{{Short description|Church cantata by J. S. Bach}} {{For|Bach's motet|Ich lasse dich nicht, BWV Anh. 159}} {{good article}} {{Infobox Bach composition | name = {{lang|de|Ich lasse dich nicht, du segnest mich denn}} | bwv = 157 | type = Chorale cantata | composer = J. S. Bach | image = Johann Christoph von Ponickau.jpg | alt = | caption = Johann Christoph von Ponickau, for whose memorial service the cantata was composed | key = B minor | performed = {{Timeline-event|date={{Start date|1727|02|06|df=y}}|location=Pomßen}} | chorale = "{{lang|de|Meinen Jesum laß ich nicht|italic=no}}" }} '''{{lang|de|Ich lasse dich nicht, du segnest mich denn}}''' (I will not let you go, unless you bless me), '''BWV{{nbsp}}157''',{{efn|"BWV" is ''Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis'', a thematic catalogue of Bach's works.}} is a church cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach. He composed it in Leipzig in 1726/27 to a libretto by Picander. The first known performance was on 6 February 1727 during a memorial service for Johann Christoph von Ponickau in Pomßen near Leipzig. The work was later assigned to the feast of the Purification celebrated on 2 February.
Picander included a quotation from {{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Genesis|chapter=32|verse=26|range=–32}} in the first movement, and the last stanza of Christian Keymann's "{{lang|de|Meinen Jesum laß ich nicht|italic=no}}" in the closing chorale. The contemplation begins with the Old Testament quotation being applied to Jesus, and leads to the last aria expressing an eager wish for death to arrive soon. The closing chorale picks up the first line.
Bach structured the cantata in five movements. The original "chamber music" version (as reconstructed by Klaus Hofmann) was scored for two vocal soloists, tenor and bass, a four-part choir, and a Baroque instrumental ensemble of flauto traverso, oboe d'amore and continuo. In the later version, there are parts also for oboe, two violins and violetta.
== History and text == The cantata appears to have been commissioned as a funeral cantata for Johann Christoph von Ponickau, a Saxon chamberlain.<ref name="Dürr">{{cite book| last1 = Dürr| first1 = Alfred| author-link1 = Alfred Dürr| last2 = Jones| first2 = Richard D. P.| author2-link = Richard D. P. Jones| chapter-url = https://books.google.com/books?id=m9JuwslMcq4C&pg=PA765| chapter = Ich lasse dich nicht, du segnest mich denn, BWV 157| title = The Cantatas of J. S. Bach: With Their Librettos in German-English Parallel Text| publisher = Oxford University Press| date = 2006 | isbn = 978-0-19-929776-4| pages = 765–771}}</ref><ref name="Hofmann" /> Picander, Bach's librettist, clearly linked the cantata to Ponickau, publishing an extended funeral ode followed by the text of the cantata.<ref name="Dürr" /> The first known performance was during a memorial service for Ponickau on 6 February 1727 in the church of his home village of Pomßen, {{convert|20|km}} from Leipzig.<ref name="Hofmann" /><ref name="Bach Digital">{{cite web | url = https://www.bach-digital.de/receive/BachDigitalWork_work_00000191 | title = Ich lasse dich nicht, du segnest mich denn BWV 157.2; BWV 157; BC A 170| website = Bach Digital | access-date = 27 February 2021 | language = de}}</ref> A printed commemoration sermon survives, with some information about the music performed<ref name="Bach Digital" /> which included a second Bach cantata, the now lost ''Liebster Gott, vergißt du mich'', BWV Anh. 209. That work was written to a libretto published by Georg Christian Lehms in his ''Gottgefälliges Kirchenopfer'' for the seventh Sunday after Trinity.<ref name="Dürr" />{{rp|766}}<!-- We do not know if Bach was present, although some writers assume so.-->
