{{Short description|Church cantatas by Johann Sebastian Bach}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}} {{Infobox Bach composition | title = {{lang|de|Wachet! betet! betet! wachet!}} | bwv = {{hlist | 70a | 70 }} | type = Church cantata | image = Schlosskirche Weimar 1660.jpg | caption = The ''Schlosskirche'' in Weimar | occasion = {{plainlist| * {{nowrap|Second Sunday in Advent (70a)}} * 26th Sunday after Trinity (70) }} | performed = {{plainlist| * {{Timeline-event|date={{Start date|1716|12|06|df=y}}|location=Weimar}} * {{Timeline-event|date={{Start date|1723|11|21|df=y}}|location=Leipzig}} }} | movements = {{flatlist| * 6 * 11 in two parts }} | text_poet = Salomon Franck | chorale = {{plainlist| * by Christoph Demantius * "{{lang|de|Meinen Jesum laß ich nicht|italic=no}}" by Christian Keymann }} | vocal = {{abbr|SATB|soprano, alto, tenor and bass}} choir and solo | instrumental = {{hlist | trumpet | oboe | bassoon | 2 violins | viola | continuo }} }} '''{{lang|de|Wachet! betet! betet! wachet!}}''' (Watch! Pray! Pray! Watch!)<ref name="Dellal" /> is the title of two church cantatas by Johann Sebastian Bach. He composed a first version, '''{{abbr|BWV|Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis (catalogue of Bach's works)}}{{nbsp}}70a''', in Weimar for the second Sunday in Advent of 1716 and expanded it in 1723 in Leipzig to '''{{nowrap|BWV 70}}''', a cantata in two parts for the 26th Sunday after Trinity.
== History and words ==
On 2 March 1714 Bach was appointed concertmaster of the Weimar court capelle of the co-reigning dukes Wilhelm Ernst and Ernst August of Saxe-Weimar. As concertmaster, he assumed the principal responsibility for composing new works, specifically cantatas for the ''Schlosskirche'' (palace church), on a monthly schedule.<ref name="Koster" /> Bach originally wrote this cantata in his last year there, for the Second Sunday of Advent.<ref name="Dürr" />
The prescribed readings for the Sunday were from the Epistle to the Romans, call of the Gentiles ({{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Romans|chapter=15|verse=4|range=–13}}), and from the Gospel of Luke, the Second Coming of Christ, also called Second Advent ({{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Luke|chapter=21|verse=25|range=–36}}). The cantata text was provided by the court poet Salomon Franck, published in ''Evangelische Sonn- und Fest-Tages-Andachten'' in 1717. Bach wrote five movements, a chorus and four arias, and concluded with the fifth verse of the chorale "{{lang|de|Meinen Jesum laß ich nicht}}" by Christian Keymann.<ref name="Dürr" /><ref name="chorale text" />
Bach first performed the cantata on 6 December 1716.<ref name="Dürr" />
In Leipzig, Advent was a quiet time (''tempus clausum''), thus no cantata music was performed in services from Advent II to Advent IV. In order to use the music again, Bach had to dedicate it to a different liturgical event and chose the 26th Sunday after Trinity with a similar theme.<ref name="Gardiner" /> The prescribed readings for this Sunday were from The Second Epistle of Peter, "look for new heavens and a new earth" ({{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=2 Peter|chapter=3|verse=3|range=–13}}), and from the Gospel of Matthew, the Second Coming of Christ, also called Second Advent ({{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Matthew|chapter=25|verse=31|range=–46}}). An unknown poet kept the existing movements and added recitatives and a chorale to end part 1 of the new cantata, the final verse of "{{lang|de|Freu dich sehr, o meine Seele|italic=no}}" by Christoph Demantius.<ref name="Dürr" /><ref name="chorale text 2" />
Bach performed the extended cantata first on 21 November 1723, and a second time on 18 November 1731.<ref name="Dürr" />
== Scoring and structure ==
The instrumentation of the Weimar cantata is lost. The cantata in two parts of 7 and 4 movements was scored in Leipzig for soprano, alto, tenor, and bass soloists, a four-part choir, trumpet, oboe, bassoon, two violins, viola, and basso continuo. The movement numbers of cantata 70a are given in brackets.<ref name="Dürr" />
::Part I # Chorus: {{lang|de|Wachet! betet! betet! wachet!|italic=no}} (1.) # Recitative (bass): {{lang|de|Erschrecket, ihr verstockten Sünder|italic=no}} # Aria (alto): {{lang|de|'Wenn kömmt der Tag, an dem wir ziehen|italic=no}} (2.) # Recitative (tenor): {{lang|de|Auch bei dem himmlischen Verlangen|italic=no}} # Aria (soprano): {{lang|de|Laßt der Spötter Zungen schmähen|italic=no}} (3.) # Recitative (tenor): {{lang|de|Jedoch bei dem unartigen Geschlechte|italic=no}} # Chorale: {{lang|de|Freu dich sehr, o meine Seele|italic=no}} ::Part II #<li value="8"> Aria (tenor): {{lang|de|Hebt euer Haupt empor|italic=no}} (4.)</li> # Recitative (bass): {{lang|de|Ach, soll nicht dieser große Tag|italic=no}} # Aria (bass): {{lang|de|Seligster Erquickungstag|italic=no}} (5.) # Chorale: {{lang|de|Nicht nach Welt, nach Himmel nicht|italic=no}} (6.)
