Johann Sigismund Scholze (Sperontes) (Librettist)

Born: March 20, 1705 - Lobendau, near Liegnitz (now Legnica, Poland)
Died: September 28, 1750

Sperontes, pen-name of the poet Johann Sigismund Scholze, settled in Leipzig in the 1720’s and published his Singende Muse an der Pleifle there in 1736, following it with three further volumes in 1742-1745. In all, the publications contain 250 poems with simple musical settings, depicting scenes and activities from everyday life. Bach has been credited (somewhat unconvincingly) with two of the settings: ‘Ich bin nun wie ich bin’ and ‘Dir zu Liebe, wertes Herze’, BWV Anh. II 40 and 41.

Source: Oxford Composer Companion - J.S. Bach, edited by Malcolm Boyd (1999)
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (May 2003)

Texts of Bach Cantatas & Other Vocal Works

Anh. II 40, Anh. II 41

Links to other Sites

Bibliography