Structure and scoring Bach structured the cantata in seven
movements. Both text and tune of the hymn are retained in the outer movements, a chorale fantasia and a four-part closing chorale. Bach scored the work for four vocal soloists (
soprano (S),
alto (A),
tenor (T) and
bass (B)), a
four-part choir, and a
Baroque instrumental ensemble of
cornett (Ct), three
trombones (Tb), two
oboes (Ob),
oboe da caccia (Oc),
taille (Ta, a tenor oboe),
flauto traverso (Ft, or violin), two violin parts (Vl), one
viola part (Va), and
basso continuo. The duration of the cantata is given as 25 minutes. In the following table of the movements, the scoring,
keys and
time signatures are taken from
Alfred Dürr's. The continuo, which plays throughout, is not shown.
Chorale tune The hymn is sung to the tune of "", Luther's metred paraphrase of the
Lord's Prayer, which appeared in Valentin Schumann's
Gesangbuch of 1539 (
Zahn No.2561). { \key c \major \time 64/2 \set Score.tempoHideNote = ##t \tempo 2=100 \set Staff.midiInstrument = "english horn" \omit Score.TimeSignature \override Score.BarNumber #'transparent = ##t a'1 a'2 f' g' a' f' e' d'1\fermata \bar "!" a'1 a'2 g' c'' a' f' g' a'1\fermata \bar "!" a' c
2 d f
e d
cis d
1\fermata \bar "!" d e
2 d c'' b' a' gis' a'1\fermata \bar "!" d
c2 b' c'' a' a' g' f'1\fermata \bar "!" a' bes'2 a' f' g' f' e' d'\breve\bar "|."} The melody, in
Dorian mode, is a venerated piece of German Protestantism. Perhaps, therefore, Bach used it in different ways in almost all movements.
Movements 1 The opening chorus, "" (Take away from us, Lord, faithful God, the heavy punishment and great suffering), is a
chorale fantasia with the
cantus firmus in the soprano, each line prepared by the lower voices. A choir of trombones plays
colla parte with the voices. Oboes and strings play in this movement, different from other more concertante opening movements,
motifs that could also be sung, giving prominence to the voices.
John Eliot Gardiner, who conducted the
Bach Cantata Pilgrimage in 2000, noted that the orchestral motifs were taken from another
Luther hymn, "" about the
Ten Commandments, and described the approach as a "twin-barrelled doctrinal salvo". For each line of the chorale tune, the lower voices prepared the entrance of the leading soprano by singing this melodic part twice as fast and in
imitation; the voices remain in
polyphony until the end of the line in the soprano. The voices are reinforced by cornett and trombones, archaic-sounding "as though Bach were intent on reconnecting to Luther's time", as Gardiner observed. Modern aspects, in contrast, are persistent three-note "sighing" motifs in the instruments, and the final "disturbing intensification of harmony and vocal expression for the words '' (contagion, fire and grievous pain) at the end of the movement", over a tonic
pedal.
2 In the first aria, "" (Do not deal with us wicked servants of sin according to your justice), the tenor is accompanied by an
obbligato virtuoso flute. The flute writing suggests that Bach had a capable flute player at hand then, as for , performed the previous week. Bach illustrated the text, using for example sigh motifs for "" (supplication) and a descending line for "" (perish). Gardiner interpreted the singer as "expressing fear of judgement under the law" while the flute offers "glimmers of hope for grace and pardon". Bach replaced the flute by a violin in a later version.
3 The recitative for the soprano, "" (Ah! Lord God, through your love), combines the complete third chorale stanza with new text, expanding each single line several by new lines of thoughts, ending with the last chorale line. The chorale lines are sung in an embellished version of the chorale melody, changed to 3/4 time, and accompanied by an
ostinato continuo derived from it, while the new text is set as
secco recitative.
4 In the central movement is a bass aria in an unusual form. Three oboes and continuo begin with dramatic fury, marked
vivace. Then the bass begins unexpectedly, marked
andante, with the first line of the chorale stanza on the chorale melody: "" (Why are you so angry?). On the word "", Bach changes the key abruptly from
E minor to
C minor in a "calculated spotlit dissonance", according to Gardiner. The same text is then elaborated in the style of the opening
ritornello. In the middle section, again andante, the complete chorale melody is played by the instruments, while the voice sings independently. Shortly before its end, the instruments pick up speed and motifs of the first ritornello and come to a close, without the voice.
5 The second chorale with recitative, for tenor, "" (Sin has corrupted us greatly), is similar to the first, but the melody is in common time.
6 The sixth movement, "" (Think on Jesus' bitter death!) is a duet. The soprano and alto voices are combined with the flute and an oboe da caccia that plays the chorale melody. The music is in
siciliano rhythm. The instrumentation is similar to the central movement of Bach's later "" from the
St Matthew Passion.
7 The final chorale stanza, "" (Lead us with your right hand and bless our city and land), is set for four parts. The instruments play
colla parte with the singers. \header { tagline = " " } \layout { indent = 0 \context { \Score \remove "Bar_number_engraver" } } global = { \key d \minor \numericTimeSignature \time 4/4 \set Score.tempoHideNote = ##t \set Timing.beamExceptions = #'()} soprano = \relative c'' { \global \partial 4 a4 | a f g a | f e d\fermata a' | a g c a | f g a\fermata a | c d8 e f4 e | d cis d\fermata d | e d c b | a b a\fermata d | c b c a | a g f\fermata a | bes a8 g f4 g | f e d\fermata \bar "|." } alto = \relative c' { \global \partial 4 f4 | e d d d | d cis a f' | f g8 f e4 f | d d cis d | e g a g | f8 g a4 a g | g fis8 gis a4 e | e8 a a gis e4 d | e f g f | f e c d | d cis d e | cis8 d4 cis8 a4 } tenor = \relative c' { \global \partial 4 d4 | a a bes a | bes e, f d' | c c c c | bes d, e f | a bes c bes8 c | d4 e f b, | c8 b a4 d d | c d c g | g d' c c | d g, a a | g8 f e4 bes'2 ~ | bes8 a g a fis4 } bass = \relative c { \global \partial 4 d4 | cis d bes' f | g a d, d8 e | f4 e a f | bes bes, a d | a' g f g8 a | bes4 a d, g | c, d8 e fis4 gis | a e a, b | c d e f | bes, c f, fis | g a bes a8 g | a4 a d } \score { \new ChoirStaff > \new Lyrics \lyricsto "soprano" { Leit uns mit dei -- ner rech -- ten Hand und seg -- ne uns -- er Stadt und Land; gib uns all -- _ zeit dein heil -- ges Wort, be -- hüt für's Teu -- fels List und Mord; ver -- leih ein sel -- ges Stün -- de -- lein, auf dass wir _ e -- wig bei dir sein. } \new Staff \with { midiInstrument = "choir aahs" } > >> \layout { } \midi { \tempo 4=70 } } == Manuscripts and publication ==