Recordings/Discussions
Background Information
Performer Bios
Poet/Composer Bios
Additional Information
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Cantata BWV 55
Ich armer Mensch, ich Sündenknecht |
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Ref. |
BWV 55 |
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German Title |
Ich armer Mensch, ich Sündenknecht |
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English Title |
I, wretched man, a slave to sin (by Richard Stokes) |
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Event |
Solo Cantata for the 22nd Sunday after Trinity
Readings: Epistle: Philippians 1: 3-11; Gospel: Matthew 18: 23-35
Musical Context: Motets & Chorales for 22nd Sunday after Trinity |
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Composed |
Leipzig, 1726
1st performance: November 17, 1726 - Leipzig |
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Text |
Johann Rist (Mvt. 5); Anon (Mvts. 1-4) |
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German Text | German-2 | Translations: Catalan-1 | Dutch | English-1 | English-3I | English-3P | English-6 | English-10 | French-4 | French-6 | Hebrew-3 | Indonesian | Italian-2 | Italian-4 | Russian-1 | Spanish-2 | Spanish-7
Chorale Text: Werde munter mein Gemüte |
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Scoring |
Soloist: Tenor; 4-part Chorus
Orchestra: transverse flute, oboe d’amore, 2 violins, continuo
Mvt. 1: Aria | Mvt. 2: Recitative | Mvt. 3: Aria | Mvt. 4: Recitative | Mvt. 5: Chorale |
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Score Vocal & Piano [1.09 MB] | Score BGA [1.14 MB]
Chorales: Mvt. 5
Capella: Mvt. 5 [cap]
Chorale Melody: Werde munter, mein Gemüthe |
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References |
BGA: XXII/2 | NBA: I/26 | BC: A 157 | Zwang: K 159 | First Published: BG, 1863 | Autograph score (facsimile): Berlin, Staatsbibliothek | Provenance |
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Commentary |
BCW | Crouch | AMG | Emmaniel Music | Mincham | EvH [Dutch] | Role [French] | Reyes [Spanish] |
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Music |
Music Examples |
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Discussions |
Week of October 27, 2002; Week of February 3, 2008; Week of August 12, 2012 |
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1 |
J.S. Bach: Cantatas Nos. 157 · 55 · 151 [C-2] |

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Cantata BWV 55 [] |
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Kurt Redel |
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Choir and Orchestra "Pro Arte" Munich |
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Tenor: Helmut Krebs |
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Erato LDE-3044
Westminster XWN-18768
Musical Heritage Society MHS-594 |
Mar 31-Apr 4, 1956 |
LP / TT: |
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Recorded in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. |
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4 |
Bach Cantatas Vol. 5 - Sundays after Trinity II
J.S. Bach: Kantaten BWV 55, BWV 189 [C-9] |

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Cantata BWV 55 [CD: 15:30 / LP: 15:21] |
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Karl Richter |
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Münchener Bach-Chor / Münchener Bach-Orchester |
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Tenor: Ernst Haefliger |
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Archiv Produktion |
Feb 28 - Mar 1, 1959 |
5-CD / TT:
LP / TT: |
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Recorded at Herkules-Saal, München, Germany.
Buy this album at: Amazon.com |
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5 |
J.S. Bach: Kantate Nr. 55 Ich armer Mensch, ich Sündenknecht;
Kantate Nr. 160 Ich weiss, dass mein Erlöser lebt; Kantate Nr. 189 Meine
Seele rühmt und preist [C-2]
J.S. Bach: Cantatas BWV 55, BWV 160 & BWV 189 [C-2] |

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Cantata BWV 55 [13:15] |
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Heinz Markus Göttsche |
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Mannheim Bach Choir / Heidelberger Kammerorchester |
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Tenor: Raimund Gilvan |
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Da Camera SM-94013
Music Rara MUS-9
Oryx BACH-1119
Musical Heritage Society MHS-1718 |
May 25-27, 1966 |
LP / TT: 43:43 |
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Recorded at Christuskirche, Mannheim, Germany. |
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7 |
Peter Schreier singt Bach-Kantaten [L-3]
Bach Made in Germany Vol. 3 - Cantatas II
Bach Made in Germany Vol. 3 - Sacred Cantatas, St Matthew Passion [B-1] |

