{{Short description|Church cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach}} {{Use British English|date=January 2026}} {{Infobox Bach composition | name = {{lang|de|Alles nur nach Gottes Willen}} | bwv = 72 | type = Church cantata | image = Alles nur nach Gottes Willen, BWV 72 by J.S. Bach (1).png | caption = First page of Bach's autograph score | related = basis for Missa, BWV 235 | occasion = {{nowrap|Third Sunday after Epiphany}} | performed = {{Timeline-event|date={{Start date|1726|01|26|df=y}}|location=Leipzig}} | movements = 6 | bible = {{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Matthew|chapter=8|verse=2}} | text_poet = Salomon Franck | chorale = "{{langr|de|Was mein Gott will, das g'scheh allzeit}}" | vocal = {{plainlist| * {{abbr|SATB|soprano, alto, tenor and bass}} choir * {{nowrap|solo: soprano, alto and bass}} }} | instrumental = {{hlist | 2 oboes | 2 violins | viola | continuo }} }} '''{{lang|de|Alles nur nach Gottes Willen}}''' ({{gloss|Everything according to God's will alone}}),{{sfn|Dellal|2020}} '''{{abbr|BWV|Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis (catalogue of Bach's works)}}{{nbsp}}72''', is a church cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach. He composed it in Leipzig in 1726 for the third Sunday after Epiphany and first performed it on 27 January 1726. It is part of his third cantata cycle and concluded the Christmas season. Bach later used the opening chorus for the Gloria of his Missa in G minor, BWV 235.
Bach composed the cantata in his third year as {{langr|de|Thomaskantor}}, setting a libretto which Salomon Franck, his librettist at the ducal court in Weimar, had published in 1715. It is structured in six movements, an opening chorus, two pairs of recitative and aria, and a closing chorale, taken from "{{langr|de|Was mein Gott will, das g'scheh allzeit}}", published by Albert, Duke of Prussia in 1547. The cantata is scored for three soloists, a four-part choir (SATB), and a Baroque instrumental ensemble of two oboes, strings and basso continuo.
== History and text == Bach composed {{lang|de|Alles nur nach Gottes Willen}} in his third year as ''Thomaskantor'' (director of church music) in Leipzig for the Third Sunday after Epiphany.{{sfn|Bach Digital|2020}}{{sfn|Dürr|Jones|2006|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=KCQTDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA200 200]}}{{sfn|Leisinger|1997}} The prescribed readings for the Sunday were taken from the Epistle to the Romans, rules for life ({{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Romans|chapter=12|verse=17|range=–21}}), and from the Gospel of Matthew, the healing of a leper ({{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Matthew|chapter=8|verse=1|range=–13}}).
The cantata text was written by Salomon Franck, who was Bach's librettist when they both worked for the ducal court in Weimar. Franck published it in {{lang|de|Evangelisches Andachts-Opffer}} in 1715,{{sfn|Bach Digital|2020}}{{sfn|Leisinger|1997}} whereas Bach composed the music much later. Ulrich Leisinger, who edited the work for Carus, argues that if Bach had already composed it in Weimar, he might have used it in his first year in Leipzig, but he wrote a new cantata for the occasion then, ''Herr, wie du willt, so schicks mit mir'', BWV 73.{{sfn|Leisinger|1997}} Bach had turned to older texts for the complete Christmas and Epiphany season of 1725/26, beginning with ''Unser Mund sei voll Lachens'', BWV 110, for Christmas Day to a text published by Georg Christian Lehms in 1711, and several more from the same collection.{{sfn|Dürr|Jones|2006|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=KCQTDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA37 37]}} ''Ihr, die ihr euch von Christo nennet'', BWV 164, is a comparable example of Bach turning to a text by Franck late.{{sfn|Dürr|Jones|2006|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=KCQTDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA37 37]}}
