Sei nun wieder zufrieden by Johann Bach
Several weeks ago I featured one of Bach's forebears, Johann Bach (1604-1673), and his sparkling motet, 'Unser Leben ist ein Schatten'. Here he is again, still fabulous (though in a different way) after all these years of a no doubt restful obscurity.
Today's motet is entitled 'Sei nun wieder zufrieden'. It is a text of thanksgiving, drawn from Psalm 116. Many of you will recall it as occurring in Michael Praetorius' great setting of the entire psalm; and the first two lines of the motet also occur in J.S. Bach's Cantata 21: Ich hatte viel Bekümmernis, sung incessantly by three voices of the choir, while the tenor and then the soprano take up the chorale 'Wer nur den lieben Gott läßt walten'.
This cantata, by the way, was one of the very first performed by the newly minted Sonoma Bach Choir in our founding season, 1991-92. The infamous 'non cappella' incident in the sixth movement (which some basses will recall most vividly) occurred during our 2005 production.
Johann Bach's motet on this text is less diverse and dramatic than 'Unser leben ist ein Schatten', though no less moving. He was a master at musical syntax, that is, finding a way for the music to perfectly reflect and reinforce the verbal meanings, inflections and emphases of its text. His ability to build an extended phrase through repetition, transposition and variation is remarkable. And his mastery of interior details and of surprising harmonic shifts frequently results in what I can only describe as a frisson, a thrilling sensation in the beholder.
The Vox Luminis recording brings out many of these special moments, so perhaps start there. But, though exquisite (as are so many of their recordings), I consider the tempo a bit too slow for the feeling of joy and gratitude which I think J. Bach intends. As a contrast, listen to this recording by the Collegium Vocale Ghent, directed by Phillippe Herreweghe.
Several weeks ago I featured one of Bach's forebears, Johann Bach (1604-1673), and his sparkling motet, 'Unser Leben ist ein Schatten'. Here he is again, still fabulous (though in a different way) after all these years of a no doubt restful obscurity.
Today's motet is entitled 'Sei nun wieder zufrieden'. It is a text of thanksgiving, drawn from Psalm 116. Many of you will recall it as occurring in Michael Praetorius' great setting of the entire psalm; and the first two lines of the motet also occur in J.S. Bach's Cantata 21: Ich hatte viel Bekümmernis, sung incessantly by three voices of the choir, while the tenor and then the soprano take up the chorale 'Wer nur den lieben Gott läßt walten'.
This cantata, by the way, was one of the very first performed by the newly minted Sonoma Bach Choir in our founding season, 1991-92. The infamous 'non cappella' incident in the sixth movement (which some basses will recall most vividly) occurred during our 2005 production.
Johann Bach's motet on this text is less diverse and dramatic than 'Unser leben ist ein Schatten', though no less moving. He was a master at musical syntax, that is, finding a way for the music to perfectly reflect and reinforce the verbal meanings, inflections and emphases of its text. His ability to build an extended phrase through repetition, transposition and variation is remarkable. And his mastery of interior details and of surprising harmonic shifts frequently results in what I can only describe as a frisson, a thrilling sensation in the beholder.
The Vox Luminis recording brings out many of these special moments, so perhaps start there. But, though exquisite (as are so many of their recordings), I consider the tempo a bit too slow for the feeling of joy and gratitude which I think J. Bach intends. As a contrast, listen to this recording by the Collegium Vocale Ghent, directed by Phillippe Herreweghe.