For ''{{lang|de|Ich lasse dich nicht, du segnest mich denn}}'', Picander included a quotation from {{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Genesis|chapter=32|verse=26|range=–32}} in the first movement, but the line from Jacob wrestling with the angel is understood as a believer addressing Jesus.<ref name="Hofmann" /> The closing chorale is the last stanza of Christian Keymann's "{{lang|de|Meinen Jesum laß ich nicht|italic=no}}".<ref name="Bach Digital" /><ref name="Dahn">{{cite web |last = Dahn | first = Luke | url = http://www.bach-chorales.com/BWV0157_5.htm | date = 2012 | access-date = 3 June 2013 | website = bach-chorales.com | title = BWV 157.5 }}</ref>
The cantata appears to have been adapted for performance as part of Leipzig's church music, specifically for the Feast of the Purification of Mary celebrated on 2 February. The existence of more than one version is implied in the earliest surviving manuscripts, from after Bach's death, copied by Christian Friedrich Penzel. The primary surviving score dates from 1755, and there are parts from the 1760s.<ref name="Hofmann">{{cite web |last = Hofmann | first = Klaus |author-link = Klaus Hofmann | url = http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Pic-Rec-BIG/Suzuki-C51c%5BBIS-1961-SACD%5D.pdf | date = 2012 | access-date = 3 June 2013 | publisher = Bach Cantatas Website | title = Ich lasse dich nicht, du segnest mich denn / I will not let thee go, except thou bless me, BWV 157 | work = Cantatas Vol. 51 (liner notes) | page = 7}}</ref> The prescribed readings for the feast day were from the book of Malachi, "the Lord will come to his temple" ({{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Malachi|chapter=3|verse=1|range=–4}}), and the Gospel of Luke, the purification of Mary and the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple, including Simeon's canticle Nunc dimittis ({{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Luke|chapter=2|verse=22|range=–32}}).<ref name="Dürr" /> The idea from Simeon's canticle to depart in peace has often been used as an image for the death of a Christian.<ref name="Hofmann 1982">{{cite web |last = Hofmann | first = Klaus |author-link = Klaus Hofmann | url = https://www.carusmedia.com/images-intern/medien//30/3115700/3115700x.pdf | date = 1982 | access-date = 14 April 2021| publisher = Carus-Verlag | title = Johann Sebastian ach / Ich lasse dich nicht, du segnest mich denn / Lord, do not depart until I am blessed / BWV 157 | page = 7}}</ref>
Only copies of parts of the later version are extant. In 1962, the musicologist Klaus Hofmann" reconstructed the original version, which he described as chamber music using "an exquisite combination of solo instruments".<ref name="Hofmann" />
== Structure and scoring == Bach structured the cantata in five movements, and scored it for two vocal soloists, tenor (T) and bass (B), a four-part choir only in the closing chorale, and a Baroque instrumental ensemble. According to the 1760 set of parts, the ensemble comprised flauto traverso (Ft), oboe (Ob), oboe d'amore (Oa), two violin parts (Vl), violetta (Vt) and basso continuo.<ref name="Dürr" /><ref name="Bach Digital" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://webdocs.cs.ualberta.ca/~wfb/cantatas/157.html|access-date=3 June 2013|publisher=University of Alberta|title=BWV 157}}</ref> Hofmann derived a version from the 1755 score for a smaller ensemble of flauto traverso, oboe and viola d'amore which may be closer to the one used for the first performance.<ref name="Hofmann 1982" /> The duration of the cantata is given as 21 minutes.<ref name="Dürr" />
In the following table of the movements, the scoring, keys and time signatures are taken from Dürr.<ref name="Dürr" /> The continuo, which plays throughout, is not shown.
