Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir, BWV 38

Bach structured the cantata in six movements. The text and tune of the hymn are retained in the outer choral movements, a chorale fantasia and a four-part closing chorale, which frame two sets of recitative and aria. Bach scored the work for four vocal soloists (soprano, alto, tenor, bass), a four-part choir, and a Baroque instrumental ensemble of four trombones (Tb), two oboes (Ob), two violins (Vl), viola (Va) and basso continuo.[8] This is one of three Bach cantatas to use four different trombone parts (soprano, alto, tenor, and bass), the others being Ach Gott, vom Himmel sieh darein, BWV 2 and Ich hatte viel Bekümmernis, BWV 21.[9] The instruments play colla parte with the voices in the outer movements in the style of Bach's motets.[10]

In the following table of the movements, the scoring follows the Neue Bach-Ausgabe.[8] The keys and time signatures are taken from Alfred Dürr, using the symbol for common time (4/4).[10] The continuo, playing throughout, is not shown.

Movements of Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir

No.	Title	Text	Type	Vocal	Winds	Strings	Key	Time
1	Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir	Luther	chorale fantasia	SATB	4Tb 2Ob	2Vl Va	E (Phrygian)
2	In Jesu Gnade wird allein	anon	recitative	A
3	Ich höre mitten in den Leiden	anon	aria	T	2Ob		A minor
4	Ach! Daß mein Glaube noch so schwach	anon	recitative	S
5	Wenn meine Trübsal als mit Ketten	anon	aria	S A B			D minor
6	Ob bei uns ist der Sünden viel	Luther	chorale	SATB	4Tb 2Ob	2Vl Va	E (Phrygian)

In this cantata, Bach used the chorale melody not only in the opening chorale fantasia and the closing chorale, but also in the inner movements. He built an aria theme from parts of the melody, as in movement 3, used the melody as a continuo line (movement 4), and took motifs from the melody.[4] The American musicologist Eric Chafe suggests that the entire cantata is also based on a "design" that descends tonally for the first five movements and rises again in the closing chorale, exploiting the textual theme of "destruction followed by restoration".[11]

The opening movement is a chorale fantasia, "Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir" (Out of deep anguish I call to You),[1] on the hymn tune in Phrygian mode. It combines the structure of a motet with chromatic and dissonant harmonies.[6][7] As in his motets and the chorale cantata Ach Gott, vom Himmel sieh darein, BWV 2, Bach uses the old style of scoring, with all instruments doubling the vocal parts.[10] The Bach scholar Klaus Hofmann notes that Bach's use of older musical style may reflect Bach pointing back at the source, Luther's paraphrase of a text from the Old Testament. The lower voices begin each line with imitation on the melody to come, which is then presented in long notes by the soprano as a cantus firmus.[10] The musicologist Julian Mincham interprets the imitative counterpoint as a "portrayal of the individual cries of distress which coalesce to form a combined human clamour".[12] John Eliot Gardiner, who conducted the Bach Cantata Pilgrimage in 2000, compares the style to both Heinrich Schütz and Anton Bruckner, observing that although using the means of older masters, Bach "push[es] the frontiers of this motet movement almost out of stylistic reach through abrupt chromatic twists to this tune in Phrygian mode."[6]

Like the fantasia, the alto recitative "In Jesu Gnade wird allein" (In Jesus' grace alone),[1] is stylistically archaic.[12] The Bach scholar Alfred Dürr describes the secco recitative as "plain but forcefully declaimed".[10] Mincham notes that its "semi-chaotic" form may reflect the tumult of evil and sin: the movement maintains a "archaic modal feel" but with a continuo line that "seems to lack the coherence one normally expects from a Bach bass".[12]

The tenor aria, "Ich höre mitten in den Leiden" (I hear, in the midst of my sorrows),[1] is expressive with a prominent syncopated rhythmic motif which runs throughout the movement.[10] The tenor line is part of a four-part texture with the oboes and continuo.[12] The oboes play "continuously interwoven chromatic lines".[6]

Luther intended the contrasting ideas of the psalm to represent "contradictory and disharmonious things, for hope and despair are opposites", and wrote in his song that we must "hope in despair", because "hope which forms the new man, grows in the midst of fear that cuts down the old Adam".[6]

A soprano recitative, "Ach! Daß mein Glaube noch so schwach" (Alas! that my faith is yet so weak),[1] adopts a modified version of the chorale melody as the continuo line.[10][12] Gardiner notes the "uncompromising" way of changing the normal order: the soprano, usually singing a chorale cantus firmus (firm song) to the continuo, expresses weakness and insecurity here, marked "a battuta", while the firm foundation is the chorale in the bass, to which the text of stanza three, "Darum auf Gott will hoffen ich" (Therefore I will hope in God),[1] could be imagined.[6] Gardiner points out a detail: the word "Zeichen" (sign) "is given expressive, symbolic expression, a diminished seventh chord assigned to that word … formed by all three 'signs", one sharp (F-sharp), one flat (E-flat) and one natural (C). As Eric Chafe concludes,

since St John's Gospel is known as the Book of Signs, and since the tonal plan of Bach's St John Passion appears to have been conceived as a form of play on the three musical signs (ie sharp, flat and natural key areas) this important detail in the plan of Aus tiefer Not perhaps possesses a wider significance, relating it to Bach's tonal-allegorical procedures in general.[6]

The trio aria, "Wenn meine Trübsal als mit Ketten" (When my troubles like chains),[1] compares to a trio as part of cantata Du Friedefürst, Herr Jesu Christ, BWV 116, composed three weeks earlier, then expressing "Ach, wir bekennen unsre Schuld" (Alas, we confess our sins).[6] This is one of only three trios in this cantata cycle.[12]

In this movement, "despair, like chains, fetters one misfortune to the next" is contrasted to "shall my Saviour free me suddenly from it all", presented as akin to morning following night.[6] Bach expresses despair by a descending sequential ritornello based on the circle of fifths[12] through the minor keys (D, G, C, F), finally reaching B-flat major), whereas the "dawning of faith" is illustrated with an upward motion.[6] Mincham characterizes the ritornello as "comfortably conventional", in contrast with the "convoluted" theme.[12] Hofmann notes the "operatic quality" of the movement, when for example on the words "daß alles plötzlich von mir fällt" (so that everything suddenly releases me), the polyphony suddenly resolves to homophony.[7]

The four-part setting of the closing chorale, "Ob bei uns ist der Sünden viel" (Although the sins among us are many),[1] begins with a dissonant chord, interpreted by Hofmann as a last cry of anguish "in an almost 'Romantic' manner".[7] Gardiner comments: "With all the voices given full orchestral doubling (again, those four trombones!), this chorale is impressive, terrifying in its Lutheran zeal".[6] Mincham notes the setting's "enigmatic" final cadence which "leaves us with a sense that the human condition is ongoing".[12]