BWV 2

Ach Gott, vom Himmel sieh darein

Oh God, look down from heaven

Cantata Complete

About this Work


Cantata BWV 2, entitled Ach Gott, vom Himmel sieh darein ("Oh God, look down from heaven"), is a choral cantata (Choralkantate) and the second work in the cycle of choral cantatas that Bach composed in 1724-1725 in Leipzig, where he had been Thomaskantor since 1723. It was composed in 1724 and premiered on 18 June 1724 in Leipzig. It was composed to be performed on the second Sunday after Trinity. The prescribed readings for that day included the First Epistle of John (1 John 3:13-18, on brotherly love) and the Gospel of Luke (Luke 14:16-24, the parable of the great banquet).

The cantata is based on Martin Luther's hymn Ach Gott, vom Himmel sieh darein, published in 1524 in the Achtliederbuch (the first Lutheran hymnal). This hymn is a paraphrase of Psalm 12 and consists of six stanzas. Bach used the text of the hymn literally in the outer movements (stanza 1 in the opening chorus and stanza 6 in the final chorale). An unknown librettist (a contemporary, probably the same one who wrote other cantatas in the cycle) paraphrased the ideas in the middle stanzas to create recitatives and arias that would fit the style of the cantatas in the first cycle, relating them to the readings of the day.

The cantata consists of six movements, typical of the choral cantata format of the 1724/25 cycle:

  1. Chorus – Ach Gott, vom Himmel sieh darein (stanza 1 of the hymn, in the style of an early motet with cantus firmus in the alto voice, strict four-part texture with independent continuo).
  2. Recitative (tenor).
  3. Aria (contralto/mezzo-soprano).
  4. Recitative (bass).
  5. Aria (tenor).
  6. Choral – Das wollst du, Gott, bewahren rein (verse 6 of the hymn, in four-part harmony).

The opening chorus stands out for its archaic treatment (Renaissance/neomotet style), with the cantus firmus in the alto voice and trombones doubling the choir voices.

In terms of instrumentation, the presence of four trombones doubling the choir voices in the opening and closing movements is noteworthy, lending a solemn and ancient colour that contributes to the serious and penitential character of the work, in keeping with the text of Psalm 12 and the supplicatory tone of the hymn.

Movements

6 movements

Instrumentation
Basso Continuo Bass Soprano Contralto Trombone Viola Violin Oboe Tenor Choir
Text
Original (German)
Ach Gott, vom Himmel sieh darein
Und lass dich's doch erbarmen!
Wie wenig sind der Heilgen dein,
Verlassen sind wir Armen;
Dein Wort man nicht lässt haben wahr,
Der Glaub ist auch verloschen gar
Bei allen Menschenkindern.
Translation
Oh God, look down from heaven
And have mercy on us!
How few are your saints,
We poor souls are forsaken;
Your word is not believed,
Faith has been extinguished
Among all mankind.

Instrumentation
Tenor Basso Continuo
Text
Original (German)
Sie lehren eitel falsche List,
Was wider Gott und seine Wahrheit ist;
Und was der eigen Witz erdenket,
- O Jammer! der die Kirche schmerzlich kränket -
Das muss anstatt der Bibel stehn.
Der eine wählet dies, der andre das,
Die törichte Vernunft ist ihr Kompass;
Sie gleichen denen Totengräbern
Die, ob sie zwar von außen schön,
Nur Stank und Moder in sich fassen
Und lauter Unflat sehen lassen.
Translation
They teach vain false cunning,
Which is against God and His truth;
And what their own wit conceives,
— O woe! which grieves the Church sorely —
Must stand in place of the Bible.
One chooses this, another that,
Foolish reason is their compass;
They resemble those gravediggers
Who, though beautiful on the outside,
Contain only stench and decay within
And reveal nothing but filth.

Instrumentation
Violin Contralto Basso Continuo
Text
Original (German)
Tilg, o Gott, die Lehren,
So dein Wort verkehren!
Wehre doch der Ketzerei
Und allen Rottengeistern;
Denn sie sprechen ohne Scheu:
Trotz dem, der uns will meistern!
Translation
Erase, O God, the teachings
That distort your word!
Ward off heresy
And all evil spirits;
For they speak without fear:
In defiance of him who wants to master us!

Instrumentation
Viola Violin Bass Basso Continuo
Text
Original (German)
Die Armen sind verstört,
Ihr seufzend Ach, ihr ängstlich Klagen
Bei soviel Kreuz und Not,
Wodurch die Feinde fromme Seelen plagen,
Dringt in das Gnadenohr des Allerhöchsten ein.
Darum spricht Gott: Ich muss ihr Helfer sein!
Ich hab ihr Flehn erhört,
Der Hilfe Morgenrot,
Der reinen Wahrheit heller Sonnenschein
Soll sie mit neuer Kraft,
Die Trost und Leben schafft,
Erquicken und erfreun.
Ich will mich ihrer Not erbarmen,
Mein heilsam Wort soll sein die Kraft der Armen.
Translation
The poor are distraught,
Their sighs, their fearful lamentations,
Amidst so much suffering and hardship,
Through which the enemies torment pious souls,
Penetrate the merciful ear of the Most High.
Therefore God says: I must be their helper!
I have heard their pleas,
The dawn of help,
The bright sunshine of pure truth
Shall refresh and delight them with new strength,
Which brings comfort and life.
I will have mercy on their distress,
My healing word shall be the strength of the poor.
The Lord is my shepherd,

Instrumentation
Viola Violin Oboe Tenor Basso Continuo
Text
Original (German)
Durchs Feuer wird das Silber rein,
Durchs Kreuz das Wort bewährt erfunden.
Drum soll ein Christ zu allen Stunden
Im Kreuz und Not geduldig sein.
Translation
Through fire, silver is purified,
Through the cross, the word is proven true.
Therefore, a Christian should be patient at all times
In the cross and in adversity.

Instrumentation
Bass Soprano Contralto Choir Trombone Viola Violin Oboe Tenor Basso Continuo
Text
Original (German)
Das wollst du, Gott, bewahren rein
Für diesem arg'n Geschlechte;
Und lass uns dir befohlen sein,
Dass sichs in uns nicht flechte.
Der gottlos Hauf sich umher findt,
Wo solche lose Leute sind
In deinem Volk erhaben.
Translation
May God preserve this pure,
For this wicked generation;
And let us be commanded by you,
That it may not be woven into us.
The godless crowd is found around us,
Where such loose people are
Exalted among your people.

Recordings

Listen on IDAGIO Nikolaus Harnoncourt · Wiener Sängerknaben, Chorus Viennensis, Concentus Musicus Wien

Information

Year 1724
Place Leipzig
Duration 22 minutes
Occasion 2nd Sunday after Trinity
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