{{Classical movement header | show_text_source = yes | work = {{lang|de|Ich lasse dich nicht, du segnest mich denn}} | instruments1 = Winds | instruments2 = Strings }}
{{Classical movement row | id = m1 | number = 1 | title = {{lang|de|Ich lasse dich nicht, du segnest mich denn|italic=no}} | text_source = Book of Genesis | type = Duet aria | vocal = T B | instruments1 = Ft Oa | instruments2 = Vl solo | key = B minor | time = {{music|common-time}} }} {{Classical movement row | id = m2 | number = 2 | title = {{lang|de|Ich halte meinen Jesum feste|italic=no}} | text_source = Picander | type = Aria | vocal = T | instruments1 = Oa | instruments2 = | key = F-sharp minor | time = {{music|time|3|8}} }} {{Classical movement row | id = m3 | number = 3 | title = {{lang|de|Mein lieber Jesu du|italic=no}} | text_source = Picander | type = Recitative | vocal = T | instruments1 = | instruments2 = 2Vl Vt | key = | time = {{music|common-time}} }} {{Classical movement row | id = m4 | number = 4 | title = {{lang|de|Ja, ja, ich halte Jesum feste|italic=no}} | text_source = Picander | type = Aria and recitative | vocal = B | instruments1 = Ft | instruments2 = Vl solo | key = D major | time = {{music|common-time}} }} {{Classical movement row | id = m5 | number = 5 | title = {{lang|de|Meinen Jesum lass ich nicht|italic=no}} | text_source = Keymann | type = Chorale | vocal = SATB | instruments1 = Ft Ob | instruments2 = 2Vl Vt | key = D major | time = {{music|common-time}} }} {{End}}
== Music ==
{{anchor|1}} The opening movement sets a single line: the biblical quotation from Genesis which became the title of the cantata: "{{lang|de|Ich lasse dich nicht, du segnest mich denn|italic=no}}" (I will not let you go, unless you bless me).<ref name="Dürr" /><ref name="Dellal">{{cite web| last = Dellal| first = Pamela| author-link = Pamela Dellal| url = https://www.emmanuelmusic.org/bach-translations/bwv-157| title = BWV 157 - 'Ich lasse dich nicht, du segnest mich denn'| publisher = Emmanuel Music| access-date = 4 September 2022}}</ref> The movement has an eight-measure ritornello that opens, ends and bisects it, featuring a prominent imitative motif to the words "Ich lasse dich nicht". The two solo voices sing the theme, which was introduced by the continuo, in a canon.<ref name="Mincham">{{cite web | url = https://www.jsbachcantatas.com/documents/chapter-46-bwv-157| access-date = 4 September 2022 | website = The Cantatas of Johann Sebastian Bach | author = Mincham, Julian | title = Chapter 46 BWV 157}}</ref> The movement is in six-part polyphony of the voices, flute, oboe d'amore and continuo. The counter subject is assigned to the blessing.<ref name="Radeke">{{cite web | url = https://www.bach-chor-berlin.de/de/component/k2/item/download/72_c496cd771a3f47df0418bc31654e53be | access-date = 3 June 2013 | publisher = Bach-Chor at the Emperor Wilhelm Memorial Church | last = Radeke | first = Winfried | title = Ich lasse dich nicht, du segnest mich denn / BWV 157 | date = 4 March 2014 | pages = 6–7|language=de}}</ref>
{{anchor|2}} The second movement, "{{lang|de|Ich halte meinen Jesum feste|italic=no}}" (I hold my Jesus tightly),<ref name="Dellal" /> is a tenor aria accompanied by continuo and obbligato oboe d'amore, which perform a long ritornello serving much the same structural function as in the first movement.<ref name="Mincham" /> Craig Smith suggests that this is "perhaps the single most difficult tenor aria in the whole repertoire", with "wild and extremely ornate melismas".<ref name=em>{{cite web|url=https://www.emmanuelmusic.org/bach-notes/bwv-157|access-date=4 September 2022|publisher=Emmanuel Music|author=Smith, Craig|title=BWV 157}}</ref> The aria, in a mellow triple metre, rests on two motifs, one with long resting notes, illustrating faith, and coloraturas standing for "mit Gewalt" ("with force").<ref name="Radeke" />
