Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750)

“Ich hatte viel Bekümmernis”

(My heart was deeply troubled)

BWV 21


Event:
Cantata for the 3rd Sunday after Trinity

Readings:
Epistle: 1 Peter 5: 6-11; Gospel: Luke 15: 1-10

or for any time / ’Per ogni tempo’. Probably a Farewell Cantata for Johann Ernst von Sachsen-Weimar

Composed:
Original version: Weimar, 1713;
1st revised: Weimar, 1714;
2nd revised: Köthen, 1720;
3rd revised: Leipzig, 1731

1st performance: June 17, 1714 - Weimar
2nd performance: 1717-1722 - Köthen
3rd performance: June 13, 1723 – Leipzig

Text:
Salomon Franck (Mvts. 3-5, 7, 8, 10);
Psalm 94: 19 (Mvt. 2);
Psalm 42: 5 (Mvt. 6);
Psalm 116: 7 (Mvt. 9);
Georg Neumark (Mvt. 9);
Revelation 5: 12-13 (Mvt. 11)

Scoring:
Soloists: Soprano, Tenor, Bass; 4-part Chorus
Orchestra: 3 trombones, drum, oboe, cello, 2 violins, basson, 4 additional continuo instruments


Mvt. 1: Sinfonia (00:00)
Mvt. 2: Chorus (03:05)
Mvt. 3: Aria (07:00)
Mvt. 4: Recitative (11:26)
Mvt. 5: Aria (12:55)
Mvt. 6: Chorus (18:16)
Mvt. 7: Recitative (21:48)
Mvt. 8: Aria – Duet (23:06)
Mvt. 9: Chorus (26:52)
Mvt. 10: Aria (31:22)
Mvt. 11: Chorus (34:01)

Alternative Movements
Mvt. 3: Aria (37:31)
Mvt. 7 Recitativo (42:09)
Mvt. 8 Aria (43:34)


Soprano: Monika Frimmer
Tenor: Gerd Türk
Bass: Peter Kooy

Bach Collegium Japan

Masaaki Suzuki

Jun 1997, at the Kobe Shoin Women's University Chapel, Japan.