Composer

:

Johann Sebastian Bach

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Cantata

Compose Date

:

Jan 19, 1716

Publication Date

:

1886

First Performance

:

Jan 19, 1716

Average_duration

:

12:05

Movement_count

:

5

Movement ....

Johann Sebastian Bach composed Cantata No. 155, Mein Gott, wie lang, ach lange, BWV 155, in 1716 during his tenure as the court organist and chamber musician in Weimar. The cantata premiered on the 13th Sunday after Trinity, August 22, 1716, at the court chapel in Weimar. The cantata consists of five movements, including an opening chorus, two recitatives, an aria, and a closing chorale. The text is based on a hymn by Johann Rist, which reflects on the longing for God's mercy and the desire for salvation. The opening chorus, "Mein Gott, wie lang, ach lange," is a powerful and expressive piece that sets the tone for the entire cantata. The music is characterized by a sense of urgency and longing, with the choir and orchestra working together to create a dramatic and emotional effect. The first recitative, "Der Sunden Wust hat mich nicht nur befleckt," is a solo for bass that reflects on the burden of sin and the need for redemption. The music is somber and introspective, with the bass voice conveying a sense of despair and hopelessness. The second recitative, "Ich bin veracht, verlassen," is a solo for tenor that continues the theme of sin and redemption. The music is more hopeful and uplifting than the previous recitative, with the tenor voice expressing a sense of faith and trust in God's mercy. The aria, "Ich armer Mensch, ich Sundenknecht," is a solo for alto that reflects on the human condition and the need for salvation. The music is gentle and introspective, with the alto voice conveying a sense of humility and contrition. The closing chorale, "Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ," is a simple and beautiful piece that expresses the desire for salvation and the hope of eternal life. The music is characterized by a sense of peace and tranquility, with the choir and orchestra working together to create a sense of harmony and unity. Overall, Cantata No. 155 is a powerful and emotional work that reflects on the human condition and the need for salvation. The music is characterized by a sense of urgency, longing, and hope, with Bach's masterful composition and orchestration creating a powerful and moving effect.

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