God's own time is the time appointed
Actus tragicus. Funeral music BWV 106, 1707/1708
The Actus tragicus or Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit BWV 106 remains one of Bach’s best-known and most admired works, one which continues to resonate to this day – a "work of genius such as even great masters seldom achieve" (Alfred Dürr). The cantata is one of the earliest known vocal works by Johann Sebastian Bach. It was written during his time at Mühlhausen, probably in 1707, when Bach took up the position of organist at the Divi Blasii Church. A possible occasion for its composition may have been the funeral of the mayor of Mühlhausen, Adolph Strecker.
The short, slow "Sonatina" with two recorders, two gambas and continuo gets the listener into the mood of the character of the cantata. This instrumental combination is unique in Bach’s vocal output, but could derive from a central German tradition.
This new edition is a critical-practical edition which combines both the latest discoveries in Bach research with a detailed Critical Report as well as addressing current questions on performance practice.
The short, slow "Sonatina" with two recorders, two gambas and continuo gets the listener into the mood of the character of the cantata. This instrumental combination is unique in Bach’s vocal output, but could derive from a central German tradition.
This new edition is a critical-practical edition which combines both the latest discoveries in Bach research with a detailed Critical Report as well as addressing current questions on performance practice.
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Digital text (without sheet music) incl. printing licence, html file, singing text, english translationhtml file, singing text, english translation (Sample)1 Sonatina 2a Tutti God’s own time is the time appointed us.
In his presence all have their being,
as long as he wills,
and we die in him in his own time,
when he wills. 2b Solo (Tenore) O Lord, cause us to remember,
that we all must perish,
that we may seek wisdom. 2c Solo (Basso) Make ready your house,
for you shall perish
and live on earth no longer. 2d Tutti It is the ancient law:
man, you must perish.
O come, Lord Jesu!. 3a Solo (Alto)...
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Digital text (without sheet music) incl. printing licence, html file, singing text, originalhtml file, singing text, original (Sample)1 Sonatina 2a Tutti Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit.
In ihm leben, weben und sind wir,
solange er will.
In ihm sterben wir zur rechten Zeit,
wenn er will. 2b Solo (Tenore) Ach, Herr, lehre uns bedenken,
dass wir sterben müssen,
auf dass wir klug werden. 2c Solo (Basso) Bestelle dein Haus,
denn du wirst sterben
und nicht lebendig bleiben. 2d Tutti Es ist der alte Bund:
Mensch, du musst sterben!
Ja, ja, ja, komm, Herr Jesu! 3a Solo (Alto)...
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Composer
Johann Sebastian Bach
| 1685-1750Johann 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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Editor
Peter Thalheimer
| 1946Peter Thalheimer studied recorder, flute (with Prof. Hartmut Strebel) and school music in Stuttgart. He completed his musicological studies with a doctorate at the Eberhard-Karls-Universität of Tübingen. He has taught in Nuremberg since 1978, and is currently professor of historical performance practice and recorder/transverse flute at the Hochschule für Musik Nuremberg. Concerts, radio and recording productions, courses and lectures he has given have taken him throughout Europe and the USA. In addition, his work has resulted in numerous music editions, as well as publications on performance practice, the study of instruments and on woodwind technique. An extensive collection of historical and modern flutes and recorders forms the basis for this work. Personal details
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Continuo realization
Paul Horn
| 1922-2016Paul Horn war ein deutscher Kirchenmusiker, Organist, Komponist und Musikwissenschaftler. Er studierte Kirchenmusik und Orgel an der Evangelischen Kirchenmusikschule Esslingen am Neckar bei Hans-Arnold Metzger und Musikwissenschaft, Theologie und Geschichte an der Universität Tübingen. Seine berufliche Laufbahn begann als Kantor an der Evangelischen Michaelskirche in Stuttgart-Degerloch. 1954 wurde er Kantor an der Evangelischen Stadtkirche Ravensburg, eine Position, die er bis zu seiner Pensionierung innehatte. Als Musikwissenschaftler arbeitete Horn bis ins hohe Alter eng mit Carus zusammen. So stammen zahlreiche Carus-Klavierauszüge aus seiner Feder. Personal details
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Translator
Jean Lunn
Reviews
... Wohl zu den bekanntesten Kantaten Bachs zählt BWV 106, die Trauerkantate „Actus tragicus”, welche durch ihre eigentümliche Besetzung mit je zwei Blockflöten und Gamben eine besondere Stellung einnimmt. Die vorliegende Ausgabe gibt die ganze Partitur in F-Dur wieder und umgeht somit die Probleme mit der Transposition des Stimmenmaterials. ...
Kirchenmusik im Bistum Limburg, 1/2014
[...] Notenbild in gewohnter Carus-Qualität [...]
Singende Kirche, Heft 3, 2013
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Frequent questions about this work
Why are older editions of the cantata in E flat major, but the Carus edition in F major?
The relevant sources of this cantata are notated in two different keys: the recorder parts are in F major, and the other parts in E flat major. This reflects the performance conditions which were typical at Bach’s time in Mühlhausen (as well as in other places): two tuning pitches were used at the same time which differed by a major second – the (higher) ‘Chorton’ (choir/organ pitch) and the (lower) ‘Kammerton’ (chamber pitch). The organ and the string instruments tuned to match this plus the vocal parts were at Chorton (choir/organ pitch), and the woodwind instruments at Kammerton (chamber pitch). In the older editions of the Actus tragicus (e. g. the Old Bach Edition, Breitkopf & Härtel, Eulenburg) all the parts were notated in E flat major, that is in ‘Chorton’. And because of this, the recorder parts were not playable on normal treble recorders. In our edition the entire score is given in F major (Kammerton). In this respect, it matches the edition published by Hänssler-Verlag in 1977 and the New Bach Edition of 1986.
Which pitch do you recommend for a performance in F major?
For modern performances we recommend playing in F major at a1=415 Hz. We recommend discussing this with the instrumentalists in good time, so that the requisite instruments are available. If gambas are available at a1=465 Hz for a performance at this pitch, they can play in the original key of E flat major. If the appropriate instruments are available, F major at a1=392 Hz (corresponding to E flat major at a1=440 Hz) is also possible. Although a performance in F major at a1=440 Hz is unproblematic for the instruments, it places considerable demands on the vocal soloists, especially the tenor and bass.
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