Ich steh mit einem Fuß im Grabe, BWV 156

Ich steh mit einem Fuß im Grabe (I am standing with one foot in the grave), BWV 156,[lower-alpha 1] is a church cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach. He composed it in Leipzig for the third Sunday after Epiphany and first performed it in 1727 or 1729.[1] The cantata is well known for its opening sinfonia for orchestra and oboe solo.

Ich steh mit einem Fuß im Grabe
BWV 156
Church cantata by J. S. Bach
OccasionThird Sunday after Epiphany
Cantata textPicander
Chorale
  • "Machs mit mir, Gott, nach deiner Güt" by Johann Herman Schein
  • "Herr, wie du willt, so schicks mit mir" by Kaspar Bienemann
Performed1727 or 1729: Leipzig
VocalSATB choir, alto, tenor, and bass solo
Instrumental
  • oboe
  • 2 violins
  • viola
  • basso continuo

History and text

BWV 156 was Bach's fourth and last cantata for the Third Sunday after Epiphany. The prescribed readings for the Sunday were taken from the Epistle to the Romans, rules for life (Romans 12:17–21), and from the Gospel of Matthew, the healing of a leper (Matthew 8:1–13).[2] The librettist was Picander. He incorporated two chorale tunes: "Machs mit mir, Gott, nach deiner Güt" by Johann Hermann Schein (1628) and "Herr, wie du willt, so schicks mit mir" by Kaspar Bienemann (1582).[3]

The sinfonia was likely derived from an earlier oboe concerto and was later adapted as part of Bach's Harpsichord Concerto in F minor.[3]

The earliest possible date for the first performance is 26 January 1727.[1] 23 January 1729 is another possibility.

Scoring and structure

The work is scored for three vocal soloists (alto, tenor, and bass), four-part choir, oboe, two violins, viola, and basso continuo.[4]

It has six movements:

  1. Sinfonia
  2. Chorale (soprano) and aria (tenor): Ich steh mit einem Fuß im Grabe
  3. Recitative (bass): Mein Angst und Not
  4. Aria (alto): Herr, was du willt, soll mir gefallen
  5. Recitative (bass): Und willst du, dass ich nicht soll kranken
  6. Chorale: Herr, wie du willt, so schicks mit mir

Music

The opening sinfonia is scored for oboe, strings, and continuo. It is in F major and common time.[3] Compared to the later version for harpsichord, the melody is straightforward and unembellished, and is harmonically conceived to prepare the second movement.[5]

The second movement is a combined tenor aria and soprano chorale with obbligato strings. Unusually, it begins with a syncopated continuo line under unison strings.[3][6] The movement also features sequences and harmonic contrasts.[5]

Both bass recitatives are secco and in minor mode.[3] The first, the third movement of the cantata, is characterized by a disjunct melodic line and a concluding arioso line. The second, the fifth movement, is comparatively "lighter in mood and spirit".[5] It anticipates the melody of the final chorale setting.[7]

The alto aria is accompanied by oboe and violin in parallel thirds and sixths. The movement includes several instances of word painting.[3] Formally, the movement is an altered da capo aria.[5] It has a "generally sunny affect ... only momentarily disturbed by more charged harmonies".[6]

The final movement is a four-part setting of the chorale in C major.[3] The phrase lengths are varied to provide a "hint of timelessness".[5]

Recordings

Notes
  1. "BWV" is Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis, a thematic catalogue of Bach's works.

References
  1. "Bach digital - Ich steh mit einem Fuß im Grabe BWV 156". www.bach-digital.de. Retrieved 2023-06-09.
  2. "Cantata BWV 156". bach-cantatas. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
  3. Traupman-Carr, Carol (2005). "Cantata 156, Ich steh mit einem Fuß im Grabe". Bach Choir of Bethlehem. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
  4. "BWV 156". University of Alberta. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
  5. Mincham, Julian. "Chapter 40 BWV 156". jsbachcantatas. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  6. "BWV 156". Emmanuel Music. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  7. "Cantata No. 156". Allmusic. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
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