| Halt im Gedächtnis Jesum Christ | |
|---|---|
BWV 67 | |
| Church cantata byJ. S. Bach | |
 Thomaskirche, Leipzig | |
| Occasion | Sunday afterEaster |
| Bible text | 2 Timothy 2:8 |
| Chorale |
|
| Performed | 16 April 1724 (1724-04-16):Leipzig |
| Movements | 7 |
| Vocal | |
| Instrumental |
|
Halt im Gedächtnis Jesum Christ (Keep Jesus Christ in mind),[1]BWV 67, is achurch cantata byJohann Sebastian Bach. He composed it inLeipzig forQuasimodogeniti, the first Sunday afterEaster, and first performed it on 16 April 1724.
Based on the prescribed gospel of theappearance of Jesus to theDisciples, first without then withThomas, an unknown poet compares the situation of the doubtful Thomas to the Christian in general. He placesNikolaus Herman's Easter hymn "Erschienen ist der herrlich Tag" in the centre of the cantata, repeats the line "Friede sei mit euch" (Peace be with you) several times, and ends with the first stanza fromJakob Ebert's hymn "Du Friedefürst, Herr Jesu Christ" (Thou Prince of Peace, Lord Jesus Christ). Bach structured the work in sevenmovements, arranged in symmetry around the central chorale, and scored it for three solo voices, a four-part choir and aBaroque instrumental ensemble of a slidehorn for hymn tunes, flauto traverso, two oboes d'amore, strings andbasso continuo. Besides the unusual centralchorale, the cantata contains a dramatic scena with Jesus repeating "Peace be with you" against the enemies.
Bach composed the cantata in his first year asThomaskantorr in Leipzig, shortly after he first performed hisSt John Passion, for theFirst Sunday after Easter, calledQuasimodogeniti.[2] The prescribed readings for that Sunday were from theFirst Epistle of John, "our faith is the victory" (1 John 5:4–10), and from theGospel of John, theappearance of Jesus to theDisciples, first without then withThomas, inJerusalem (John 20:19–31). The unknown poet begins with a verse from theSecond Epistle to Timothy, "Remember that Jesus Christ … was raised from the dead" (2 Timothy 2:8).[3] The poet sees Thomas as similar to the doubtful Christian in general, whose heart is not at peace.[4] The center of the cantata is the Easter hymn "Erschienen ist der herrlich Tag" (The glorious day has appeared)[1] byNikolaus Herman (1560), praising the day of the resurrection.[5] In contrast,movement 5 recalls the danger by the enemies, until in movement 6 Jesus appears, as he did to his disciples in Jerusalem, finally bringing peace. The line "Friede sei mit euch" (Peace be with you) is repeated four times, framing three stanzas of a poem. The closingchorale is the first stanza of "Du Friedefürst, Herr Jesu Christo" (Thou Prince of Peace, Lord Jesus Christ)[1] byJakob Ebert (1601).[3][6]
Bach led the first performance on 16 April 1724.[3]
Bach structured the cantata in seven movements, arranged symmetrically around a central chorale. He scored the work for three vocal soloists (alto,tenor,bass), afour-part choir and aBaroque instrumental ensemble ofcorno da tirarsi (Ct, a slidehorn that Bach scored for a short period),flauto traverso (Ft), twooboes d'amore (Oa), twoviolins (Vl),viola (Va), andbasso continuo.[7][8]
In the following table of the movements, the scoring follows theNeue Bach-Ausgabe.[7] Thekeys andtime signatures are taken fromAlfred Dürr, using the symbol for common time (4
4).[3] The continuo, playing throughout, is not shown.
| No. | Title | Text | Type | Vocal | Winds | Strings | Key | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Halt im Gedächtnis Jesum Christ | Timotheus 2:8 | Chorus | SATB | Ft 2Oa | 2Vl Va | A major |  |
| 2 | Mein Jesus ist erstanden | anon. | Aria | T | Oa | 2Vl Va | E major | |
| 3 | Mein Jesu, heißest du des Todes Gift | anon. | Recitative | A | | |||
| 4 | Erschienen ist der herrlich Tag | Herman | Chorale | SATB | Ct Ft 2Oa | 2Vl Va | ||
| 5 | Doch scheinet fast | anon | Recitative | A | | |||
| 6 | Friede sei mit euch | anon. | Aria e Coro | B SAT | Ft 2Oa | 2Vl Va | A major | 3 4 |
| 7 | Du Friedefürst, Herr Jesu Christ | Ebert | Chorale | SATB | Ct Fl 2Oa | 2Vl Va | |
The opening chorus reflects the contrast of hope and resurrection versus simultaneous remembrance and doubt, which is present throughout the cantata. The chorus is structured in symmetry in seven sections,[9] beginning with an instrumentalsinfonia of all instruments, the horn introducing atheme representing remembrance in a melody which resembles the choral tune of "O Lamm Gottes, unschuldig" which Bach would later use as acantus firmus in theopening movement of hisSt Matthew Passion. Bach thus alludes to the idea that Jesus suffered innocently for the "sins of the world" before he rose again. In the second section, this melody is sung by the sopranos, while the lower voices stress the word "Halt" (hold) by severalhomophonic chords. In the third section, the sopranos repeat the melody in afugue, while the altos simultaneously sing a countersubject that rises in fast movement for more than anoctave, illustrating the resurrection. The fourth section is areprise of the sinfonia with the voices added, then a variation of sections 2 to 4 follows as 5 to 7.[3]
