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William L. Hoffman wrote (October 5, 2018):
For the Feast of Ascension that fell on Thursday following Rogate, the 5th Sunday after Easter, and preceding Exaudi, the 6th and final Sunday after Easter, a week before Pentecost Sunday, Bach observed Christ's final act of Ascension into Heaven with a selection of appropriate hymns including more recent pietists songs, and set lesser-known psalm hymns as motets for the opening polyphonic Introit Psalms. The readings for the feast day which guided Bach's compositions of cantatas and an oratorio was the day's Epistle: Acts 1: 1-11 (Christ prepares his disciples for the Ascension), and the gospel, Mark 16: 14-20 (Jesus' Ascension), to the Luther 1545 German text with the English translation of King James version of 1611 (http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Read/Ascension.htm).
The Ascension Day opening main service polyphonic introit setting involved as many as one of three lesser-known psalms, according to Martin Petzoldt:1 Psalm 32, Beati quorum, Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven; Psalm 68, Exsurgat Deus, Let God arise; and Psalm 74, Ut quid, Deus?, O God, why hast thou cast us off forever? A Latin introit chant is Viri Galilaei (Ye men of Galilee, Acts 1:11), and another Introit Psalm is Psalm 47, Omnes gentes, plaudite (O clap your hands, all ye people). The Ascension Collect communal prayer, is based on a Gregorian chant: "Almighty God, grant that just as we believe your only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, has ascended into the heavens, so may we also set our hearts on things above, and finally dwell with him in heaven; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. The designated hymns for the Ascension Feast in Bach's Das Neu Leipziger Gesangbuch (NLGB) of 1682 were Hymn of the Day, “Nun Freut euch Gottes Kinder all” (Now God's children are all happy); Pulpit Hymn, “Christ fuhr gen Himmel” (Christ went to heaven); and Hymns for Chancel, Communion & Closing, “Heut triumphiret Gottes Sohn” (Today God's son triumphs, Easter) “Du Lebensfürst, Herr Jesu Christ” ( (Thou Prince of Life, Lord Jesus Christ), “Aus Christi Himmelfahrt Allein" (On Christ’s Heaven-journey alone), and “Gott fahret auf gen Himmel” (God goes up to heaven). Bach set all these chorales except for the anonymous 1529 “Christ fuhr gen Himmel” (NLGB 111 Zahn 8586).
Ascension Oratorio Chorales
Like the chorale settings in Bach's Christmas Oratorio, his Ascension Oratorio turned to two more recent, pietist-flavored chorales with an ascension emphasis, both using popular melodies set in Bar form. Besides traditional hymns of Martin Luther, Bach in the Christmas Oratorio set the texts of Paul Gerhardt five times, as well as Johann Rist twice. Bach turned to Rist for the text of the Ascension Oratorio internal plain chorale. (no 6), "Nun lieget alles unter dir" (Now all lies beneath you), Stanza four of Rist's 1641 hymn, "Du Lebensfürst, Herr Jesu Christ" (Thou Prince of Life, Lord Jesus Christ), set to the Johann Schop melody, "Ermuntre dich, mein schwacher Geist" (Take courage, my weak spirit). For the closing chorale chorus (No. 11), Bach set the 7th, closing stanza "Wenn soll es doch geschehen"(When will it happen), of Gottfried Wilhelm Sacher's "Gott fähret auf gen Himmel" (God goes up to heaven), set to the popular melody "Von Gott will ich nicht lassen" (I shall not abandon God, Zahn 5264b, http://www.bach-cantatas.com/CM/Von-Gott-will-ich-nicht-lassen.htm.
Rist's text, "Du Lebensfürst, Herr Jesu Christ,"2 closes his Ascension Cantata BWV 43 (http://www.bach-chorales.com/BWV0043_11.htm), as a plain chorale set to the first and 13th stanzas, and in the Schmelli Gesangbuch as No. 349, Ascension, set as BWV 454 (different melody, Zahn 5741b), as well as the associated melody in the Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248/12 (http://www.bach-chorales.com/BWV0248_12.htm; music, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ej3Je3l5b8;). The 14 eight-line (ABABCCDD) stanza Rist text was published in the Himlischer Lieder mit . . . Melodeien (Luneburg, 1641) to its own melody. "Invariably Bach follows Johann Cruger’s remodelling of the tune in the 1648 edition of the Praxis Pietatis Melica (Berlin)," says Charles S. Terry.3 The St. Georg hymnals (Leipzig; 1721, 1730) for use in the Leipzig churches also contain the Rist text. It is set to Schop’s tune (Zahn 1641).
