| Siehe, ich will viel Fischer aussenden | |
|---|---|
BWV 88 | |
| Church cantata byJohann Sebastian Bach | |
 Fisherman in theLake of Gennesaret, where Jesus called his disciples (1890–1900) | |
| Occasion | Fifth Sunday afterTrinity |
| Chorale | "Wer nur den lieben Gott läßt walten" byGeorg Neumark |
| Performed | 21 July 1726 (1726-07-21):Leipzig |
| Movements | seven |
| Vocal | SATB soloists and choir |
| Instrumental |
|
Johann Sebastian Bach composed thechurch cantataSiehe, ich will viel Fischer aussenden (Behold, I will send out many fishers),[1]BWV 88 inLeipzig for the fifth Sunday afterTrinity within theliturgical year and first performed it on 21 July 1726.
Bach composed the cantata after several complete cantata cycles written in Leipzig for the occasions of the liturgical year. The cantata text resembles works which his second cousinJohann Ludwig Bach set to music. Based on the prescribed gospel reading of thegreat catch of fish, an unknownlibrettist based his poetry on quotations from theOld Testament in the openingmovement and theNew Testament as the central movement, and closed it by the final stanza ofGeorg Neumark'shymn "Wer nur den lieben Gott läßt walten". The cantata is structured in seven movements in two parts (three and four movements), to be performed before and after the sermon. It is scored for an intimate ensemble of four vocal soloists, a choir only in the chorale, twohorns, twooboes d'amore,taille, strings andcontinuo. The central movement is composed as a biblical scene, with theEvangelist introducing Jesus sending Peter, a fisherman, to "fish" men.
Bach composed the cantata in Leipzig for theFifth Sunday after Trinity.[2] The prescribed readings for the Sunday were from theFirst Epistle of Peter,1 Peter 3:8–15 "Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts", and from theGospel of Luke,Luke 5:1–11,Peter'sgreat catch of fish. The text of this cantata and six others is similar in structure and content to cantatas texts set byJohann Ludwig Bach, his second cousin. The theme is derived from the gospel. A related verse ofJeremiah (Jeremiah 16:16) opens the cantata. The prophecy referred originally to the return from thecaptivity in Babylon. The centralmovement, opening the second part to be performed after the sermon, is the quotation of verse 10 from the gospel. The cantata is closed by the final stanza ofGeorg Neumark'shymn "Wer nur den lieben Gott läßt walten"[3] (1641). This chorale had served as the base for Bach'schorale cantata for the same occasion in 1724,Wer nur den lieben Gott läßt walten, BWV 93, part of his second annual cycle.[2]
Bach led the first performance of the cantata on 21 July 1726.[2]
The cantata is structured in two parts to be performed before and after the sermon, the first part in three solo movements, the second in three solo movements and a closing chorale. It is scored for four vocal soloists (soprano (S),alto (A),tenor (T) andbass (B)), afour-part choir SATB only in the chorale, twohorns (Co), twooboes d'amore (Oa),taille (Ot), twoviolins (Vl),viola (Va), andbasso continuo (Bc).[2] The duration is given as 22 minutes.[2] Theautograph title page reads: "Domin. 5 post Trinit. / Siehe, ich will viel Fischer aussenden, / a / 4 Voci / 2 Corni / 3 Hautb. d'Amour / 2 Viol. / Viola / e / Cont. / di / J.S.Bach."[4]
In the following table of the movements, the scoring follows theNeue Bach-Ausgabe.[5] Thekeys andtime signatures are taken fromAlfred Dürr, using the symbols for common time (4
4) and alla breve (2
2).[2] The instruments are shown separately for winds and strings, while the continuo, playing throughout, is not shown.