The closing chorale "{{langr|de|Was mein Gott will, das g'scheh allzeit}}" was written by Albert, Duke of Prussia in 1547.{{sfn|Bach Digital|2020}} The chorale theme (Zahn 7568) by Claudin de Sermisy first appeared in print in the collection of secular songs ''Trente et quatre chansons'' in 1528. Bach had used the chorale before as the base for his chorale cantata {{lang|de|''Was mein Gott will, das g'scheh allzeit'', BWV 111 |italic=unset}}, composed for the same occasion in 1725.{{sfn|Dürr|Jones|2006|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=KCQTDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA204 204]}}
Bach led the Thomanerchor in the cantata's first performance on 27 January 1726.{{sfn|Bach Digital|2020}}{{sfn|Dürr|Jones|2006|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=KCQTDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA208 208]}} He later used the opening chorus for the Gloria of his Missa in G minor, BWV 235.{{sfn|Bach Digital|2020}}{{sfn|Steinitz|2020}}
== Music == === Scoring and structure === Bach structured the cantata in six movements. Bach scored the work for three vocal soloists (soprano (S), alto (A) and bass (B)), a four-part choir, and a Baroque instrumental ensemble of two oboes (Ob), two violins (Vl), two obbligato violins (Vs), viola (Va) and basso continuo.{{sfn|Bach Digital|2020}}{{sfn|Dürr|Jones|2006|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=KCQTDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA207 207]}} The duration of the cantata is given as 20 minutes.{{sfn|Dürr|Jones|2006|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=KCQTDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA207 207]}}
In the following table of the movements, the scoring follows the Neue Bach-Ausgabe. The keys and time signatures are taken from Alfred Dürr, using the symbol for common time (4/4).{{sfn|Bach Digital|2020}}{{sfn|Dürr|Jones|2006|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?id=KCQTDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA207 207–208]}} The continuo, playing throughout, is not shown.
{{Classical movement header | show_text_source = yes | work = {{lang|de|Alles nur nach Gottes Willen}} | instruments1 = Winds | instruments2 = Strings }}
{{Classical movement row | id = m1 | number = 1 | title = {{langr|de|Alles nur nach Gottes Willen}} | text_source = Franck | type = Chorus | vocal = SATB | instruments1 = 2Ob | instruments2 = {{nowrap|2Vl Va}} | key = A minor | time = 3/4 }} {{Classical movement row | id = m2 | number = 2 | title = {{langr|de|O selger Christ, der allzeit seinen Willen}} | text_source = Franck | type = Recitative | vocal = A | instruments1 = | instruments2 = | key = | time = {{music|common-time}} }} {{Classical movement row | id = m3 | number = 3 | title = {{langr|de|Mit allem, was ich hab und bin}} | text_source = Franck | type = Aria | vocal = A | instruments1 = | instruments2 = 2Vl | key = {{nowrap|D minor}} | time = {{music|common-time}} }} {{Classical movement row | id = m4 | number = 4 | title = {{langr|de|So glaube nun}} | text_source = Franck | type = Recitative | vocal = B | instruments1 = | instruments2 = | key = | time = {{music|common-time}} }} {{Classical movement row | id = m5 | number = 5 | title = {{langr|de|Mein Jesus will es tun, er will dein Kreuz versüßen}} | text_source = Franck | type = Aria | vocal = S | instruments1 = Ob | instruments2 = 2Vl Va | key = C major | time = 3/4 }} {{Classical movement row | id = m6 | number = 6 | title = {{langr|de|Was mein Gott will, das g'scheh allzeit}} | text_source = Albert, Duke of Prussia | type = Chorale | vocal = SATB | instruments1 = 2Ob | instruments2 = 2Vl Va | key = A minor | time = {{music|common-time}} }}
{{End}}
=== Movements === {{anchor|1}} Although Franck had marked the first movement as an aria, Bach composed it as a chorus, opened by a ritornello dominated by runs of two measures in the violins, finally also in the continuo. The voices pick up the runs on the word "{{langr|de|alles}}" (all), soprano first, and imitate each other one measure after the other, resulting in a complex image of "all". A rather quiet middle section on the words "{{langr|de|Gottes Wille soll mich stillen}}" (God's will shall calm me){{sfn|Dellal|2020}} in canonic imitation is accompanied by the orchestra, the following words "{{langr|de|bei Gewölk und Sonnenschein}}" (among clouds or sunshine){{sfn|Dellal|2020}} are illustrated by runs as in the beginning, but starting in a low range by the bass. The first and last section end with the choir embedded in the ritornello.{{sfn|Dürr|Jones|2006|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=KCQTDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA209 209]}}