Sacher's "Gott fähret auf gen Himmel" in seven 8-line (ABABCDDC) stanzas Bar form was first published in the 1665 Stralsund Gesang-Buch (Ander Theil des erneuerten Gesang-Buchs), and later in his son in law's Geistliche, liebliche Lieder (Gotha, 1714), to the melody, “Von Gott will ich nicht lassen,” under the heading, "On the Ascension of Christ."4 It is not found in the SG. It is based on Psalm 47:5-7, God is gone up with a shout (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+47%3A5-7&version=KJV), with the title from Luke 24:31. It is known in English as "Lo, God to heav’n ascendeth!" by Frances E. Cox. The four-part setting of "Ermuntre dich, mein schwacher Geist" is not Bach's harmonization but is attributed to Christoph Peter (1626–89), cantor in Guben, as printed in the NLGB, No. 37, Christmas (https://books.google.com/books?id=UmVkAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA70#v=onepage&q&f=false, http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Pic-Rec-BIG/Suzuki-C44c%5BBIS-SACD1791%5D.pdf).
Ascension Chorales
"In choosing hymns for cantatas for the Festival of the Ascension, Bach remained faithful to the direction given in the Leipzig and Dresden Hymnbooks, says Günther Stiller,5 in view of the limited number of chorales for this single feast day. Bach in his four Ascension works selectively used Ascension chorales found in his NLGB (Nos. 111-119), as well as other sources, including pietist hymnbooks and other hymnbooks found in Leipzig and Dresden which included pietist hymns. Besides the two pietist-flavored chorales in the Ascension Oratorio in 1736 and closing Cantata 43 in 1726, Bach used the morning hymn "Ich dank dir, lieber Herre" (I thank Three, Dear Lord), as a plain chorale to close Cantata 37 in 1724, and “Auf Christi Himmelfahrt allein” (On Christ’s Heaven-journey alone) to open Cantata 128 in 1725.
The closing plain chorale in 1724 Ascension Cantata 37 is Johann Kolrose's c.1535 Reformation morning hymn, "Ich dank dir, lieber Herre" (I thank Three, Dear Lord), using Stanza 4, “Den Glauben mir verleihe / An dein' Sohn Jesum Christ” (Grant me faith / in your son Jesus Christ, http://www.bach-chorales.com/BWV0037_6.htm). It is found in the NLGB as No. 191 following the omnes tempore Catechism songs. It was published in 1662 (Frankfort) Praxis Pietatis Melica with the asociated melody (Zahn 5354), which has a secular origin, in 1532 from the song, “Entlaubt ist uns der Walde” (The woods enfold us), says Charles S. Terry (Ibid.). Bach composed two free-standing chorales of “Ich dank’ dir, lieber Herre” in different structures, BWV 347 in A Major, and 348 in Bb Major, that may survive from Bach plain settings of Stanza 6, “Dein Wort laß mich bekennen” (Let me confess thy word), that closes Cantata BWV 147a, for the 4th Sundain Advent 1716 (?BWV 348), and possibly closes (no. 5) the Picander cycle text P-20, “Sei getreu bis in den Tod” (Be faithful unto death) for Septuagesima 1729). It is listed in the Weimar Orgelbüchlein Collection as No. 144, a Morning hymn, but not set but is found in the SG as No. 21, Morning Song. For the nine-stanza text, background and English translations see Matthew Carver's Hymnoglypt, http://matthaeusglyptes.blogspot.com/2009/04/ich-dank-dir-lieber-herre.html), Kolrose (1487-1558/60) details http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Lib/Kolrose.htm. Cantata 37 No. 3 is the soprano-alto aria setting of Philipp Niccolai’s versatile seven-stanza 1599 hymn, “Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern,” using Stanza 5, “Herr, Gott Vater, mein starker Held” (Lord, God, Father, my strong hero,” primarily for Advent and Annunciation.
The festive chorale fantasia that opens 1725 Cantata 128, “Auf Christi Himmelfahrt allein” (On Christ’s Heaven-journey alone) is a three-stanza, seven-line (ABABCCD) hymn, first published in the Lüneburg Vollständiges Gesang-Buch (1661). It is an appointed Ascension hymn found in Leipzig (not in the NLGB) and Dresden hymnbooks of Bach’s day, says Stiller (Ibid.). The text (Francis Browne’s English translation (http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Texts/Chorale093-Eng3.htm) is set to the associated Trinitarian melody, “Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr” (To God alone on high be glory), the German 1525 vernacular setting of the Latin Gloria in excelsis Deo by Nikolaus Decius and Martin Luther. Information on the text and melody (Zahn 4457), as well as the various alternate texts and Bach’s uses, is found at BCW, http://www.bach-cantatas.com/CM/Allein-Gott-in-der-Hoh.htm. The Wolfgang Sonnemann (1630-1670) BCW Short Biography is found at http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Lib/Sonnemann.htm. It is found in the Schmelli Gesangbuch (SG) as No. 247, Ascension, to the alternate melody"As ist das Heil uns kommen her."
