A feeble soul, a slave of sin
Cantata for the 22nd Sunday after Trinity BWV 55, 1726
In the cantata Ich armer Mensch, ich Sündenknecht (A feeble soul, a slave of sin) Bach was able to achieve extraordinary expressive power with slender vocal means, viz. a single solo tenor throughout until the final chorale, which was written for four voices. The last three movements come from an earlier, lost work by Bach, presumably a Passion. At the same time these movements seem to point towards his St Matthew Passion, which was first performed on Good Friday in 1727, shortly after this cantata was written: both the text Erbarme dich (Have mercy) and the chorale verse Bin ich gleich von dir gewichen (I am about to depart from you) feature prominently in the St Matthew.
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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 AriaA feeble soul, a slave of sin,
2 Recitativo
to come before the Judge appals me,
in fear I tremble as he calls me.
For God well knows what I have been,
a feeble soul, a slave of sin.The will of God have I neglected,
his bidden paths I shun,
nor have I ever freely done as he directed.
How then! If I should take the wings of morning
to flee hence from thy presence
and dwell in ocean’s farthest bound’ry, behold!
for thou art there;
and there thy hand shall lead me,
and there thy right hand shall uphold me.
Ah yea! Though I in hell endeavor in sin to make my bed forever,
the wrath of Mighty God will find me there.
On earth no help I see,
for here the fiend awaits to slay me,...
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Digital text (without sheet music) incl. printing licence, html file, singing text, originalhtml file, singing text, original (Sample)1 Aria
Ich armer Mensch, ich Sündenknecht,
2 Recitativo
ich geh vor Gottes Angesichte
mit Furcht und Zittern zum Gerichte.
Er ist gerecht, ich ungerecht,
ich armer Mensch, ich Sündenknecht.Ich habe wider Gott gehandelt,
und bin demselben Pfad,
den er mir vorgeschrieben hat,
nicht nachgewandelt.
Wohin? Soll ich der Morgenröte Flügel zu meiner Flucht erkiesen,
die mich zum letzten Meere wiesen,
so wird mich doch die Hand des Allerhöchsten finden
und mir die Sündenrute binden.
Ach ja! Wenn gleich die Höll ein Bette
vor mich und meine Sünden hätte,
so wäre doch der Grimm des Höchsten da.
Die Erde schützt mich nicht,...
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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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Translator
Henry Drinker
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