Composer

:

Johann Sebastian Bach

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Chorale

Compose Date

:

before 1751

Publication Date

:

1784 - 1787

Average_duration

:

0:58

Johann Sebastian Bach composed "Ach, lieben Christen, seid getrost, BWV 256" in Leipzig in 1725. The piece was premiered on the 19th Sunday after Trinity, which fell on October 15th of that year. The piece is a chorale cantata, meaning that it is based on a pre-existing hymn tune. In this case, the hymn is "Ach, lieben Christen, seid getrost," which translates to "Ah, dear Christians, be comforted." The hymn was written by Johannes Gigas in 1561 and was a popular Lutheran hymn in Bach's time. The cantata is divided into four movements. The first movement is a chorale fantasia, in which the hymn tune is presented in the soprano voice and then elaborated upon by the other voices. The second movement is a recitative for bass, in which the text urges Christians to trust in God's protection. The third movement is an aria for alto, in which the text speaks of the comfort that comes from faith in God. The final movement is a four-part chorale setting of the hymn tune. One of the characteristics of this cantata is its use of musical symbolism. For example, in the first movement, the soprano voice presents the hymn tune in long, sustained notes, which represent the steadfastness of faith. The other voices then enter with more active, ornamental lines, which represent the challenges and temptations that Christians face. Overall, "Ach, lieben Christen, seid getrost, BWV 256" is a beautiful example of Bach's skill in setting hymn tunes to music. Its use of musical symbolism and its emphasis on the comfort that comes from faith make it a powerful expression of Lutheran theology.

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