Two other Bach settings of Ascension hymns are set as four line (AABB) hymns with closing refrain, "Hallelujah: the NLGB Hymn of the Day, the early Reformation "Nun freut euch, Gottes Kinder, all" (Now God's children are all happy), and Martin Lither successor Nikolaus Herman's 1560 personal “Als verzig Tag’ nach Ostern war” (On the fortieth day after Easter).
Erasmus Alber before-1550 Ascension thanksgiving hymn, "Nun freut euch, Gottes Kinder, all" is in 16 four-line (AABB) stanzas with the closing refrain "Hallelujah!," emphasizing the popular Easter affirmation.6 It is set to the associated melody (Zahn 364, EKG 135), "Ein Lied von der Zuknufft des Herren Christi am Jüngsten Tag" (Wittenberg 1546), also known as "Ihr lieben Christen, freut euch nun.” It is found in the NLGB as No. 114 and in the Schmelli Gesangbuch as No. 351, Ascension. Bach set it as a plain chorale, BWV 387 (http://www.bach-chorales.com/BWV0387.htm, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AAPB0wp9qU) and is listed in the Orgelbuchlein as No. 41 (Christian Friedrich Witt four-part setting Choralegesänge No. 260), Ascension, but not set. In English it in known as "0 Children of your God rejoice," by A. T. Russel. Other composers vocal settings are Michael Praetorius (1609), are Johann Hermann Schein (1586-1630) vocal setting (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBq3pWyuxpk, and Melchior Franck (1639), as well as chorale preludes of Georg Friedrich Kaufmann (1679-1735, http://partitura.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Kaufmann-Nun-freut-euch-Gottes-Kinder-all.pdf) and Johann Gottfried Walther (https://search.alexanderstreet.com/preview/work/bibliographic_entity%7Cscore%7C495052?utm_source=aspresolver&utm_medium=MARC&utm_campaign=AlexanderStreet).
“Als verzig Tag’ nach Ostern war” is Herman's 14 four-line 1560 Ascension hymn, with closing "Halleljah" refrain, set to his associated Easter melody (Zahn 1743), "Erschienen ist die Herrlich’ Tag" (Here shining is the splendid day), both published in the Sontags Evangelia (Wittenberg, 1560; http://www.bach-cantatas.com/CM/Erschienen-ist-der-herrlich-Tag.htm).7 The hymn is found in the NLGB as No. 118, Ascension (https://books.google.com/books?id=UmVkAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA382#v=onepage&q&f=false), while the Easter melody is found there as No. 103, Easter (https://books.google.com/books?id=UmVkAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA301#v=onepage&q&f=false). An alternate melody (Zahn 370s) is the Latin Pentecost chant, Spiritus sancti gratia, NLGB 125. Bach set “Als verzig Tag’" as a plain chorale, BWV 266(PC), http://www.bach-chorales.com/BWV0266.htm, and set "Erschienen ist" as an Orgelbuchlein prelude, No. 38, for Easter, BWV 629 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bt7GFNg-V2w; melody uses, Erschienen ist der herrliche Tag).
Another Ascension chorale that Bach listed in the Orgelbuchlein is Ob 40, is pre-pietist Melchior Franck's six stanza, two-line hymn (each ending with "Hallelujah!"), "Gen Himmel aufgefahren ist" (To heaven is ascended), to the associated melody, Coelos ascendit hodie” in the NLGB No. 115 (https://books.google.com/books?id=UmVkAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA378#v=onepage&q&f=false, Zahn 188).8 Bach's Orgelbuchlein source probably was the Witt hymnal (Gotha 1715, Zahn 189, http://www.orgelbuechlein.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Witt-160-Gen-Himmel-aufgefahren-ist.pdf)_. The only extant setting possible with a connection to Bach is the Sebastian Bach Choral Book, No. 72 Zahn 188a).