| No. | Title | Text | Type | Vocal | Winds | Strings | Key | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
| Jeremiah 16:16 | Basso solo | B |
| 2Vl Va |
| |
| 2 | Wie leichtlich könnte doch der Höchste uns entbehren | anon. | Recitative | T |  | |||
| 3 | Nein, Gott ist allezeit geflissen | anon. | Aria | T | 2Oa | 2Vl Va | E minor | 3 8 |
| No. | Title | Text | Type | Vocal | Winds | Strings | Key | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Jesus sprach zu Simon: Fürchte dich nicht | anon. | Arioso | T B | 2Vl Va |
|
| |
| 5 | Beruft Gott selbst, so muss der Segen | anon. | Duet aria | S A | 2Oa | 2Vl Va | A major |  |
| 6 | Was kann dich denn in deinem Wandel schrecken | anon. | Recitative | S | ||||
| 7 | Sing, bet und geh auf Gottes Wegen | Neumark | Chorale | SATB | 2Ob Ot | 2Vl Va | B minor | |
The opening movement, "Siehe, ich will viel Fischer aussenden" (Behold, I will send out many fishers),[1] is given to the bass solo, possibly because Jeremiah has God speak in the first person.[6] The music follows the text in two sections, as in amotet. Probably, therefore, Bach avoided the titlearia and wrotebasso solo instead.[2] Some cantatas on texts byChristiana Mariana von Ziegler from the second annual cycle begin in a similar way with a bible quotation, of Jesus saying "Ich bin ein guter Hirt" (I am a Good Shepherd, BWV 85), "Es ist euch gut, daß ich hingehe" (It is good for you that I leave, BWV 108), and Jesus saying "Bisher habt ihr nichts gebeten in meinem Namen" (Until now you have asked for nothing in My name, BWV 87).[6]
The two sections reflect two concepts mentioned in the text:Fischer (fishermen) andJäger (hunters). The first section paints a seascape in an undulating figuration of the strings with the oboes in6
8 time on apedal point. Bach "represents the movement of waves and water",[6] described as abarcarolle byJohn Eliot Gardiner, the conductor of theBach Cantata Pilgrimage in 2000.[7] The voice presents the text several times in varied declamation. Suddenly the scene changes to a hunting scene, horns join the orchestra, the tempo incommon time is marked "allegro quasi presto". The voice is again set in expressive declamation, saying "And afterwards I will send out many hunters ...".[1][2]
The recitative "Wie leichtlich könnte doch der Höchste uns entbehren" (How easily could the Highest do without us),[1] ends on a question, "Does He ... abandon us to the deceit and trickery of the enemy?"[1]
The answer is given in the aria "Nein, Gott ist allezeit geflissen" (No, God is always concerned),[1] It begins immediately, without the usualritornello, a passionate: "Nein, nein" (No, no). The middle section begins with a contrasting, but also passionate "Ja, ja" (Yes, yes). In the very end, the strings join theobbligato oboe d'amore and play a ritornello, reminiscent of aminuet. According toAlfred Dürr, the clear, even structure may symbolize the "rechte Bahn" ("right path"[1] or "true path"[2]) mentioned in the text.[2]
Movement 4 is a scene from the gospel, and forms the centre of the composition. The tenor as theEvangelist announces "Jesus sprach zu Simon:" (Jesus said to Simon).[1] The direct speech of Jesus, calling Peter as his disciple, is sung by the bass as thevox Christi (voice of Christ): "Fürchte dich nicht; den von nun an wirst du Menschen fahen" (Fear not, from henceforth thou shalt catch men).[1] The careful phasing is set on a continuo quasiostinato.[2]
A duet of soprano and alto, "Beruft Gott selbst, so muss der Segen" (If God Himself calls, then blessing)[1] reflects God's blessing.
A recitative of the soprano, "Was kann dich denn in deinem Wandel schrecken" (What then can frighten you in your journey)[1] expresses the consequence.
The closing chorale[8] confirms, "Sing, bet und geh auf Gottes Wegen" (Sing, pray and walk in God's ways).[1] It is a four-part setting.[7]
The listing is taken from the selection provided on the Bach Cantatas Website.[9] Ensembles playing period instruments inhistorically informed performance are marked by green background.
| Title | Conductor / Choir / Orchestra | Soloists | Label | Year | Orch. type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Die Bach Kantate Vol. 42 | Helmuth RillingFiguralchor of the Gedächtniskirche StuttgartBach-Collegium Stuttgart | Hänssler | 1970 (1970) | ||
| J. S. Bach: Das Kantatenwerk • Complete Cantatas • Les Cantates, Folge / Vol. 79 | Gustav LeonhardtLeonhardt-Consort |
| Teldec | 1979 (1979) | Period |
| Bach Cantatas Vol. 3: Tewkesbury/Mühlhausen / For the 4th Sunday after Trinity / For the 5th Sunday after Trinity | John Eliot GardinerMonteverdi ChoirEnglish Baroque Soloists | Soli Deo Gloria | 2000 (2000) | Period | |
| Bach Edition Vol. 2 – Cantatas Vol. 6 | Pieter Jan LeusinkHolland Boys ChoirNetherlands Bach Collegium | Brilliant Classics | 2000 (2000) | Period | |
| J. S. Bach: Complete Cantatas Vol. 19 | Ton KoopmanAmsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir | Antoine Marchand | 2002 (2002) | Period | |
| J. S. Bach: Cantatas Vol. 44 | Masaaki SuzukiBach Collegium Japan | BIS | 2008 (2008) | Period |
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| National | |
| Other | |
