Composer

:

Johann Sebastian Bach

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song: Art Song

Compose Date

:

1736

Publication Date

:

1736

Average_duration

:

2:22

"O finstre Nacht, wann wirst du doch vergeben" (O dark night, when will you be forgiven) is a sacred aria composed by Johann Sebastian Bach. The piece is also known as BWV 492 and is a part of his collection of sacred songs, chorales, and arias known as the Schemelli Gesangbuch. The aria was composed in the early 1730s and was first published in 1736. The aria is written for a solo voice accompanied by a continuo, which is typically played on a keyboard instrument such as a harpsichord or organ. The piece is in the key of G minor and is composed in a slow, mournful tempo. The text of the aria is a prayer for forgiveness and redemption, with the singer lamenting the darkness of the night and asking when they will be able to find peace and salvation. The aria is divided into two main sections, with the first section consisting of a series of recitative-like phrases that express the singer's despair and longing for forgiveness. The second section is more melodic and features a series of long, flowing phrases that express the singer's hope for redemption and salvation. The piece ends with a final plea for forgiveness and a sense of resignation to the will of God. Overall, "O finstre Nacht, wann wirst du doch vergeben" is a powerful and moving aria that showcases Bach's skill as a composer of sacred music. The piece is notable for its use of chromaticism and dissonance, which create a sense of tension and unease that is resolved only in the final moments of the piece. The aria is a testament to Bach's ability to convey complex emotions through music and remains a beloved piece of sacred music to this day.

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