{{Short description|1724 chorale cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach}} {{use dmy dates|date=June 2025}} {{Infobox Bach composition | title = {{lang|de|Wer nur den lieben Gott läßt walten}} | bwv = 93 | type = Chorale cantata | composer = J. S. Bach | image = Georg Neumark (144355593).jpg | caption = Georg Neumark, author of the hymn | occasion = Fifth Sunday after Trinity | performed = {{Timeline-event|date={{Start date|1724|07|09|df=y}}|location=Leipzig}} | movements = seven | chorale = {{langr|de|Wer nur den lieben Gott läßt walten}} | vocal = {{abbr|SATB|soprano, alto, tenor and bass}} choir and solo | instrumental = {{hlist | 2 oboes | 2 violins | viola | viola da gamba | continuo }} }} Johann Sebastian Bach composed the church cantata '''{{lang|de|Wer nur den lieben Gott läßt walten}}''' (Who only lets dear God rule),<ref name="Dellal" /> '''{{abbr|BWV|Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis (catalogue of Bach's works)}}{{nbsp}}93''', in Leipzig for the fifth Sunday after Trinity and first performed it on 9 July 1724. It is part of his chorale cantata cycle, the second cantata cycle he started after being appointed Thomaskantor in 1723.
The cantata is based on the seven stanzas of the hymn "Wer nur den lieben Gott läßt walten" by Georg Neumark, published in 1657. The first and last stanza of the chorale were used for the outer movements of the cantata, while an unknown librettist paraphrased the inner stanzas of the hymn into the text for the five other movements. The first movement, a chorale fantasia, is followed by a succession of arias alternating with recitatives, leading to a four-part closing chorale and featuring a duet in the centre.
The cantata is scored for four soloists—soprano, alto, tenor and bass—a four-part choir, and a Baroque ensemble of two oboes, two violins, viola, viola da gamba and basso continuo. {{TOC limit|3}}
== History ==
Bach composed the chorale cantata in 1724 as part of his second annual cycle for the Fifth Sunday after Trinity. Only continuo parts of the first four movements survived of the first performance. The manuscripts of the complete music date from another performance around 1732/1733, therefore it is unknown if the cantata had the same structure from the beginning.<ref name="Dürr" />
The prescribed readings for the Sunday were from the First Epistle of Peter, "Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts" ({{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=1 Peter|chapter=3|verse=8|range=–15}}), and from the Gospel of Luke, Peter's great catch of fish ({{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Luke|chapter=5|verse=1|range=–11}}. The cantata text is based on the chorale in seven stanzas of Georg Neumark, written in 1641 and published in 1657 in ''{{lang|de|Fortgepflantzter Musikalisch-Poetischer Lustwald}}''.<ref name="chorale text" /> The chorale is connected in general to the prescribed readings. Specific reference to the Gospel appears in the recitative addition of movement 5. The words of the chorale remain unchanged in movements 1, 4 and 7 in a symmetric arrangement. The changes in the other movements are the work of an unknown poet. In movements 2 and 5 he kept the original words but expanded them by recitatives, in movements 3 and 6 he transformed the ideas of the chorale to arias.<ref name="Dürr" />
This chorale cantata is not to be confused with the chorale prelude of the same name, BWV 642. That chorale prelude, which is in the ''Orgelbüchlein'' collection, was also based upon the hymn by Georg Neumark.<ref>Williams, Peter. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=gTXxUk1LAowC&pg=PA312 The Organ Music of J. S. Bach]'', pp. 311–312 (Cambridge University Press, 2003).</ref>
== Scoring and structure ==
The cantata in seven movements is scored for four soloists—soprano, alto, tenor and bass—a four-part choir, two oboes, two violins, viola, viola da gamba and basso continuo.<ref name="Dürr" />
# Chorus: {{langr|de|Wer nur den lieben Gott läßt walten}} # Recitative (+ chorale, bass): {{langr|de|Was helfen uns die schweren Sorgen?}} # Aria (tenor): {{langr|de|Man halte nur ein wenig stille}} # Duet aria (soprano, alto): {{langr|de|Er kennt die rechten Freudenstunden}} # Recitative (+ chorale, tenor): {{langr|de|Denk nicht in deiner Drangsalhitze}} # Aria (soprano): {{langr|de|Ich will auf den Herren schaun}} # Chorale: {{langr|de|Sing, bet und geh auf Gottes Wegen}}
== Music ==
In the central duet violins and violas play the melody of the chorale.<ref name="chorale melody" /> Bach later arranged this movement for organ as one of the Schübler Chorales, BWV 647.<ref name="Smith" />
The opening chorus is a concerto of three elements: the orchestra, dominated by the two oboes, playing an introduction and ritornellos, the cantus firmus in the soprano, and the other voices which start each of the three sections and keep singing on the long final notes of the cantus firmus, soprano and alto opening the first section, tenor and bass the second, all four voices the last section.