== Music ==
Bach shaped the opening chorus in a da capo form and used a technique to embed the vocal parts in the concerto of the orchestra. A characteristic trumpet calls to wake up, initiating figurative movement in the other instruments and the voices. The choir contrasts short calls "{{lang|de|Wachet!|italic=no}}" and long chords "{{lang|de|betet!|italic=no}}".<ref name="Gardiner" />
All instruments accompany the recitative, illustrating the fright of the sinners, the calmness of the chosen ones, the destruction of the world, and the fear of the ones called to be judged.
Part I is closed by the final verse of "{{lang|de|Freu dich sehr, o meine Seele|italic=no}}" in a four-part setting.<ref name="chorale melody 2" />
The recitative in movement 9 opens with a ''Furioso'' depicting the "{{lang|de|unerhörten letzten Schlag|italic=no}}" (the unheard-of last stroke),<ref name="Dellal" /> while the trumpet quotes the hymn "{{lang|de|Es ist gewisslich an der Zeit|italic=no}}" (Indeed, the time is here).<ref name="Dellal" /> This chorale had been used as kind of a Dies irae during the Thirty Years' War.<ref name="Altstadtherbst" /> The recitative ends on a long melisma on the words "{{lang|de|Wohlan, so ende ich mit Freuden meinen Lauf|italic=no}}" (Therefore, I will end my course with joy).<ref name="Dellal" /> The following bass aria begins immediately, without the usual ritornello, ''molt' adagio''. After this intimate reflection of the thought "{{lang|de|Jesus führet mich zur Stille, an den Ort, da Lust die Fülle.|italic=no}}" (Jesus leads me to quiet, to the place where pleasure is complete)<ref name="Dellal" /> the closing chorale is set richly for seven parts, independent parts for the upper three strings forming a "halo" for the voices.<ref name="Dürr" /><ref name="Mincham" /><ref name="chorale melody" />
== Recordings ==
* ''J. S. Bach: Cantatas BWV 68 & BWV 70'', Kurt Thomas, Kantorei der Dreikönigskirche, Frankfurt, Collegium Musicum, Ingeborg Reichelt, Sibylla Plate, Helmut Kretschmar, Erich Wenk, L'Oiseau-Lyre 1952? * ''Cantata BWV 70'', Karl Richter, Münchener Bach-Chor, Chamber orchestra of the Bayerisches Staatsorchester, Lotte Schädle, Hertha Töpper, Helmut Kretschmar, Kieth Engen, Andromeda 1957 * ''Les Grandes Cantates de J. S. Bach Vol. 23'', Fritz Werner, Heinrich-Schütz-Chor Heilbronn, Württembergisches Kammerorchester Heilbronn, Hedy Graf, Barbara Scherler, Kurt Huber, Jakob Stämpfli, Erato 1970 * ''Die Bach Kantate Vol. 15'', Helmuth Rilling, Gächinger Kantorei, Bach-Collegium Stuttgart, Arleen Augér, Verena Gohl, Lutz-Michael Harder, Siegmund Nimsgern, Hänssler 1970/1982 * ''J. S. Bach: Das Kantatenwerk – Sacred Cantatas Vol. 4'', Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Tölzer Knabenchor, Concentus Musicus Wien, soloist of the Tölzer Knabenchor, Paul Esswood, Kurt Equiluz, Ruud van der Meer, Teldec 1977 * ''J. S. Bach: Complete Cantatas Vol. 9'', Ton Koopman, Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir, Sibylla Rubens, Bernhard Landauer, Christoph Prégardien, Klaus Mertens, Antoine Marchand 1998 * ''J. S. Bach: Cantatas Vol. 15 – Cantatas from Leipzig 1723'', Masaaki Suzuki, Bach Collegium Japan, Yukari Nonoshita, Robin Blaze, Gerd Türk, Peter Kooy, BIS 2000 * ''Bach Cantatas Vol. 13: Köln/Lüneburg'', John Eliot Gardiner, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, Brigitte Geller, Michael Chance, Jan Kobow, Dietrich Henschel, Soli Deo Gloria 2000
== References ==
{{reflist | 30em | refs =
<ref name="Dellal">{{cite web | last = Dellal | first = Pamela | author-link = Pamela Dellal | url = http://www.pameladellal.com/notes_translations/translations_cantata/t_bwv070.htm#pab1_7 | title = BWV 70 – Wachet! betet! betet! wachet! | date = 2021 | website = pameladellal.com | access-date = 23 December 2021 }}</ref>
<ref name="Dürr">{{cite book | last = Dürr | first = Alfred | author-link = Alfred Dürr | title = Die Kantaten von Johann Sebastian Bach | year = 1981 | publisher = Deutscher Taschenbuchverlag | isbn = 3-423-04080-7 | volume = 1 | edition = 4 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/diekantatenvonjo0002durr/page/103 103, 527–531] | language = de | url = https://archive.org/details/diekantatenvonjo0002durr/page/103 }}</ref>
