prelude, Fugue, this cantata plunges right into a complex vocal fugue. Perhaps this was the second of a two part performance with Cantata BWV 199 composed earlier in Weimar.
1 Chorus: Siehe zu, daß deine Gottesfurcht nicht
Green: phrases long, many chromaticisms including descending chromatic scales that may prove a challenge for good intonation.
Whittaker calls this chorus wild, fierce and vehemently denunciatory.
A complex fugue, one wonders how much the Leipzig listeners were able to appreciate the music. Comparing the two versions from Kuijken and Koopman, the musical structure comes through more clearly in Kuijken's one voice per part.
2 Tenor recitative: Das heutge Christentum
The tenor sings with just the continuo accompanying.
3 Tenor aria: Falscher Heuchler Ebenbild
179.3 Tenor aria
236.5 Quonium
Green: complex melodic line in unison by violin I and oboes.
Koopman takes this aria at a much faster tempo than Kuijken, leaving me a little breathless.
4 Bass recitative: Wer so von innen wie von außen ist
Klaus Mertens is perfect, the tempo is right, Koopman's tempo is nearly the same. I like them both.
5 Soprano aria: Liebster Gott, erbarme dich
179.5 Soprano aria: oboes da caccia gardiner
179.5 Soprano aria: Kuijken, Gerlinde Sämann
234.4 A Qui tollis: flutes
Green: sustained and long duet for oboes da caccia.
A very lovely soprano aria with a beautiful oboe duet. Koopman at 5 minutes is significantly faster than Kuijken at 6 minutes, 21 seconds, but once it gets going the tempo does not seem at all forced.
6 Chorale: Ich armer Mensch, ich armer Sünder
Discussion of the chorale on Bach Cantatas.com
Discussion of the chorale from C.S. Terry, in a PDF excerpt
The last phrase of the chorale is very interesting.
Listen to the last phrase by Leusink
Listen to the last phrase by Leonhardt
Listen to the last phrase by Kuijken
Listen to an mp3 of the last phrase on an organ
Listen to the last phrase on the piano
Thank you Taylor Morgeson, at the University of North Texas, for help with the harmonic analysis.
Whittaker says of this last phrase that the last line is highly chromatic, almost baffling to us even today; there are few choirs that could sing the final bar unaccompanied and in perfect intonation...The chromaticism is explained by the agonized cry of the text.
The music
Harnoncourt - 1 2 3 4 Chorus, Tenor recitative, Tenor aria, Bass recitative
Harnoncourt - 5 6 Soprano aria, Chorale
Complete cantata in old clefs, PDF
Instruments and voices for each part
| Section | Instruments, voices |
|---|---|
| 1 | Chorus, violin I with soprano, violin II with alto, viola with tenor, continuo |
| 2 | Tenor recitative, continuo |
| 3 | Tenor aria, violin I,II, oboe I,II, continuo |
| 4 | Bass recitative, continuo |
| 5 | Soprano aria, oboe da caccia I,II, continuo |
| 6 | Chorale SATB, violin I, oboe I,II with soprano, violin II with alto, viola with tenor, continuo |
Biblical references for each part
References for the text: Luther's German Bible, King James Bible
| Ecclesiasticus 1:28-9 |
| King James from unbound bible, does not appear in my bound edition 28. Distrust not the fear of the Lord when thou art poor: and come not unto him with a double heart. 29. Be not an hypocrite in the sight of men, and take good heed what thou speakest. |
| google translator of king james Misstrauen nicht die Furcht des Herrn, wenn du bist arm: und kommen nicht zu ihm mit einem Doppel-Herz. Seien Sie nicht ein Heuchler in den Augen der Menschen und beherzigen, was du redest. |
| Durr 1-34 in German bible Sei nicht ungehorsam dem Gebot der Gotesfurcht, und deine Gott nicht mit falschem Herzen. google translation Do not be disobedient to the commandment of the fear of God and your God is not with the wrong heart. |
| movement 1 lyrics Siehe zu, daß deine Gottesfurcht nicht Heuchelei sei, und diene Gott nicht mit falschem Herzen! |
References
Emmanuel Notes BWV 179.
Emmanuel Translation BWV 179.
Discussion from Bach Cantatas Website.
Recordingsfrom Bach Cantatas Website.
Classical.net discussion, Simon Crouch.
Julian Mincham's article