In his arrangement for the ''Gloria'' of the Missa, Bach dropped the first ritornello, adapted the words "{{langr|la|Gloria in excelsis Deo}}" to the first section, "{{langr|la|Et in terra pax}}" to the middle section, and "{{langr|la|Laudamus te}}" to the last section.{{sfn|Dürr|Jones|2006|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=KCQTDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA209 209]}}
{{anchor|2}} The first recitative begins as a secco, but develops to an arioso on the words "{{langr|de|Herr, so du willt}}" (Lord, as you will),{{sfn|Dellal|2020}} which are repeated nine times with a different continuo line, culminating in "{{langr|de|so sterb ich nicht}}" (I will not die){{sfn|Dellal|2020}} the following line is again secco.{{sfn|Dürr|Jones|2006|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=KCQTDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA209 209]}}
{{anchor|3}} The following aria begins immediately with the voice, to ensure a connection between recitative and aria, then follows an unusual ritornello, a fugue with the two violins and the continuo.{{sfn|Dürr|Jones|2006|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?id=KCQTDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA209 209–210]}} {{anchor|5}} In the second aria, more like a song and dance, the instruments play a ritornello and repeat it after a short sung passage:<!--is this what was meant by "Devise"? It sounds like it from the recording on YouTube--> "{{langr|de|Mein Jesus will es tun, er will dein Kreuz versüßen}}" (My Jesus will do it, He will sweeten Your cross).{{sfn|Dellal|2020}} In the following main section the voice is embedded in the ritornello. The words of the middle section "{{langr|de|Obgleich dein Herze liegt in viel Bekümmernissen}}" (Although your heart lies in many troubles){{sfn|Dellal|2020}} are sung in the minor mode. After the following ritornello the soloist repeats once more as a final statement, "{{langr|de|mein Jesus will es tun!}}" (my Jesus will do it!).{{sfn|Dellal|2020}}{{sfn|Dürr|Jones|2006|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=KCQTDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA210 210]}}
{{anchor|6}} The closing chorale is a four-part setting.{{sfn|Dürr|Jones|2006|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=KCQTDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA210 210]}}{{sfn|Dahn|2026}}
== Manuscripts and publication == The manuscripts of the score are extant, held by the Berlin State Library, but its original title page is lost as well as a replacement that C. P. E. Bach made in 1750. Most original parts survived, also at the Berlin State Library, but a figured bass part is lost. Duplicate violin parts are held by the Berlin University of the Arts, and a figured bass part is kept by the Bach House Eisenach.{{sfn|Leisinger|1997}}
The first critical edition of the cantata, edited by Wilhelm Rust, was published by the Bach Gesellschaft in 1870 as part of its complete edition of Bach's works. In the {{lang|de|Neue Bach-Ausgabe}}, the second edition of Bach's works, the cantata was published in 1997, edited by Peter Wollny.{{sfn|Leisinger|1997}}{{sfn|Bach Digital|2020}} Carus published a critical edition in German and English as part of its {{lang|de|Stuttgarter Bach-Ausgaben}} in 1997, edited by Ulrich Leisinger.{{sfn|Leisinger|1997}} In the 21st century, ''Bach Digital'' published high-resolution facsimile images of the manuscript parts from the first quarter of the 18th century.{{sfn|Bach Digital|2020}}
== Recordings == The entries are taken from the listing on the Bach Cantatas website.{{sfn|Oron|2026}} Instrumental groups playing period instruments in historically informed performances are marked green under the header {{abbr|Instr.|Type of instruments}}.
