Sunday Bach - Trinity 18

Today is the 18th Sunday after Trinity, and today's cantata is BWV 169, Gott soll allein mein Herze haben (God alone shall have my heart, Leipzig 1726). This is a beautiful solo cantata featuring the alto voice. And if that opening sinfonia sounds familiar, it should; it's the first movement of the E major harpsichord concerto, rearranged and transposed to the key of D. Bach often borrowed from himself. Here's the late Craig Smith of Emmanuel Music on this lovely solo cantata:

After the first two cantata cycles in Leipzig, Bach became discouraged with the level of players and singers at his disposal. More and more frequently he wrote prominent parts in his cantatas for organ, knowing that his son Carl Philip Emmanuel would play them well and emphasized solo voices over the chorus. Today’s cantata is a prime example. It begins with an arrangement of the first movement of the E major harpsichord concerto transposed to D. The solo part is given to the organ and the original string orchestra is enriched by two oboes and English Horn. The sung portion of the cantata begins with an extended arioso for alto with the continuo instruments. The opening line of text “Gott soll allein” functions as a litany through out both this movement and the following delightful aria with organ obbligato. After a brief recitative the strings of the orchestra reappear in a marvelous adaptation of the second movement of the E major harpsichord concerto. Once again the organ takes the solo part with the voice part laid on top of it. What is fascinating is Bach's enrichment of the harmony in order to color the text particularly the word "stirb”(to die). After another brief recitative the work ends with an harmonization of one of the most beautiful chorale tunes, “Nun bitten wir den heiligen Geist.”

© Craig Smith

Today's performance is from a beautiful 1983 recording by the Gächinger Kantorei Stuttgart and the Württembergisches Kammerorchester Heilbronn under the direction of Helmuth Rilling and featuring alto Carolyn Watkinson and organist Hans-Joachim Erhard. Enjoy!

Photo © 2016 by A. Roy Hilbinger