{{Short description|1737 Bach cantata}} '''{{lang|de|Gott ist unsre Zuversicht}}''' (God is our confidence), BWV 197.2 (formerly '''BWV 197'''),<ref>Work {{BDW|0244}} at Bach Digital website.</ref> is a church cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach.
== History and text == In 1728 in Leipzig, Bach composed a Christmas cantata, {{lang|de|''Ehre sei Gott in der Höhe'', BWV 197.1 |italic=unset}} (Glory be to God in the Highest), which he revised in 1736–37 into this wedding cantata. Movement 5 is a chorale stanza by Martin Luther, the final movement is by Georg Neumark; the rest of the poetry is anonymous.<ref name=bc>{{cite web|url=http://www.bach-cantatas.com/BWV197.htm|title=Cantata BWV 197 Gott ist unsre Zuversicht|publisher=Bach Cantatas |access-date=14 December 2012}}</ref>
== Scoring and structure == The cantata is scored for three vocal soloists (soprano, alto, and bass), a four-part choir, three trumpets, timpani, two oboes, two oboes d'amore, bassoon, two violins, viola, and basso continuo.<ref name=ab>{{cite web|url=http://webdocs.cs.ualberta.ca/~wfb/cantatas/197.html|access-date=5 June 2013|publisher=University of Alberta|title=BWV 197}}</ref>
The work's ten movements are divided into two parts of five movements each, to be performed before and after the wedding sermon.<ref name=ab /> ;Part 1 #Chorus: {{lang|de|Gott ist unsre Zuversicht}} #Recitative (bass): {{lang|de|Gott ist und bleibt der beste Sorger}} #Aria (alto): {{lang|de|Schläfert allen Sorgenkummer}} #Recitative (bass): {{lang|de|Drum folget Gott und seinem Triebe}} #Chorale: {{lang|de|Du süße Lieb, schenk uns deine Gunst}} ;Part 2 #<li value="6">Aria (bass): {{lang|de|O du angenehmes Paar}}</li> #Recitative (soprano): {{lang|de|So wie es Gott mit dir}} #Aria (soprano): {{lang|de|Vergnügen und Lust}} #Recitative (bass): {{lang|de|Und dieser frohe Lebenslauf}} #Chorale: {{lang|de|So wandelt froh auf Gottes Wegen}}
== Music == The opening movement is a chorus in da capo form with a prominent trumpet part and an active violin line. The vocal parts use fugal techniques. The bass recitative is secco and "set to a melody of almost childlike naivety and simplicity". The alto aria's structure combines elements of da capo and ritornello form; the instrumental introduction does not completely recur and the reprise differs significantly from the opening section. The fourth movement is a bass recitative with chordal strings. The section closes with a four-part setting of the chorale tune with varied phrase lengths.<ref name=min>{{cite web|url=https://www.jsbachcantatas.com/documents/chapter-75-bwv-197-s|access-date=9 September 2022|publisher=jsbachcantatas|author=Mincham, Julian|title=Chapter 75 BWV 197 S}}</ref>
The second section opens with a bass aria that "has a lavishness of sound which is almost unparalleled". A two-part secco soprano recitative leads to an aria that was for bass in BWV 197.1 but in BWV 197.2 is scored for soprano.<ref name=min /> The aria is in the style of a siciliano.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jsbachcantatas.com/documents/chapter-75-bwv-197-s|access-date=9 September 2022|publisher=Emmanuel Music|author=Smith, Craig|title=BWV 197}}</ref> The penultimate movement is a bass recitative with chordal oboes and interjecting strings. The final chorale setting is relatively simple and in minor mode.<ref name=min />
== Recordings (selection) == * Max van Egmond (bass soloist), Wiener Sängerknaben (soprano soloist, alto soloist and choir), Concentus musicus Wien (orchestra), conducted by Nikolaus Harnoncourt. Recorded in 1967. Telefunken SAWT-9539 / Telefunken 6.41101 / Teldec 0630-12321-2 * Gächinger Kantorei Stuttgart, Württembergisches Kammerorchester Heilbronn, conducted by Helmuth Rilling. Recorded in 1984. ''Die Bach Kantate Vol. 66''. Hänssler 98.828 / Hänssler 92.059 * Holland Boys Choir, Netherlands Bach Collegium, conducted by Pieter Jan Leusink. Recorded in 2000. ''Bach Edition Vol. 19''. Brilliant Classics 99378 * Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir, conducted by Ton Koopman. Recorded in 2002–2003. ''J.S. Bach: Complete Cantatas Vol. 21''. Antoine Marchand, 2006
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{IMSLP2|work=Cantatas, BWV 191-200 (Bach, Johann Sebastian)|cname=Cantatas, BWV 191–200}} * [http://www.bach.de/werk/bwv/197.html Gott ist unsre Zuversicht]: history, scoring, Bach website {{in lang|de}} * [https://www.uvm.edu/~classics/faculty/bach/BWV197.html BWV 197 Gott ist unsre Zuversicht]: English translation, University of Vermont
{{Church cantatas by Johann Sebastian Bach}} {{Bach cantatas}} {{authority control}} {{DISPLAYTITLE:''Gott ist unsre Zuversicht'', BWV 197}}
Category:Church cantatas by Johann Sebastian Bach Category:1736 compositions Category:1737 compositions Category:Christian wedding music