{{Cantata discography header | work=''Alles nur nach Gottes Willen'' | instruments={{abbr|Instr.|Type of instruments}} }}
{{Cantata discography row | id = Ramin | title = ''Bach Made in Germany Vol. 1 – Cantatas III'' | conductor = {{sortname|Günther|Ramin}} | choir = Thomanerchor | orchestra = Gewandhausorchester | soloists = {{plainlist| * boy soloists of the Thomanerchor * Hans Hauptmann }} | label = Leipzig Classics | year = {{Start date|1956}} | orchestra_type = }} {{Cantata discography row | id = Rilling | title = {{lang|de|Die Bach Kantate}} Vol. 24 | conductor = {{sortname|Helmuth|Rilling}} | choir = Figuralchor der Gedächtniskirche Stuttgart | orchestra = Bach-Collegium Stuttgart | soloists = {{plainlist| * Arleen Auger * Hildegard Laurich * Wolfgang Schöne }} | label = Hänssler | year = {{Start date|1972}} | orchestra_type = }} {{Cantata discography row | id = Werner | title = ''Les Grandes Cantates de J. S. Bach Vol. 29'' | conductor = {{sortname|Fritz|Werner}} | choir = Heinrich-Schütz-Chor Heilbronn | orchestra = Württembergisches Kammerorchester Heilbronn | soloists = {{plainlist| * Ingeborg Reichelt * Barbara Scherler * Bruce Abel }} | label = Erato | year = {{Start date|1973}} | orchestra_type = }} {{Cantata discography row | id = Harnoncourt | title = ''J. S. Bach: Das Kantatenwerk • Complete Cantatas • Les Cantates, Folge / Vol. 4'' | conductor = {{sortname|Nikolaus|Harnoncourt}} | choir = Tölzer Knabenchor | orchestra = Concentus Musicus Wien | soloists = {{plainlist| * boy soprano Wilhelm Wiedl * Paul Esswood * Ruud van der Meer }} | label = Teldec | year = {{Start date|1977}} | orchestra_type = Period }} {{Cantata discography row | id = Leusink | title = ''Bach Edition Vol. 4 – Cantatas Vol. 1'' | conductor = {{sortname|Pieter Jan|Leusink}} | choir = Holland Boys Choir | orchestra = Netherlands Bach Collegium | soloists = {{plainlist| * Ruth Holton * Sytse Buwalda * Bas Ramselaar }} | label = Brilliant Classics | year = {{Start date|1999}} | orchestra_type = Period }} {{Cantata discography row | id = Gardiner | title = ''J. S. Bach: Cantatas for the 3rd Sunday of Epiphany'' | conductor = {{sortname|John Eliot|Gardiner}} | choir = Monteverdi Choir | orchestra = English Baroque Soloists | soloists = {{plainlist| * Joanne Lunn * Sara Mingardo * Stephen Varcoe }} | label = Archiv Produktion | year = {{Start date|2000}} | orchestra_type = Period }} {{Cantata discography row | id = Koopman | title = ''J. S. Bach: Complete Cantatas Vol. 19'' | conductor = {{sortname|Ton|Koopman}} | orchestra = Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir | soloists = {{plainlist| * Sandrine Piau * Bogna Bartosz * Klaus Mertens }} | label = Antoine Marchand | year = {{Start date|2002}} | orchestra_type = Period }}
{{Cantata discography row | id = Suzuki | title = ''J. S. Bach: Cantatas Vol. 42 – BWV 13, 16, 32, 72'' | conductor = {{sortname|Masaaki|Suzuki}} | orchestra = Bach Collegium Japan | soloists = {{plainlist| * Rachel Nicholls * Robin Blaze * Peter Kooy }} | label = BIS | year = {{Start date|2008}} | orchestra_type = Period }}<!-- {{Cantata discography row | id = Kuijken | title = ''J. S. Bach: Cantatas for the Complete Liturgical Year Vol. 8: "Meine Seufzer, meine Tränen" – Cantatas BWV 13 · 73 · 81 · 144'' | conductor = {{sortname|Sigiswald|Kuijken}} | orchestra = La Petite Bande | soloists = {{plainlist| * Gerlinde Sämann * Petra Noskaiová * Christoph Genz * Jan van der Crabben }} | label = Accent | year = {{Start date|2008}} | orchestra_type = Period }}--> {{End}}