The NLGB also has other Ascension chorales Bach did not set but with familiar melodies he did set: “Christ fuhr gen Himmel,” 2 stanzas with Kyrieleis refrain, anonymous 1529, melody "Christ ist erstanden" (Zahn 8586), NLGB 111, (https://books.google.com/books?id=UmVkAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA371#v=onepage&q&f=false), SG 348; "Nun begehen wir das Fest," J. H. Schein, 6 stanzas to its own melody (no Zahn), NLGB 113 (https://books.google.com/books?id=UmVkAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA373#v=onepage&q&f=false, SG No. 189 (Christmas); "Freut euch ihr Christen alle, der Siegsfürst," Petrus Hagius, 4 stanzas, melody "Von Gott will ich nicht lassen," NLGB 116 (https://books.google.com/books?id=UmVkAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA379#v=onepage&q&f=false); and "Wir danken dir, HJC, der den gen Himmel," Biclaus Selnneccer, 13 stanzas, melody "Erschienen ist die Herrlich’ Tag," NLGB 119 (https://books.google.com/books?id=UmVkAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA383#v=onepage&q&f=false), SG 353.
Sacer’s Ascension hymn, “Gott fahret auf gen Him” (God goes up to heaven), which closes the Ascension Oratorio also is found in the Gottfried Kirchhoff (1685-1746) cantata, "Gott fähret auf gen Himmel" (https://books.google.com/books/about/Kirchenkantaten.html?id=3O4sAQAAIAAJ. Other Ascension composers cantatas are found at http://imslp.org/wiki/Category:Pieces_for_Ascension_Day.
FOOTNOTES
1Martin Petzoldt, Bach Kommentar: Theologisch Musikwissenschaftlicke Kommentierung der Geistlichen Vokalwerke Johann Sebastan Bachs; Vol. 2, Die Geistlichen Kantaten vom 1. Advent bis zum Trinitatisfest; Internationale Bachakademie Stuttgart (Kassel: Bärenreiter, 2007: 885).
2 Johann Rist (1607-1667), http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Lib/Rist.htm; German text, https://hymnary.org/text/du_lebensfuerst_herr_jesu_christ; English (on-line) translation https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=https://hymnary.org/text/du_lebensfuerst_herr_jesu_christ&prev=search Johann Schop (c1590-1664/65/67), http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Lib/Schop.htm; melody information, "Ermuntre dich, mein Schwachter Geist" (Take courage, my weak spirit, http://www.bach-cantatas.com/CM/BWV454.htm).
3 Charles S. Terry, Bach’s Chorals, Vol. 2, The Hymns and Hymn Melodies of the Cantatas and Motetts (Cambridge University Press, 2018) http://oll.libertyfund.org/titles/2056.
13 Gottfried Wilhelm Sacer (1635-1699), http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Lib/Sacer.htm, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gottfried_Wilhelm_Sacer; German text, https://hymnary.org/text/gott_fahret_auf_den_himmel; English text "Lo, God to heav’n ascendeth!," http://www.lutheranchoralebook.com/texts/lo-god-to-heaven-ascendeth/; melody information, "Von Gott will ich nicht lassen," http://www.bach-cantatas.com/CM/Von-Gott-will-ich-nicht-lassen.htm).
5 Günther Stiller, Johann Sebastian Bach and Liturgical Life in Leipzig, ed. Robin A. Leaver, trans. Herbert J. A. Bouman etc (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing 1984: 241).
6 Erasmus Alber (c.1500-1553), http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Lib/Alberus-Erasmus.htm, https://hymnary.org/person/Alber_Erasmus; German text, https://hymnary.org/text/nun_freut_euch_gottes_kinder_all; English (on-line) translation (https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=https://hymnary.org/text/nun_freut_euch_gottes_kinder_all&prev=search.
7 Nikolaus Herman (c.1480-1561), http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Lib/Herman-Nikolaus.htm, https://hymnary.org/person/Herman_N; German text, https://www.bach-digital.de/receive/BachDigitalWork_work_00000336?XSL.Style=detail; English (on-line) translation https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=https://www.bach-digital.de/receive/BachDigitalWork_work_00000336&prev=search.
8 Melchior Franck (c1579-1639), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melchior_Franck, http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Lib/Franck-Melchior.htm; German text, https://hymnary.org/text/gen_himmel_aufgefahren_ist; English (on-line) translation, https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=https://hymnary.org/text/gen_himmel_aufgefahren_ist&prev=search; music https://www.google.com/search?q=gen+himmel+aufgefahren+ist+noten&client=safari&rls=en&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=HStIjeWHplsXeM%253A%252CG_Y3eWiD_Oe56M%252C_&usg=__Iha5wzuMuqmCNEUf_nEz-t7j0w4%3D&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjKrLqgi-_aAhVG_oMKHaNJBr8Q9QEIUjAF#imgrc=tlwynGw1i0pivM:. |
