Life is a mystery to be lived, not a problem to be solved. - unknown

2009, November 10

Cantata BWV 196

JS Bach Cantata BWV 196: Der Herr denket an uns
(The Lord hath been mindful of us)
Thought to be a wedding cantata, suitable for an occasion of praise and thanksgiving. 1708?
Mühlhausen Cantatas
Reading: Corinthians 5:6-8; Mark 16:1-8
Scoring: Violin I,II, Viola, Continuo
  Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass
Bärenreiter vol 14; p 23
Words: Psalm 115:12-15
Bach Bibliography

This is out of order, it should be about the fourth cantata, but I needed to hear something more cheerful, and BWV 106 and BWV 131 are associated with funerals. An early cantata, BWV 196 is widely believed to have been written in Mühlhausen in 1708 for the wedding of his wife's aunt and a clergyman. The wedding took place in a small church, which was the site of Bach's own wedding. Dürr states however, (p780) that there is doubt about this connection.

This is a very short cantata, based on Psalms 115; Dürr estimates the duration at fourteen minutes, Harnoncourt's recording is twelve minutes. It is fun to listen to, making few emotional demands. "The florid choral writing indicates an increasing understanding of methods of securing full effectiveness from his choir; its bouyancy and brilliance make it an exhilarating little work to perform."  Whittaker volume 1, page 45

Biblical references for each part

Psalms 115 Luther German
12. Der Herr denket an uns und segnet uns. Er segnet das Haus Israel; er segnet das Haus Aaron;
13. er segnet, die den Herrn fürchten, beide Kleine und Große.
14. Der Herr segne euch je mehr und mehr, euch und eure Kinder!
15. Ihr seid die Gesegneten des Herrn, der Himmel und Erde gemacht hat.

Psalms 115 King James
12. The Lord hath been mindful of us: he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron.
13. He will bless them that fear the Lord, both small and great.
14. The Lord shall increase you more and more, you and your children.
15. Ye are blessed of the Lord which made heaven and earth.

The music

I have the recordings by Leusink, Harnoncourt, and the Purcell quartet with Emma Kirkby. The Purcell quartet with one voice per part almost sounds like a different piece of music. I like it, but I enjoy the Harnoncourt sinfonia the most.

1. The lovely little sinfonia is very short, rather processional.
2. The chorus is upbeat, dancelike.
3. A very nice soprano aria with obbligato unison violins.
4. The tenor and bass duet is emphatic, short.
5. The final chorus is a four part arrangement extended with instrumental sections.

 

BWV 196, Final chorus Performed October 26, 2003 Crema in the Auditorium Manenti. Choir Pregarcantando Crema Director James Carniti

 

Instruments and voices for each part

Section		Instruments, voices
1		Sinfonia violin I,II, viola, violoncello and continuo (NBA: violone and organ)
2		SATB, violin I,II, viola, violoncello, and continuo (NBA: violone and organ)
3		Soprano, violin I,II and continuo (NBA: violone or violoncello and organ)
4		Violin I,II, viola and continuo (NBA: violoncello); Tenor, bass, organ, violone
5		Violin I,II, viola and continuo (NBA: violoncello); SATB, violone and organ

 

References

Emmanuel Translation BWV 196.
Discussion from Classical.net.
www.answers.com Robert Cummings

Discussion from Bach Cantatas Website.
Recordingsfrom Bach Cantatas Website.

Discussion from Back Bay Chorale.
London Bach Society Database entry BWV 196
Article AllMusic.com BWV 196

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