Movements 2 and 5 are composed in the same fashion, alternating the slightly ornamented lines of the chorale with recitative.
In the first aria for tenor Bach uses a motive which turns the beginning of the chorale melody to major, to express trust in God. Johann David Heinichen used a similar major-mode variant, almost a very altered parody of Bach's, for the Recordare in his 1726 requiem in E-flat major, S. 18.
The cantata concludes with a four-part setting of the chorale's last stanza.<ref name="Dürr" /><ref name="Mincham" /> <score sound raw> \header {tagline = ##f } \layout { indent = 0 \set Score.tempoHideNote = ##t \context { \Score \remove "Bar_number_engraver" } }
global = { \key g \minor \time 4/4 \partial 4 }
soprano = \relative c'' { \global \set midiInstrument = "violin" \repeat volta 2 { g4 | c d es d | c d b g\fermata | r bes bes as | g c c8 (d) b4 | c2. } d4 | es f g g | f f es2\fermata | r4 g4 f es | d \tempo 4 = 78 c8 (d) es4 \tempo 4 = 66 d | c2.\fermata \bar "|." }
alto = \relative c' { \global \set midiInstrument = "viola" \repeat volta 2 { es4 | g g g g8 (f) | e4 as g d | r g g f | es g g g | g2. } g4 | g bes bes bes | c bes8 (as) g2 | r4 bes as a | b c c g8 (f) | e2. \bar "|." }
tenor = \relative c' { \global \set midiInstrument = "cello" \repeat volta 2 { c4 | es d c b | c f d b | r d es f8 (bes,) | bes4 c8 (d) es4 d | es2. } b4 | c d es es | es d bes!2 | r4 es es8 [(d)] c (a) | d (es16 f) es4 a,8 (b16 c) b4 | g2. \bar "|." }
bass = \relative c { \global \set midiInstrument = "contrabass" \repeat volta 2 { c4 | c' b c g | as f g g, | r g' c, d | es4. f8 g4 g, | c2. } g'4 | c bes8 (as) g4 f8 (es) | as4 bes es,2 | r4 es f fis | g as8 (g) fis4 g | c,2. \bar "|." }
verse = \lyricmode { << { \set stanza = "7." Sing', bet' und geh' auf Got -- tes We -- gen, ver -- richt' das Dei -- ne nur ge -- treu, } \new Lyrics { und trau' des Him -- mels rei -- chem Se -- gen, so wird er bei dir wer -- den neu; } >> denn wel -- cher sei -- ne Zu -- ver -- sicht auf Gott setzt, den ver -- lässt er nicht. }
\score { \new ChoirStaff << \new Staff \with { \consists "Merge_rests_engraver" } << \new Voice = "soprano" { \voiceOne \soprano } \new Voice = "alto" { \voiceTwo \alto } >> \new Lyrics \with { \override VerticalAxisGroup #'staff-affinity = #CENTER } \lyricsto "soprano" \verse \new Staff \with { \consists "Merge_rests_engraver" } << \clef bass \new Voice = "tenor" { \voiceOne \tenor } \new Voice = "bass" { \voiceTwo \bass } >> >> \layout { } } \score { \unfoldRepeats { << \soprano \\ \alto \\ \tenor \\ \bass >> } \midi { \tempo 4 = 90 \context { \Score midiChannelMapping = #'instrument } \context { \Staff \remove "Staff_performer" } \context { \Voice \consists "Staff_performer" } } } </score>
== Recordings == * ''J. S. Bach: Cantatas BWV 93 & BWV 131'', Hans Thamm, Windsbacher Knabenchor, Consortium Musicum, Teresa Żylis-Gara, Ingeborg Ruß, Peter Schreier, Franz Crass, EMI Electrola 1966 * ''Bach Cantatas Vol. 3 – Ascension Day, Whitsun, Trinity'', Karl Richter, Münchener Bach-Chor, Münchener Bach-Orchester, Edith Mathis, Anna Reynolds, Peter Schreier, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Archiv Produktion 1975 * ''Die Bach Kantate Vol. 14'', Helmuth Rilling, Gächinger Kantorei, Bach-Collegium Stuttgart, Arleen Auger, Ann Murray, Adalbert Kraus, Walter Heldwein, Hänssler 1979 * ''J. S. Bach: Das Kantatenwerk – Sacred Cantatas Vol. 5'', Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Tölzer Knabenchor, Concentus Musicus Wien, soloist of the Tölzer Knabenchor, Paul Esswood, Kurt Equiluz, {{ill|Ruud van der Meer|nl}}, Teldec 1979 * ''J. S. Bach: Kantaten O ewiges Feuer, o Ursprung der Liebe BWV 34; Wer nur den lieben Gott läßt walten BWV 93; Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan BWV 100'', Karl-Friedrich Beringer, Windsbacher Knabenchor, Consortium Musicum, Susanne Winter, {{ill|Rebecca Martin (mezzo-soprano)|de|Rebecca Martin (Opernsängerin)|lt=Rebecca Martin}}, Markus Schäfer, {{ill|Sebastian Bluth|de}}, Rondeau Production 1999 * ''J. S. Bach: Complete Cantatas Vol. 21'', Ton Koopman, Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir, Deborah York, Franziska Gottwald, Paul Agnew, Klaus Mertens, Antoine Marchand 2000 * ''J. S. Bach: Cantatas for the Complete Liturgical Year Vol. 5'', Sigiswald Kuijken, La Petite Bande, Siri Thornhill, Petra Noskaiová, Christoph Genz, Jan van der Crabben, Accent 2005
