BWV 205 Zerreißet, zersprenget, zertrümmert die Gruft
Der Zufriedengestellte Äolus (Drama per Musica) Nameday of Leipzig University Professor Dr. August Friedrich
Müller. 3 August 1725, Leipzig; Parody: 1-7, 9-11, 13, 15 → BWV 205a. BG 11, 2; NBA I/38. Aeolus Appeased A Drama in Music Pallas (S), Pomona (A), Zephyrus (T), Aeolus (B)(1) 1. Chorus (S, A, T, B) Chorus of Winds Demolish, disrupt it, destroy the lair,
That even the sun with darkness ye cover, Divide now the oceans and rage the world over, That even heaven may repine! 2. Recit. (B) Aeolus Yes, yes! 3. Aria (B) Aeolus How I will burst with laughterWhen all is thoroughly confused! When even cliffs stand not secure And when the housetops shatter, Then will I burst with laughter! 4. Recit. (T) Zephyrus O rev’rend Aeolus, Within whose lap I usually nestle And in thy peace take pleasure, May this thy stern resolve In me not all too soon strike terror; Delay now, let in thee, As boon to me, Some pity yet be wakened! 5. Aria (T) Zephyrus Cooling shadows, my true pleasure,
Ah, I'll hush now, Follow me with saddened face! 6. Recit. (B) Aeolus Thou shalt soon bring me close to weeping.What? See I not Pomona here? And, if I’m right, there’s Pallas, too, with her. Say, worthies, say what ye would have of me? For on your mind is surely something weighty. 7. Aria (A) Pomona If these cheeks of rosy color, In which all my fruit finds rapture, Can thine angry heart not capture, Ah, then tell me, canst thou see How the leaves upon the branches Are to earth in sadness bending, That their sorrow be averted Which to them is bound to be. 8. Recit. (A, S) Pomona, Pallas (Pomona) Then wouldst thou, angry Aeolus, Just like a cliff of stone To my petition stand? (Pallas) Well then, I will and must With this my sighing venture; Perhaps to me That which, Pomona, he In silence hath denied thee, Will he allow. (Pallas, Pomona) Fine! If he doth to {me/thee} more kindly then respond. 9. Aria (S) Pallas O enchanting Zephyrus, This thy musky-flavored kiss And thy cooling spying Shall upon my heights be playing. Great and good King Aeolus, Say then, please, to Zephyrus That his musky-flavored kiss And his cooling spying Shall upon my heights be playing. 10. Recit. (S, B) Pallas, Aeolus (Pallas)My Aeolus, Ah, hinder not these joyous moments While, of my Muses, Helicon A feast, a festival of gladness Upon his lofty peaks presents. (Aeolus) Then tell me this: Why doth to thee Especially this day so precious, So dear and sacred seem? O bother and distress! Shall I then here a woman’s purpose Within my own domain accomplish? (Pallas) My Müller, mine August, Pierians' delight and joy(2) (Aeolus) (Pallas) (Aeolus) (Pallas) (Aeolus) 11. Aria (B) Aeolus Retire now, retire now, ye wing-bearing tempests,
Then blow henceforth with nought but mildness! 12. Recit. (S, A, T) Pallas, Pomona, Zephyrus (Pallas)
What gladness!
What contentment! (All three) I can now midst the boughs’ green raiment Display henceforth my deep contentment. (Pomona) And I’ll survey my pleasure In my maturing treasure. (Pallas) And I’ll in my contented rest For mine August bring the feast. (Pomona, Zephyrus) We are for thy festivities With equal joy prepared. 13. Aria (A, T) Pomona, Zephyrus (Pomona) Boughs and branches Tribute pay thee for thy feastday With their gifts of great excess. (Zephyrus) And my mirth must I profess, This thine August to pay honor, And this day’s great joy to garner. (Pomona, Zephyrus) I bring now my {harvest/whispers} with gladness to thee, (Both) That all for the frolic more perfect might be. 14. Recit. (S) Pallas Yes, yes! I bid you come myself to this glad scene: Arise now to my beetling regions, Where joy doth midst the Muses reign, Who wait, inflamed with eager passions. Rise! Let us now, as we rush yonder, The air with happy wishes sunder! 15. Chorus (S, A, T, B) Tutti Vivat August, August vivat,
That thy teaching, thine endeavor May those very plants uncover Which shall a land one day to glory shine. 1. Pallas is another name for Athena (Minerva), Pomona is the Roman goddess of fruits, Zephyrus is the west wind, and Aeolus is the King of the winds. The storm dispatched by Aeolus is drawn loosely from Vergil, Aeneid 1. 2. Pieria was a region of Macedonia sacred to the Muses; thus, the Pierinnen are the Muses. 3. The name August (in Latin and English, Augustus), both in its etymology from augeo 'increase' and in its application not only to the first Roman emperor but to the reigning Elector of Saxony and King of Poland, Augustus II, is a propitious name. Though this cantata honors the Leipzig teacher Dr. August Friedrich Müller (born 1684, 1707 Magister, 1717 Doctor juris, 1731 promoted to Professor, 1733 and 1743 Rector magnificus), Bach performed it with a new text for the coronation of Augustus III, 17 January 1734 (BWV 205a). In the English underlay it is necessary to keep the German spelling of the name. Bach accents its second syllable in this movement and its first syllable in the final chorus. © Copyright Z. Philip Ambrose |