BWV 213 Laßt uns sorgen, laßt uns wachen
Herkules auf dem Scheidewege (Drama per Musica) Eleventh Birthday of Friedrich Christian, Prince Elector of Saxony (5 September 1733). Christian Friedrich Henrici (Picander), Ernst-Schertzhaffte und Satyrische Gedichte, Teil IV (1737); Facs: Neumann T, p. 353. 5 September 1733, Leipzig; Parody: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 → BWV 248IV/1, 248II/10, 248IV/4, 6, 248I/4, 248III/6, 184/6. BG 34; NBA I/36. A Drama in Music Vice (S), Hercules (A), Virtue (T), Mercury (B) 1. Chorus (S, A, T, B) The Decree of the Gods Let us tend him, let us watch him,
Will, though earthly, Be transformed with light and glory, For our throne Will a thing of wonder make him. 2. Recit. (A) Hercules And where? Where is the proper road 3. Aria (S) Vice Slumber, my darling, and tend to thy rest,
Of thy wanton breast And pay homage without measure. 4. Recit. (S, T) Vice, Virtue (Vice)Come! Follow this my road, Where I thee free of weight and force With gentle footsteps shall be guiding. Already charm doth take the lead And roses in thy path is spreading. Do not delay! This is the easy course, A pleasure for thy choosing! (Virtue) Where to, my Hercules, where bent? Thou wilt the proper path be losing! Through virtue, work and toil Exalted is a fine intent. (Vice) Who would prefer sweat’s moil Who in soft easiness And frolicsome contentedness Could gain himself his true salvation? (Virtue) That is, corrupt his true salvation! 5. Aria (A) Hercules Faithful Echo of these places,
(Echo) Or would this stern exhortation,
(Echo) 6. Recit. (T) Virtue My hero, full of hope, 7. Aria (T) Virtue Upon my wings shalt thou be soaring,
Shall thy light and radiance beam To perfection's state of glory. 8. Recit. (T) Virtue Soft Vice’s call indeed is strong; 9. Aria (A) Hercules I will never heed thee, nor take thine instruction,
Those gainst me in my cradle sent, I long ago ripped apart with derision.(4) 10. Recit. (A, T) Hercules, Virtue (Hercules) 13. Chorus (S, A, T, B) Choir of Muses and Arioso (B) Mercury (Choir of Muses)
Thine own virtue's worthiness Is for glory now steadfast; And thy time Is so wants to make appearance, Hasten, my Friedrich, it waiteth for thee! 1. This plot is based upon a parable of Prodicus of Ceos, a Sophist contemporary of Socrates. While Prodicus' story The Choice of Heracles, is lost, Xenophon has Socrates relate a paraphrase of it in Memorabilia II. 1. 21ff. For a dramatic setting of this kind of contest or agon compare the debate between Just and Unjust Reason in Aristophanes' Clouds (which may, in fact, itself have been inspired by Prodicus' tale). Such contests provide the dramatic plot of most of Bach's secular cantatas. 2. Vice and Virtue represent the two roads which Hercules meets at their crossing. In Prodicus' tale Virtue offered Heracles a steep and stony road to glory and Vice, a smooth and easy road. 3. Where the underlay requires, read "Give me answer: Nay!" 4. Hercules strangled serpents that either Juno or Amphitryon had placed in his cradle. © Copyright Z. Philip Ambrose |