<ref name="Gardiner">{{Cite AV media notes | last = Gardiner | first = John Eliot | author-link = John Eliot Gardiner | url = https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/dc.asp?dc=D_SDG162 | title = Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750) / Cantatas Nos 36, 61, 62, 70, 132 & 147 | publisher = Soli Deo Gloria (at Hyperion Records website) | year = 2009 | access-date = 17 November 2018 }}</ref>
<ref name="Koster">{{cite web | last = Koster | first = Jan | url = http://www.let.rug.nl/Linguistics/diversen/bach/weimar2.html | title = Weimar 1708–1717 | publisher = let.rug.nl | access-date = 16 December 2011 | archive-date = 28 March 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140328175204/http://www.let.rug.nl/Linguistics/diversen/bach/weimar2.html | url-status = dead }}</ref>
<ref name="Mincham">{{cite web | last = Mincham | first = Julian | url = http://www.jsbachcantatas.com/documents/chapter-28-bwv-70 | title = Chapter 28 Bwv 70 – The Cantatas of Johann Sebastian Bach | publisher = jsbachcantatas.com | year = 2010 | access-date = 22 August 2022 }}</ref>
<ref name="chorale text">{{cite web | url = http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Texts/Chorale054-Eng3.htm | title = Meinen Jesum laß' ich nicht / Text and Translation of Chorale | publisher = Bach Cantatas Website | year = 2005 | access-date = 27 November 2010 }}</ref>
<ref name="chorale text 2">{{cite web | url = http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Texts/Chorale030-Eng3.htm | title = Freu dich sehr, o meine Seele / Text and Translation of Chorale | publisher = Bach Cantatas Website | year = 2005 | access-date = 27 November 2010 }}</ref>
<ref name="chorale melody">{{cite web | url = http://www.bach-cantatas.com/CM/Meinen-Jesum-lass-ich-nicht.htm | title = Chorale Melodies used in Bach's Vocal Works / Meinen Jesum laß ich nicht | publisher = Bach Cantatas Website | year = 2005 | access-date = 28 November 2010 }}</ref>
<ref name="chorale melody 2">{{cite web | url = http://www.bach-cantatas.com/CM/Freu-dich-sehr.htm | title = Chorale Melodies used in Bach's Vocal Works / Freu dich sehr, o meine Seele | publisher = Bach Cantatas Website | year = 2005 | access-date = 28 November 2010 }}</ref>
<ref name="Altstadtherbst">{{cite web | url = http://www.altstadtherbst.de/2006/de/programm/mozartrequiem_2.htm | title = Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750), Kantate "Wachet! betet! betet! wachet!" BWV 70 | publisher = altstadtherbst.de | language = de | year = 2006 | access-date = 28 November 2010 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
}}
== Sources == * {{IMSLP|work=Wachet! betet! betet! wachet!, BWV 70 (Bach, Johann Sebastian)}} * [http://www.bach-digital.de/receive/BachDigitalWork_work_00000089?lang=en Wachet! Betet! Betet! Wachet! BWV 70a; BC (A 4) / Sacred cantata (2nd Sunday of Advent)] Bach Digital * [http://www.bach-digital.de/receive/BachDigitalWork_work_00000088?lang=en Wachet! Betet! Betet! Wachet! BWV 70; BC A 165 / Sacred cantata (26th Sunday after Trinity)] Bach Digital * [http://www.bach-cantatas.com/BWV70a.htm Cantata BWV 70a Wachet! betet! betet! wachet!] history, scoring, sources for text and music, translations to various languages, discography, discussion, Bach Cantatas Website * [http://www.bach-cantatas.com/BWV70.htm Cantata BWV 70 Wachet! betet! betet! wachet!] history, scoring, sources for text and music, translations to various languages, discography, discussion, Bach Cantatas Website * [http://www.uvm.edu/~classics/faculty/bach/BWV70.html BWV 70 Wachet! betet! betet! wachet!] English translation, University of Vermont * [http://webdocs.cs.ualberta.ca/~wfb/cantatas/70a.html BWV 70a Wachet! betet! betet! wachet!] text, scoring, University of Alberta * [http://webdocs.cs.ualberta.ca/~wfb/cantatas/70.html BWV 70 Wachet! betet! betet! wachet!] text, scoring, University of Alberta * Luke Dahn: [http://www.bach-chorales.com/BWV0070_7.htm BWV 70.7], [http://www.bach-chorales.com/BWV0070_11.htm BWV 70.11] bach-chorales.com
{{Church cantatas by Johann Sebastian Bach}} {{Bach cantatas}} {{Advent}}
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Category:Church cantatas by Johann Sebastian Bach Category:1716 compositions Category:1723 compositions Category:Advent music Category:Libretti by Salomon Franck