Der Geist hilft unser Schwachheit auf, BWV 226

Der Geist hilft unser Schwachheit auf (The Spirit gives aid to our weakness), BWV 226, is a motet by Johann Sebastian Bach, composed in Leipzig in 1729 for the funeral of Johann Heinrich Ernesti.

Der Geist hilft unser Schwachheit auf
BWV 226
Motet by J. S. Bach
Manuscript
KeyB-flat major
OccasionFuneral of Johann Heinrich Ernesti
Bible textRomans 8:26–27
ChoraleKomm, Heiliger Geist, Herre Gott
Performed21 October 1729 (1729-10-21): Paulinerkirche, Leipzig
Movements3
Vocal2 choirs SATB
Instrumentalstrings with choir I, woodwinds with choir II, continuo

History

For Der Geist hilft unser Schwachheit auf , the autograph score survives. Bach himself noted on its title: "J. J. Motetta à doi Cori bey Beerdigung des seel. Hrn. Prof. und Rectoris Ernesti di J. S. Bach." (Jesu Juva – Motet for two choirs for the funeral for the blessed Rector, Professor Ernesti, by J. S. Bach). Ernesti was professor of poetry at Leipzig University and director of the Thomasschule. The first performance took place in the Paulinerkirche, the university church). Scholars debate if the performance was 24 October, or rather 21 October, as indicated by the title page of the sermon.[1]

Bach wrote a number of works for occasions of Leipzig University. Twelve such works survive: they are mainly festive in character (in German they have been categorised as Festmusiken zu Leipziger Universitätsfeiern).[2] As well as being part of a series of works connected with the university, Der Geist hilft unser Schwachheit auf as a funeral motet is one of a series of Bach motets.

Text

The text is taken from the Epistle to the Romans (Romans 8:26–27) and Martin Luther's third stanza to the hymn "Komm, Heiliger Geist, Herre Gott" (1524).[3] Ernesti himself had chosen the text from the epistle for the funeral sermon.[4]

Scoring and structure

The motet is structured in three movements and scored for two four-part choirs. They sing together in movements 2 and 3. The orchestral parts are extant, indicating that choir I was doubled by strings, choir II by reeds (two oboes, taille and bassoon). For the basso continuo, separate violone and organ parts are provided.[5]

  1. Der Geist hilft unser Schwachheit auf
  2. Der aber die Herzen forschet
  3. Du heilige Brunst, süßer Trost

Music

Bach composed the text according to its meaning, not as music for mourning.[4] The opening contrasts two choirs in imitation. In lively 3/8 time, the word "Geist" (Spirit) is illustrated by a lively melismatic figure. The following idea, "Sondern der Geist selbst vertritt uns" (but the Spirit itself intercedes for), is given as a fugue, first with independent entrances of all eight parts, but concentrated to four parts in the end, "mit unaussprechlichem Seufzen" (with unutterable sighs).[5] The sighs are audible in the broken melodic lines of all voices.[6] The thought "Der aber die Herzen forschet" (He, however, who examines hearts) appears as a double fugue in four parts in stile antico.[5] Here the word "Heiligen" (saints) is illustrated in extended melismatic writing. The closing Pentecostal chorale[7] is set for four parts.[6]

References
  1. Petzoldt, Martin (2009). Der Geist hilft unser Schwachheit auf BWV 226, in "Booklet for the Anniversary Edition Leipziger Universitätsmusik, Johann Sebastian Bach: Festmusiken zu Leipziger Universitätsfeiern. (in German). pp. 8f.
  2. Timm, David (2009). "Festmusiken zu Leipziger Universitätsfeiern" (in German). Leipziger Universitätschor. pp. 8f. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
  3. "Komm, Heiliger Geist, Herre Gott / Text and Translation of Chorale". bach-cantatas.com. 2006. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  4. Klek, Konrad (29 April 2012). Von Schwachheit keine Spur / Serie Musica Sacra (60): Motette "Der Geist hilft unsrer Schwachheit auf" von Johann Sebastian Bach (in German). Sonntagsblatt Bayern. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  5. Traupman-Carr, Carol (2009). Motet BWV 226 "Der Geist hilft" (in German). bach.org. pp. 8f. Archived from the original on 16 January 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
  6. Arnold, Jochen (9 September 2012). Der Geist hilft unserer Schwachheit auf (BWV 226) (in German). Landeskirche Hannover. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  7. "Chorale Melodies used in Bach's Vocal Works / Komm, Heiliger Geist, Herre Gott". bach-cantatas.com. 2006. Retrieved 28 October 2012.

Sources

Further reading
  • Klaus Hofmann: Johann Sebastian Bach. Die Motetten. Bärenreiter, Kassel 2003, ISBN 3-7618-1499-2.
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