The tenorariaMein Jesus ist erstanden (My Jesus is arisen)[1] is accompanied by anobbligato oboe d'amore. The theme is presented in the opening by the strings and later picked up by the voice, illustrating the word "auferstanden" by an upward run.[4]
The Easter hymn "Erschienen ist der herrlich Tag"[10] marks the center of the composition. In symmetry, it is framed by two altorecitatives, the second a reprise of the first.[9]
The idea of a solo singer alternating with a chorus is extended in the following movement, the bass aria with chorusFriede sei mit euch (Peace be with you). A string introduction depicts in agitatedforte passages in4
4 time the attack of the enemies.John Eliot Gardiner describes it as "a dramatic scena in which the strings work up a storm to illustrate the raging of the soul's enemies".[2] In sharp contrast the bass as thevox Christi (voice of Christ) sings the greeting of Jesus from verse 19 of the Gospel, "Peace be with you", three times, accompanied bywoodwinds in dotted rhythm in3
4time, markedpiano. Musicologist Julian Mincham describes the music as serene, a "gentle, rocking, almost cradle-like rhythm creating a perfect atmosphere of peaceful contemplation". The upper voices of the choir (without basses) answer to the music of the introduction, seeing Jesus as help in the battle ("hilft uns kämpfen und die Wut der Feinde dämpfen"). The greeting and answering is repeated two more times in two stanzas of the poem, reflecting the strengthening of the weary in spirit and body ("erquicket in uns Müden Geist und Leib zugleich"), and finally overcoming death ("durch den Tod hindurch zu dringen"). The following fourth appearance of "Peace be with you" is accompanied by both woodwinds and strings, and peace is finally achieved.[3][9]Klaus Hofmann describes the movement as an "operatic scene" and continues "Bach resorts to unconventional means; he shows himself as a musical dramatist and, in the process, stresses the element of contrast: he comments upon the words of the faithful with agitated, tumultuous string figures, whilst Jesus' peace greeting sounds calmly and majestically, embedded in pastoral wind sonorities."[4] Bach adapted this movement as theGloria of hisMissa in A major, BWV 234.[8]
The closing chorale "Du Friedefürst, Herr Jesu Christ" is a four-part setting.[3][11]
The table below is taken from the selection on the Bach Cantatas Website.[12] Performing groups singing one voice per part (OVPP) and instrumental groups playing period instruments inhistorically informed performances are marked by green background.
| Title | Conductor / Choir / Orchestra | Soloists | Label | Year | Choir type | Instr. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Historic Bach cantatas | Karl StraubeThomanerchorGewandhausorchester |
| Bach Archiv Leipzig | 1931 (1931) | ||
| Bach: Cantatas No. 67 & 11, from cantata No. 147 | Reginald JacquesThe Cantata SingersThe Jacques Orchestra |
| Decca Ace of Clubs | 1949 (1949) | ||
| Bach Made in Germany Vol. 1 – Cantatas IV | Günther RaminThomanerchorGewandhausorchester | Eterna | 1954 (1954) | |||
| J. S. Bach: Cantatas BWV 67, 108 & 127 | Karl RichterMünchener Bach-ChorMünchener Bach-Orchester | Teldec | 1958 (1958) | |||
| Les Grandes Cantates de J. S. Bach Vol. 7 | Fritz WernerHeinrich-Schütz-Chor HeilbronnPforzheim Chamber Orchestra | Erato | 1960 (1960) | |||
| Ansermet conducts Bach Cantatas No. 130, No. 67, excerpts from No. 101 | Ernest AnsermetChœur Pro Arte de LausanneL'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande | Decca | 1968 (1968) | |||
| J. S. Bach: Das Kantatenwerk • Complete Cantatas • Les Cantates, Folge / Vol. 4 | Gustav LeonhardtLeonhardt-Consort | Teldec | 1976 (1976) | Period | ||
| J. S. Bach: Complete Cantatas Vol. 7 | Ton KoopmanAmsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir | Antoine Marchand | 1997 (1997) | Period | ||
| Lecture Concerts – New Recordings Cantatas | Helmuth RillingGächinger KantoreiBach-Collegium Stuttgart | Hänssler | 1998 (1998) | |||
| Bach Edition Vol. 19 – Cantatas Vol. 10 | Pieter Jan LeusinkHolland Boys ChoirNetherlands Bach Collegium | Brilliant Classics | 2000 (2000) | Period | ||
| Bach Cantatas Vol. 23: Arnstadt/Echternach / For the 1st Sunday after Easter (Quasimodogeniti) | John Eliot GardinerMonteverdi ChoirEnglish Baroque Soloists | Soli Deo Gloria | 2000 (2000) | Period | ||
| J. S. Bach: Cantatas Vol. 18 – Cantatas from Leipzig 1724 – BWV 66, 67, 134 | Masaaki SuzukiBach Collegium Japan | BIS | 2001 (2001) | Period | ||
| J. S. Bach: Cantatas for the Complete Liturgical Year Vol. 11 | Sigiswald KuijkenLa Petite Bande | Accent | 2008 (2008) | OVPP | Period |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
