Vergnugte ruh', Beliebte Seelenlust BWV 170 - J.S. Bach
Hymns: #493 Azmon, #586 Pleading Savior, #653 Repton,
#708 Sicilian Mariners
This Sunday we turn again to the writings of J.S. Bach. The
selections for this week reflect the contemplative side of Bach’s writings. The
prelude is BWV 641, Wenn wir in höchsten
Nöten sein (Whenever we are in deepest need). This prelude, like the
cantata to follow, is based around the idea that God is our help in troubled
times and that it is only through Him that we can hope to arrive at peace. The cantata
takes it a step further and states that this peace is something that we will
only get in heaven. This chorale prelude from the Orgelbuchlein features one of the most heavily ornamented chorale
lines in the whole collection. The influence of French harpsichord writing can
be seen in this piece. Despite the ten plus years separating the composition of
the two pieces, the similarity in Bach’s treatment of an introverted and
introspective text can clearly be seen in the way that he makes use of quick,
flowing, ornamented lines against throbbing steady eight notes. This intimate
chorale setting shows off the tender side of Louis Bourgeois’ angular chorale
tune and clearly illustrates the images of Paul Eber’s text.
The communion anthem and postlude are taken from Cantata
170: Vergnugte ruh’, Beliebte seelenlust (Rest
contented, beloved soul) for the Sixth Sunday after Trinity Sunday
(technically last Sunday). This cantata for solo alto and chamber orchestra
(oboe d’amore, 2 violins, viola, organ obbligato and continuo) has a rather
somber text by the poet Georg Christian Lehms (1684-1717) the pet and librarian
at the Darmstadt court. Bach drew from Lehms’ 1711 collection of cantata texts
for several of his cantatas. These texts have an intimate quality that lends
itself to use in solo and dialogue based writing. This cantata is very creative
for a number of reasons. It is one of six cantatas for alto solo and features
the organ as an obbligato (solo) instrument rather than merely as part of the
continuo group. This cantata is from Bach’s Leipzig period and is one of only
two written for this specific Sunday. The cantata is comprised of three arias
connected by recitatives.
The opening movement in 12/8 emotes a pastorale feeling but
with a great deal of intensity. In this movement the first violin and oboe d’amore
(the alto member of the oboe family pitched between the oboe and English horn)
double each other on a twisting and sometimes chromatic solo line. The second
violin, viola, and continuo play throbbing sixteenth notes. The solo line
dialogues back and forth with the solo alto supported by the throbbing strings.
The text of this movement states that we will find rest only in heaven, far
from the mischief of hell. Julian Mincham states: “The feeling of quiet, almost
introverted elation is the principal image depicted throughout.” This idea
clearly identifies not only the character of this movement; but of the text and
the cantata as a whole.
The recitative which precedes the final aria sets up the
feeling of release that is the central idea of the closing aria. The aria has a
rather dark text. “I'm sick to death of living, So take me, Jesus, hence! I
fear for mine offenses, Let me find there that dwelling Wherein I may have
rest.” Despite the intensity of these verses, Bach chooses to focus on the rest
that heaven will bring rather than the desire to be done with life. This sense
of being “heavenly minded” can be heard especially in the obbligato organ
writing. The organ plays light fast passages that evoke a celestial image of
peace combined with joy. The aria feels more like the last movement of a double
concerto for alto and organ than the closing movement of a cantata. The
turbulence of the text is not completely glossed over in the music. The opening
interval of the augmented fourth in the instrumental line, referred to as diabolus in musica (the devil in music)
illustrates the idea of being “sick of living.” This alto soloist is on the
fence between the despair of life and the hope found in heaven.
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