{{anchor|3}} The tenor recitative, "{{lang|de|Mein lieber Jesu du, wenn ich Verdruß und Kummer leide, so bist du meine Freude|italic=no}}" (My dear Jesus, when I suffer oppression and torment, then You are my joy),<ref name="Dellal" /> is "lushly" accompanied by strings. It recalls some of the motivic material from the first movement. According to Julian Mincham, "these details serve to remind the modern listener, armed with a score, of Bach's integrated approach to cantata architecture".<ref name="Mincham" />
{{anchor|4}} The fourth movement, for bass, "{{lang|de|Ja, ja, ich halte Jesum feste, so geh ich auch zum Himmel ein|italic=no}}" (Yes, yes, I hold Jesus tightly, therefore I will also enter into heaven),<ref name="Dellal" /> combines elements of aria and recitative.<ref name="Mincham" /> The mood, in contrast to the earlier movements, turns to joyful, even exuberant expectation. The scoring of flute, violin and continuo recalls trio sonatas by George Frideric Handel, Georg Philipp Telemann and others.<ref name="Radeke" /> The music opens with a ritornello. Structurally, the movement completes most of a da capo aria before a recitative episode interrupts the reprise of the A section. The music moves between aria and recitative twice more before a final aria section ends the movement.<ref name="Mincham" />
{{anchor|5}} The cantata ends with a four-part setting of the chorale, "{{lang|de|Meinen Jesum laß ich nicht, geh ihm ewig an der Seiten|italic=no}}" (I will not let go of my Jesus, I will walk beside Him forever),<ref name="Dellal" /> with a conjunct melody and active continuo line.<ref name="Mincham" /> The last line is the same as the first, connecting to the beginning of the cantata.<ref name="Dellal" /><ref name="Dahn" />
== Recordings == Recordings of {{lang|de|Ich lasse dich nicht, du segnest mich denn}} include: * Gächinger Kantorei Stuttgart / Bach-Collegium Stuttgart, Helmuth Rilling. ''Die Bach Kantate''. Hänssler, 1983.<ref name="Muziekweb">{{cite web|url=https://www.muziekweb.nl/en/Link/U00000622497/CLASSICAL/Cantata-for-soloists-2-choir-and-orchestra-BWV-157-%22Ich-lasse-dich-nicht-du-segnest-mich-denn%22 |title=Cantata for soloists [2], choir and orchestra BWV.157, 'Ich lasse dich nicht, du segnest mich denn'|website= muziekweb.nl |access-date=19 April 2021}}</ref> * Kurt Equiluz, Max van Egmond, Leonhardt-Consort, Gustav Leonhardt, ''Bach cantatas (Teldec)'', vol. 38. 1986<ref name="Muziekweb" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.francemusique.fr/emissions/la-cantate/la-cantate-bwv-157-ich-lasse-dich-nicht-du-segnest-mich-den-80439 |title=La Cantate BWV 157 'Ich lasse dich nicht du segnest mich denn'|language= French|publisher= France Musique |year=2020}}</ref> * Holland Boys Choir / Netherlands Bach Collegium, Pieter Jan Leusink. ''Bach Edition Vol. 14''. Brilliant Classics, 2001.<ref name="Muziekweb" /> * Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir, Ton Koopman. ''J. S. Bach: Complete Cantatas Vol. 18''. Antoine Marchand, 2005.<ref name="Muziekweb" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.challengerecords.com/external/store/index.php?p=detail&s=1166022848132 |title=Johann Sebastian Bach / Ton Koopman / The Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra / Complete Bach Cantatas Vol. 18] |publisher=Challenge Records |date=2005 |access-date=2021-04-14 |archive-date=2021-05-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509033629/https://www.challengerecords.com/external/store/index.php?p=detail&s=1166022848132 |url-status=dead }}</ref> * Christoph Genz, Peter Kooy, Bach Collegium Japan, Masaaki Suzuki. ''J. S. Bach: Cantatas Vol. 51''. BIS, 2012.