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Cantata BWV 55 [15:41] |
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Erhard Mauersberger |
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Thomanerchor Leipzig / Gewandhausorchester Leipzig |
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Tenor: Peter Schreier
Basso continuo: Friedemann Erben (Violoncello); Heinz Morawietz (Double-bass); Hannes Kästner (Harpsichord, Organ) |
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Eterna 826099
Telefunken SMT-1162
Telefunken 6.41948 AG
Leipzig Classics 001821-2BC
Leipzig Classics 001819-2BC |
Apr 16, 1968 |
LP / TT: 34:20
LP / TT: 34:20
LP / TT: 34:20
CD / TT: 73:06
5-CD / TT: 323:17 |
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Recorded at Thomaskirche, Leipzig, Germany.
1st recording of Cantata BWV 55 by P. Schreier.
Buy this album at:
CD (2000): Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de
5-CD (1999): Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de |
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10 |
Bach Festival 45th Annual Baldwin-Wallace College: First Concert
[F45-1] |
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Cantata BWV 55 [] |
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Dwight Oltman |
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Baldwin-Wallace Motet Choir (Conductor: Stuart Raleigh) / Festival Chamber Orchestra |
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Tenor: Jon Humphrey |
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Baldwin-Wallace College Conservatory of Music BW Tape 77-71 A |
May 20, 1977 |
MC / TT: |
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Recorded live at Baldwin-Wallace College, Berea, Ohio, USA.
Source: WorldCat Libraries & OPAL (Ohio Private Academic Library) |
12 |
J.S. Bach: Solokantaten für Tenor [C-1] |

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Cantata BWV 55 [] |
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Mitglieder der Kantorei der Kreuzkirche Bonn (Director: Jutta Niedermeyer) / Steinkraus-Ensemble |
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Tenor: Hans-Dieter Seibel
Helmut Steinkraus (Flute); Kurt Colinnet (Violin); Johannes Geffert (Organ/Harpsichord); Christoph Vicbahn (Oboe); Loni Schumacher (Violin II); Michael Coenen (Viola); Cecile van Hoof (Violoncello) |
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Mitra 16172 |
Feb 1983 |
LP / TT: |
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Recorded at Kreuzkirche, Bonn, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. |
14 |
J.S. Bach: Ich armer Mensch, ich Sündenknecht, Kantate BWV 55 für Tenor, Instrumente und Chor; F. Mendelssohn: Verleih uns Frieden gnädiglich, Choralkantate für Chor und Orchester; A.
Honegger: König David (Le Roi David), sinfonischer Psalm in drei Teilen für Soli,
Sprecher, Chor, Orgel und Orchester [C-6] |
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Cantata BWV 55 [] |
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Martin Flämig |
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Dresdner Kreuzchor / Staatskapelle Dresden |
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Tenor: Ralph Eschrig |
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Überspiel Kreuzchorarchiv |
Jun 1, 1989 |
MC / TT: 96 min |
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Recorded live at Kreuzkirche, Dresden, Saxony, Germany.
Copy: Zentralbibliothek-Mediathek Archiv Fon-TKD-C 3141
Source: WorldCat Libraries & SLUB Dresden |
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27 |
J. S. Bach: Kantate BWV 55 "Ich armer Mensch, ich Sündenknecht" [C-52] |

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Cantata BWV 55 [] |
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Conductor & organ: Rudolf Lutz
Reflection lecture: Urs Schoettli |
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(OVPP - No Choir) / Schola Seconda Pratica |
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Soloists: Tenor: Bernhard Berchthold
Choir: Sopr: Guro Hjemli; Alto: Antonia Frey; Bass: William Wood
Orchestra: Violin: Renate Steinmann, Yuko Ishikawa; Viola: Susanna Heft; Violoncello: Martin Zeller;
Violone: Iris Finkbeiner; Bassoon: Susann Landert; Flute: Claire Genewein; Oboe
d'amore: Ingo Müller |
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Gallus Media A870 |
Nov 19, 2011 |
DVD / TT: |
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Recorded live at Evangelische Kirche, Trogen, Switzerland.
The DVD (in German, no subtitles) includes a film recording of the complete cantata, the reflection lecture of the speaker and a film portrait of the
J.S. Bach Foundation.
Recording and production: Sound engineer: Stefan Ritzenthaler, Johannes Widmer; Producer: Meinrad Keel; Production: GALLUS MEDIA AG, Switzerland; DVD format: PAL.
Buy this album at:
DVD: J.S. Bach-Stiftung, St. Gallen: Shop |
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The list of recordings was compiled by Aryeh Oron (September 2002 - September 2012)
Thanks to contributors: Rainer Baruth (January 2012), Matthias Hansen (September 2005, June 2006, September 2006, February 2012), Frits V. Herbold (February 2012, April 2012), Louis Iosub (April 2012), Manfred Krugmann (September 2012), Peter Smaill (August 2006), Teri Noel Towe (April 2007), Tim Williams (March 2008) |
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Cantata BWV 55 : Details & Complete Recordings | Recordings of Individual Movements | Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 |
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