| Herr Gott, dich loben wir | |
|---|---|
BWV 16 | |
| Church cantata byJ. S. Bach | |
 Thomaskirche, Leipzig | |
| Occasion | New Year's Day |
| Cantata text | Georg Christian Lehms |
| Chorale | |
| Performed | 1 January 1726 (1726-01-01):Leipzig |
| Movements | 6 |
| Vocal |
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| Instrumental |
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Herr Gott, dich loben wir (Lord God, we praise You),[1]BWV 16, is achurch cantata forNew Year's Day byJohann Sebastian Bach. It was first performed on 1 January 1726 inLeipzig, as part ofthe composer's third cantata cycle. Itslibretto is byGeorg Christian Lehms, opening with the beginning of "Herr Gott, dich loben wir", Luther's GermanTe Deum. The cantata's text was completed with astanza fromPaul Eber's "Helft mir Gotts Güte preisen" for the closingchorale.
Bach wrote the cantata in 1726, his third year asThomaskantor inLeipzig, forNew Year's Day, which is also the feast of thecircumcision and naming of Jesus.[2] The prescribed readings for the feast day were taken from theEpistle to the Galatians, by faith we inherit (Galatians 3:23–29), and from theGospel of Luke, theCircumcision and naming of Jesus (Luke 2:21). The cantata text is taken from a 1711 publication byGeorg Christian Lehms, it centers on praise and thanksgiving without being related to the readings. The poet began with four lines fromMartin Luther's GermanTe Deum, "Herr Gott, dich loben wir" (Lord God, we praise you). The following pair ofrecitative andaria deal with thanks for past gifts, while a further pair deal with a prayer for further blessings. The poet did not supply a closing chorale, but Bach chose the finalstanza ofPaul Eber's "Helft mir Gotts Güte preisen" (Help me to praise God's goodness) (c. 1580).[3]
Bach first performed the cantata on 1 January 1726.
The cantata in six movements is scored for three vocal soloists (alto,tenor, andbass), afour-part choir,corno da caccia, twooboes,oboe da caccia, twoviolins,viola,violetta (alternative in a later performance) andbasso continuo.[2]
| No. | Title | Text | Type | Vocal | Winds | Strings | Key | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Herr Gott, dich loben wir | Chorus | SATB | 2 oboes, corno di caccia (col soprano) | 2 violins, viola, Basso continuo | A minor | 4/4 | |
| 2 | So stimmen wir bei dieser frohen Zeit | Recitative | Bass | Basso continuo | 4/4 | |||
| 3 | Laßt uns jauchzen, laßt uns freuen | Aria | SATB | 2 oboes, corno di caccia | 2 violins, viola, Basso continuo | C major | 4/4 | |
| 4 | Ach treuer Hort | Recitative | Alto | Basso continuo | 4/4 | |||
| 5 | Geliebter Jesu, du allein | Aria | Tenor | Oboe de caccia | (Violetta), basso continuo | F major | 3/4 | |
| 6 | All solch dein Güt wir preisen | Chorale | SATB | 1 oboe (col soprano), 1 oboe (coll'alto), corno di caccia (col soprano) | 1 violin (col soprano), 1 violin (coll'alto), viola (coll'alto), Basso continuo | C major | 4/4 |
In the opening chorus the soprano and the horn present the liturgical melody of the Te Deum, whereas the lower voices move in vivid counterpoint, but also a fourth part of oboe I and violin I.[4] The following secco recitative ends on the words "O, sollte darum nicht ein neues Lied erklingen und wir in heißer Liebe singen?" (O, should not therefore a new song be taken up and that we sing in heated love?).[1][2] Consequently, the following movement beginsattacca (without a break) with the voices' "Laßt uns jauchzen, laßt uns freuen" (Let us celebrate, let us rejoice).[1][4] This unusual movement combines elements of chorus and aria in a freeda capo form.[4] The first section is dominated by the chorus, the middle section by the bass.[4] Musicologist Julian Mincham points out that it is "an unusual and imaginative combination of aria and chorus" and likens it to the interaction between a pastor and his flock.[5] A second secco recitative leads to a tender aria which was accompanied by anobbligato oboe da caccia in 1726. In a later performance, likely in 1734, this was replaced by a "violetta", which can be a viola or adescantviola da gamba, according toJohann Gottfried Walther. The cantata closes with a four-part chorale.[2][4][6]
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