<ref name="Muziekweb" /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://bis.se/conductors/suzuki-masaaki/js-bach-cantatas-vol51 |title=J. S. Bach - Cantatas, Vol. 51 (BWV 195, 192, 157, 120a) |publisher=BIS Records |access-date=2021-04-14 |archive-date=2021-04-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414192638/https://bis.se/conductors/suzuki-masaaki/js-bach-cantatas-vol51 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/49j9/ |title=Johann Sebastian Bach Cantatas vol. 51 (Bach Collegium Japan; conductor: Masaaki Suzuki) Review / Album. Released 2012|publisher=BBC |date=2013}}</ref> * Georg Poplutz, Stephan MacLeod, Orchester der J. S. Bach-Stiftung, Rudolf Lutz. ''J. S. Bach: Cantatas Vol. 51''. BIS, 2019.<ref name="Muziekweb" />
== Notes == {{notelist}}
== References == {{reflist}}
== Further reading == * {{cite web | url = http://www.bach-cantatas.com/BWV157.htm | title = Cantata BWV 157 Ich lasse dich nicht, du segnest mich denn! | website = Bach Cantatas Website | access-date = 14 December 2012}} * {{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XuBmNDl46YsC&pg=PP1 |title=Cantata No. 157 -- Ich lasse dich nicht, die segnest mich denn: Choral Worship Cantata|publisher=Kalmus Edition|isbn=978-1-45-748398-1}} * {{cite book|first1=Jonathan D. |last1=Green|first2= David W. |last2=Oertel|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BXe7DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA128 |title=Choral-Orchestral Repertoire: A Conductor's Guide'|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|year= 2019 |isbn=978-1-44-224467-2}} == External links == * {{IMSLP2|work=Ich lasse dich nicht, du segnest mich denn!, BWV 157 (Bach, Johann Sebastian)|cname=Ich lasse dich nicht, du segnest mich denn!, BWV 157}} * [http://www.uvm.edu/~classics/faculty/bach/BWV157.html BWV 157 Ich lasse dich nicht, du segnest mich denn]: English translation, University of Vermont * [https://www.breitkopf.com/work/458/kantate-bwv-157-ich-lasse-dich-nicht Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750) / Cantata BWV 157 "Ich lasse dich nicht" / Feast of Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary (solos, mix ch, orch)] Breitkopf & Härtel * [https://www.baerenreiter.com/shop/product/details/BA5062_01/ Bach, Johann Sebastian / Kirchenkantaten verschiedener, teils unbekannter Bestimmung] Bärenreiter * [https://www.allmusic.com/composition/cantata-no-157-ich-lasse-dich-nicht-du-segnest-mich-denn-bwv-157-bc-a170-mc0002373054 Johann Sebastian Bach / Cantata No. 157, "Ich lasse dich nicht, du segnest mich denn," BWV 157 (BC A170)] AllMusic * [https://www.kirchenmusik-dreikoenig.de/de/konzertprogramm-de/jahresprogramm/201-jahresprogramm2021-1 Jahresprogramm 2021 - 1. Halbjahr / 28.02.2021 / Kantatengottesdienst / Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) / "Ich lasse dich nicht, du segnest mich denn" / BWV 157] (in German) kirchenmusik-dreikoenig.de 2021 * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkefhmWadTc J. S. Bach: Ich lasse dich nicht, du segnest mich denn! (BWV 157) (Koopman)] (YouTube: Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir. Ton Koopman, director. James Gilchrist, tenor. Klaus Mertens, bass)
{{Church cantatas by Johann Sebastian Bach}} {{Bach cantatas}} {{authority control}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Ich lasse dich nicht, du segnest mich denn'', BWV 157}}
Category:Church cantatas by Johann Sebastian Bach Category:1727 compositions Category:Christian funeral music Category:Libretti by Picander