== References == {{reflist}}
== Cited sources == ''Bach Digital'' * {{cite web | url = https://www.bach-digital.de/receive/BachDigitalWork_work_000091??lang=en | title = Alles nur nach Gottes Willen BWV 72; BC A 37 | website = Bach Digital | date = 2019 | access-date = 5 January 2020 | ref = {{sfnref|Bach Digital|2020}} }}
''Books''
* {{cite book | last1 = Dürr | first1 = Alfred | author-link = Alfred Dürr | last2 = Jones | first2 = Richard D. P. | author2-link = Richard D. P. Jones | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=m9JuwslMcq4C&pg=PA207 | title = The Cantatas of J. S. Bach: With Their Librettos in German-English Parallel Text | publisher = Oxford University Press | year = 2006 | isbn = 978-0-19-929776-4 | pages = 207–210 }} * {{cite book | last = Leisinger | first = Ulrich | author-link = Ulrich Leisinger | url = https://www.carusmedia.com/images-intern/medien//30/3107200/3107200x.pdf | title = Alles nur nach Gottes Willen / All things be by God's commandment / BWV 72 | publisher = Carus-Verlag | date = July 1997 | pages = 3–4 | access-date = 23 January 2026 }}
''Online sources''
* {{cite web | last = Dahn | first = Luke | url = http://www.bach-chorales.com/BWV0072_6.htm | title = BWV 72.6 | website = bach-chorales.com | date = 2026 | access-date = 24 January 2026 }} * {{cite web | last = Dellal | first = Pamela | author-link = Pamela Dellal | url = https://www.emmanuelmusic.org/bach-translations/bwv-72 | title = BWV 72 – Alles nur nach Gottes Willen | publisher = Emmanuel Music | date = 2020 | access-date = 23 August 2022 }} * {{cite web | last = Oron | first = Aryed | url = http://www.bach-cantatas.com/BWV72.htm | title = Cantata BWV 72 Alles nur nach Gottes Willen | work = Bach Cantatas | date = 2026 | access-date = 24 January 2026 }} * {{cite book | last = Steinitz | first = Margaret | url = http://www.aucx96.dsl.pipex.com/Lbsdb/LBSDB_LC_INTRO.html | title = Bach's Latin Church Music | publisher = London Bach Society | access-date = 16 September 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110715085014/http://www.aucx96.dsl.pipex.com/Lbsdb/LBSDB_LC_INTRO.html | archive-date = 15 July 2011 | url-status = dead | ref = {{sfnref|Steinitz|2020}} }}
== External links == * {{IMSLP|work=Alles nur nach Gottes Willen, BWV 72 (Bach, Johann Sebastian)}} * [http://www.uvm.edu/~classics/faculty/bach/BWV72.html BWV 72 Alles nur nach Gottes Willen] English translation, University of Vermont * [https://web.archive.org/web/20120806132501/http://webdocs.cs.ualberta.ca/~wfb/cantatas/72.html BWV 72 Alles nur nach Gottes Willen] text, scoring, University of Alberta * [https://www.jsbachcantatas.com/documents/chapter-13-bwv-72 Chapter 13 BWV 72 Alles nur nach Gottes Willen / All things are just as God wills.] Julian Mincham, 2010
{{Bach's third cantata cycle and later}} {{Bach cantatas}} {{Authority control}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Alles nur nach Gottes Willen'', BWV 72}}
Category:Church cantatas by Johann Sebastian Bach Category:1726 compositions Category:Libretti by Salomon Franck