BWV 7

Christ unser Herr zum Jordan kam

Christ our Lord came to the Jordan

Cantata Complete

About this Work

Cantata BWV 7, entitled Christ unser Herr zum Jordan kam ("Christ our Lord came to the Jordan"), is a choral cantata (Choralkantate) belonging to the cycle of choral cantatas that Bach composed in Leipzig during his second year as Thomaskantor (1724-1725). It was premiered on June 24, 1724, in Leipzig. It was composed for the feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist (Johannistag or Feast of St. John the Baptist), which is celebrated on June 24. The central theme of Jesus' baptism by John in the Jordan is directly related to the feast and the readings of the day (Gospel of Luke 1:57-80 on the birth of John the Baptist, and references to baptism).

The work is based on Martin Luther's hymn Christ unser Herr zum Jordan kam, written in 1541 and published in 1543, a hymn about baptism consisting of seven stanzas. Bach used the text of the hymn literally in the outer movements (stanza 1 in the opening chorus and stanza 7 in the final chorale). An unknown librettist paraphrased the middle stanzas (2 to 6) to create the recitatives and arias, maintaining the focus on baptism as the washing away of sins and new life, with aquatic and Trinitarian imagery.

The cantata consists of seven movements:

  1. Chorus – Christ unser Herr zum Jordan kam (verse 1 of the hymn, choral fantasy with cantus firmus in the tenor, elaborate polyphonic texture and descending motifs evoking the flow of water).
  2. Aria (bass) – Merkt und hört, ihr Menschenkinder (with violin obbligato).
  3. Recitative (tenor).
  4. Aria (tenor) – Des Vaters Stimme liess sich hören (with oboes d'amore).
  5. Recitative (bass).
  6. Aria (alto) – Menschen, glaubt doch dieser Gnade (with continuo).
  7. Chorale – Verse 7 of the hymn (Das Aug allein das Wasser sieht), harmonized for four voices.

The opening chorus is particularly notable for its treatment of the cantus firmus in the tenor voice (unusual in the cycle) and for its symbolism of water and baptism.

Instrumentation

  • 2 oboes d'amore.
  • 2 violins.
  • Viola.
  • Basso continuo.
  • Four-part choir (SATB).
  • Soloists: alto, tenor, and bass.

The instrumentation is relatively austere but expressive, with the oboes d'amore providing a warm and contemplative color, and the obbligato violin in the bass aria highlighting the fluid and symbolic nature of water.

Movements

7 movements

Instrumentation
Choir Oboe d'amore Viola Violin Basso Continuo
Text
Original (German)
Christ unser Herr zum Jordan kam
Nach seines Vaters Willen,
Von Sankt Johanns die Taufe nahm,
Sein Werk und Amt zu erfüllen;
Da wollt er stiften uns ein Bad,
Zu waschen uns von Sünden,
Ersäufen auch den bittern Tod
Durch sein selbst Blut und Wunden;
Es galt ein neues Leben.
Translation
Christ our Lord came to the Jordan
According to his Father's will,
Took baptism from St. John,
To fulfill his work and office;
There He would give us a bath,
To wash us from sins,
To drown even bitter death
Through his own blood and wounds;
There was a new life.

Instrumentation
Bass Basso Continuo
Text
Original (German)
Merkt und hört, ihr Menschenkinder,
Was Gott selbst die Taufe heißt.
Es muss zwar hier Wasser sein,
Doch schlecht Wasser nicht allein.
Gottes Wort und Gottes Geist
Tauft und reiniget die Sünder.
Translation
Take note and listen, children of men,
What God himself calls baptism.
It must be water here,
But bad water not alone.
God's Word and God's Spirit
Baptizes and cleanses sinners.

Instrumentation
Tenor Basso Continuo
Text
Original (German)
Dies hat Gott klar
Mit Worten und mit Bildern dargetan,
Am Jordan ließ der Vater offenbar
Die Stimme bei der Taufe Christi hören;
Er sprach: Dies ist mein lieber Sohn,
An diesem hab ich Wohlgefallen,
Er ist vom hohen Himmelsthron
Der Welt zugut
In niedriger Gestalt gekommen
Und hat das Fleisch und Blut
Der Menschenkinder angenommen;
Den nehmet nun als euren Heiland an
Und höret seine teuren Lehren!
Translation
God has made this clear
With words and with images,
At the Jordan the Father made manifest
The voice heard at Christ's baptism;
He said: This is my beloved Son,
In this I am well pleased,
He is from the high throne of heaven
For the world's sake
In lowly form came
And has taken the flesh and blood
Of the children of men;
Receive him now as your Savior
And listen to his precious teachings!

Instrumentation
Violin Tenor Basso Continuo
Text
Original (German)
Des Vaters Stimme ließ sich hören,
Der Sohn, der uns mit Blut erkauft,
Ward als ein wahrer Mensch getauft.
Der Geist erschien im Bild der Tauben,
Damit wir ohne Zweifel glauben,
Es habe die Dreifaltigkeit
Uns selbst die Taufe zubereit'.
Translation
The Father's voice was heard,
The Son who bought us with blood,
Was baptized as a true man.
The Spirit appeared in the image of the deaf,
That we might believe without doubt,
It was the Trinity
Himself prepared the baptism for us.

Instrumentation
Violin Viola Bass Basso Continuo
Text
Original (German)
Als Jesus dort nach seinen Leiden
Und nach dem Auferstehn
Aus dieser Welt zum Vater wollte gehn,
Sprach er zu seinen Jüngern:
Geht hin in alle Welt und lehret alle Heiden,
Wer glaubet und getaufet wird auf Erden,
Der soll gerecht und selig werden.
Translation
When Jesus was there after his suffering
And after the resurrection
Wanted to go out of this world to the Father,
He said to his disciples:
Go into all the world and teach all the Gentiles,
Whoever believes and is baptized on earth,
Shall be justified and saved.

Instrumentation
Contralto Oboe d'amore Viola Violin Basso Continuo
Text
Original (German)
Menschen, glaubt doch dieser Gnade,
Dass ihr nicht in Sünden sterbt,
Noch im Höllenpfuhl verderbt!
Menschenwerk und -heiligkeit
Gilt vor Gott zu keiner Zeit.
Sünden sind uns angeboren,
Wir sind von Natur verloren;
Glaub und Taufe macht sie rein,
Dass sie nicht verdammlich sein.
Translation
People, believe in this grace,
That you may not die in sin,
Nor perish in the pit of hell!
Human work and holiness
Are never valid before God.
Sins are innate in us,
We are lost by nature;
Faith and baptism make them pure,
That they may not be damnable.

Instrumentation
Choir Oboe d'amore Viola Violin Basso Continuo
Text
Original (German)
Das Aug allein das Wasser sieht,
Wie Menschen Wasser gießen,
Der Glaub allein die Kraft versteht
Des Blutes Jesu Christi,
Und ist für ihm ein rote Flut
Von Christi Blut gefärbet,
Die allen Schaden heilet gut
Von Adam her geerbet,
Auch von uns selbst begangen.
Translation
The eye alone sees the water,
How men pour water,
Faith alone understands the power
Of the blood of Jesus Christ,
And is for him a red flood
Colored by Christ's blood,
That heals all harm well
Inherited from Adam,
Also committed by ourselves.

Recordings

Listen on IDAGIO Stephan MacLeod · Gli Angeli Genève

Information

Year 1724
Place Leipzig
Occasion Feast of Saint John the Baptist
Text Author Martin Luther
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