== References ==
<references> <ref name="Dellal">{{cite web | last = Dellal | first = Pamela | author-link = Pamela Dellal | url = https://www.emmanuelmusic.org/bach-translations/bwv-93 | title = BWV 93 – "Wer nur den lieben Gott lässt walten" | publisher = Emmanuel Music | access-date = 24 August 2022 }}</ref>
<ref name="Dürr">{{cite book | last1 = Dürr | first1 = Alfred | author-link1 = Alfred Dürr | last2 = Jones | first2 = Richard D. P. | author-link2 = Richard D. P. Jones | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=m9JuwslMcq4C&pg=PA425 | title = The Cantatas of J. S. Bach: With Their Librettos in German-English Parallel Text | publisher = Oxford University Press | pages = 425–429 | date = 2006 | isbn = 978-0-19-929776-4 }}</ref>
<ref name="Mincham">{{cite web | last = Mincham | first = Julian | url = https://www.jsbachcantatas.com/documents/chapter-7-bwv-93 | title = Chapter 7 BWV 93 Wer nur den lieben Gott lässt walten / He who leaves all power to God. | date = 2010 | access-date = 24 August 2022 | publisher = jsbachcantatas.com }}</ref>
<ref name="Smith">{{cite web | last = Smith | first = Craig | author-link = Craig Smith (conductor) | url = https://www.emmanuelmusic.org/bach-notes/bwv-93 | title = Bach Cantata Notes BWV 93 | publisher = Emmanuel Music | access-date = 24 August 2022 }}</ref>
<ref name="chorale text">{{cite web | url = http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Texts/Chorale052-Eng3.htm | title = Wer nur den lieben Gott läßt walten / Text and Translation of Chorale | publisher = Bach Cantatas Website | date = 2008 | access-date = 29 June 2011 }}</ref>
<ref name="chorale melody">{{cite web | url = http://www.bach-cantatas.com/CM/Wer-nur-den-lieben-Gott.htm | title = Chorale Melodies used in Bach's Vocal Works / Wer nur den lieben Gott läßt walten | publisher = Bach Cantatas Website | date = 2009 | access-date = 29 June 2011 }}</ref> </references>
== External links ==
* {{IMSLP|work=Wer nur den lieben Gott lässt walten, BWV 93 (Bach, Johann Sebastian)|cname=''Wer nur den lieben Gott läßt walten'', BWV 93}} * [http://www.bach-digital.de/receive/BachDigitalWork_work_00000118?lang=en Wer nur den lieben Gott lässt walten BWV 93; BC A 104 / Chorale cantata (5th Sunday after Trinity)] Bach Digital * [http://www.bach-cantatas.com/BWV93.htm Cantata BWV 93 Wer nur den lieben Gott läßt walten] history, scoring, sources for text and music, translations to various languages, discography, discussion, Bach Cantatas Website * [http://www.uvm.edu/~classics/faculty/bach/BWV93.html BWV 93 Wer nur den lieben Gott lässt walten] English translation, University of Vermont * [http://webdocs.cs.ualberta.ca/~wfb/cantatas/93.html BWV 93 Wer nur den lieben Gott lässt walten] text, scoring, University of Alberta * {{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_SDG141 | title = Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750) / Cantatas Nos 24, 71, 88, 93, 131, 177 & 185 (Cantatas Vol 3) | publisher = Soli Deo Gloria (at Hyperion Records website) | date = 2008 | access-date = 11 August 2018|ref=none }} * Luke Dahn: [http://www.bach-chorales.com/BWV0093_7.htm BWV 93.7] bach-chorales.com
{{Church cantatas by Johann Sebastian Bach}} {{Bach cantatas}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Wer Nur Den Lieben Gott Lasst Walten Bwv 93}} Category:Church cantatas by Johann Sebastian Bach Category:1724 compositions Category:Chorale cantatas