Johann Sebastian Bach: Examine me, God, an inquire my heart - Sheet music | Carus-Verlag

Johann Sebastian Bach Examine me, God, an inquire my heart

Cantata for the 8th Sunday after Trinity BWV 136, 1723

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The cantata “Erforsche mich Gott und erfahre mein Herz” BWV 136 was composed in Bach’s first year as Kantor of St. Thomas’s in Leipzig and was first performed on the 8th Sunday after Trinity, the 18th July 1723. The librettist is unknown. The title of the cantata is taken from verse 23 of Psalm 139: “Erforsche mich Gott und erfahre mein Herz; prüfe mich und erfahre, wie ich’s meine.” (Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts) The opening chorus forms an extended fugue, framed by string writing bursting with energy. The obbligato horn accentuates and enriches the movement with a special tonal color. The alto aria in F sharp minor (movement 3) comprises a trio movement with an oboe d’amore as solo instrument in a contrasting range – a presto middle section which dramatically charges the words “Denn seines Eifers Grimm vernichtet” (“For the fury of its zeal will destroy”). In the duet (movement 5) the text is sung by tenor and bass line by line, sometimes imitating contrapuntally, and sometimes both singing together dramatically in homophonic writing. A simple chorale setting to the melody “Auf meinen lieben Gott” concludes the cantata. Particularly charming here is the violin which joins the four vocal parts as an independent part.
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    1 Coro

    Examine me, God, and inquire of my heart;
    that thou mayest discover all my failings.

    2 Recitativo (Tenore)

    Cursed, for they sake, O Adam, is the ground.
    Yea, Adam’s curse our hearts has tainted.
    A sorry scene for man is painted,
    he is accursed, assailed by Satan’s missiles,
    his soul is pierced by cruel thistles,
    with thorns of sin is bound.
    But ofttimes the children of hell,
    Godforsaken, for angels of light are mistaken.
    Perverted minds not even knowing
    that grapes from thorns are never growing.
    A wolf may well appear in fairest clothing,
    but soon there comes a day
    when such deceivers, viewed with loathing,
    will all be put away.

    3 Aria (Alto)

    The day will come when truth, at last prevailing,

    ...
  • 

    1 Coro

    Erforsche mich, Gott, und erfahre mein Herz;
    prüfe mich und erfahre, wie ichs meine!

    2 Recitativo (Tenore)

    Ach, dass der Fluch, so dort die Erde schlägt
    auch derer Menschen Herz getrogen!
    Wer kann auf gute Früchte hoffen,
    da dieser Fluch bis in die Seele dringet,
    so dass sie Sündendornen bringet
    und Lasterdisteln trägt.
    Doch wollen sich oftmals die Kinder der Höllen
    in Engel des Lichtes verstellen;
    man soll bei dem verderbten Wesen
    von diesen Dornen Trauben lesen.
    Ein Wolf will sich mit reiner Wolle decken,
    doch bricht ein Tag herein,
    der wird, ihr Heuchler, euch ein Schrecken,
    ja unerträglich sein.

    3 Aria (Alto)

    Es kömmt ein Tag,

    ...
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full score Carus 31.136/00, ISMN 979-0-007-17163-6 36 pages, DIN A4, paperback
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vocal score Carus 31.136/03, ISMN 979-0-007-17192-6 28 pages, paperback
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choral score Carus 31.136/05, ISMN 979-0-007-17161-2 8 pages, DIN A4, without cover Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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study score Carus 31.136/07, ISMN 979-0-007-24495-8 36 pages, DIN A5, paperback
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set of parts, complete orchestral parts Carus 31.136/19, ISMN 979-0-007-17217-6 23 x 32 cm, without cover
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  • 1 x set of parts, harmony parts, oboe 1, oboe 2, horn (31.136/09)
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individual part, organ Carus 31.136/49, ISMN 979-0-007-20815-8 12 pages, 23 x 32 cm, without cover
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full score digital (download), pdf file Carus 31.136/00-010-000, ISMN 979-0-007-25797-2 36 pages, DIN A4
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text (without music) for download, html file, Singing text, english translation Carus 31.136/00-360-000
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text (without music) for download, html file, Singing text, original Carus 31.136/00-380-000
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set of parts (digital), zip file, pdf file, harmony parts Carus 31.136/09-010-000, ISMN 979-0-007-32862-7
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individual part, pdf file, violin 1 Carus 31.136/11-010-000, ISMN 979-0-007-32213-7 8 pages, 23 x 32 cm Minimum order quantity: 2 copies
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individual part, pdf file, violin 2 Carus 31.136/12-010-000, ISMN 979-0-007-32214-4 8 pages, 23 x 32 cm
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individual part, pdf file, basso continuo Carus 31.136/14-010-000, ISMN 979-0-007-32216-8 8 pages, 23 x 32 cm
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set of parts (digital), zip file, pdf file, complete orchestral parts Carus 31.136/19-010-000, ISMN 979-0-007-32676-0
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    1 x individual part, pdf file, oboe 1 (31.136/21-010-000)
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    1 x individual part, pdf file, horn (31.136/31-010-000)
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individual part, pdf file, oboe 1 Carus 31.136/21-010-000, ISMN 979-0-007-33408-6 8 pages, 23 x 32 cm
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individual part, pdf file, oboe 2 Carus 31.136/22-010-000, ISMN 979-0-007-33521-2 4 pages, 23 x 32 cm
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individual part, pdf file, horn Carus 31.136/31-010-000, ISMN 979-0-007-33258-7 4 pages, 23 x 32 cm
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individual part, pdf file, organ Carus 31.136/49-010-000, ISMN 979-0-007-32217-5 12 pages, 23 x 32 cm
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Additional product information
  • Johann Sebastian Bach is one of the most important composers of Western music history. He came from a widely ramified musical dynasty, which produced numerous musicians and organists in the Thuringian-Saxon area.

    Bach vocal

    Ever since Carus-Verlag was founded in 1972, publishing the music of Johann Sebastian Bach has been a special focus for us. In the 2017 Reformation anniversary year we completed the Bach vocal project. Bach's complete sacred vocal works are now available in modern Urtext editions, together with performance material. A complete edition of all the full scores is also available in a high quality box set. Personal details

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