DESCRIPTION:
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

Cantata BWV 131: Aus der Tiefen rufe ich, Herr, zu dir (1707)

1. Aus der Tiefen rufe ich, Herr, zu dir (Chorus)
2. So du willst, Herr, Sünde zurechnen, Herr (Arioso: B & Chorale: S) 04:21
3. Ich harre des Herrn (Chorus) 08:32
4. Meine Seele wartet auf den Herrn (Aria: T & Chorale: A) 11:55
5. Israel hoffe auf den Herrn (Chorus) 17:53

Soloists:
Soprano - Barbara Schlick
Alto - Gérard Lesne
Tenor - Howard Crook
Bass - Peter Kooy

Performed by Philippe Herreweghe and the Chorus & Orchestra of Collegium Vocale Gent (1992).

"Aus der Tiefen rufe ich, Herr, zu dir (BWV 131) is Bach's earliest extant cantata. The reference at the very end to the commission: 'Set to music at the request of Dr. Georg Christ. Eilmars by Joh. Seb. Bach, organist at Mühlhausen,' also indicates some tension there: Eilmar was the parish priest at St. Mary's, Bach was organist at St. Blaise. Like the 'Actus tragicus' (BWV 106) this cantata was written in 1707, presumably for a penitential service after a fire. The chamber music texture of the orchestration - one violin and two violas (one written in alto clef, the other in tenor clef) indicates the link with the music for the gamba; the scoring is completed by an oboe. As far as the form is concerned, there are no independent arias, recitatives or, except for the rather old-fashioned sinfonia, extended instrumental movements. The structure and arrangement are conditioned by the work's origin in the motet and sacred concerto. It is fascinating to observe, with hindsight, that the particular musical quality of this (probably) first cantata is the result of a desire for symmetry and the conflict between the 'no longer' of the motet and sacred concerto on the one hand, and the 'not yet' of the later cantatas on the other:

Sinfonia, leading to the chorus:
Aus der Tiefen rufe ich (Out of the depths I call) (Lento) -- Herr, höre meine Stimme (Lord, hear my voice) (Vivace); ( = motet)
Bass solo with oboe and continuo: So du willst, Herr (If thou, Lord, shouldst) (Andante; = sacred concerto with cantus firmus chorale)
Chorus: Ich harre des Herrn (I wait for the Lord) (Adagio) -- Meine Seele harret (My soul doth wait) (Largo; = motet)
Tenor solo with continuo: Meine Seele wartet (My soul waiteth) (sacred concerto with cantus firmus chorale)
Chorus: Israel (Adagio) -- hoffe auf den Herrn (trust in the Lord) (un poc' allegro) -- denn bei dem Herrn ist Gnade (for with the Lord there is mercy) (Adagio; oboe obbligato) -- und viel Erlösung bei ihm (and with Him is plenteous redemption) (Allegro; figurations) -- und er wird Israel erlössen (and He shall redeem Israel) (final fugue)." - Gerhard Schuhmacher