BWV 3 Ach Gott, wie manches Herzeleid
Second Sunday after Epiphany. Poet unknown. 1. Martin Moller, verse 1 of the hymn, 1587, after Bernard of Clairvaux, "Jesu dulcis memoria" (Wackernagel, I, #38); 2. verse 2 with interpolated recitative; 3-5. based freely on verses 3-7, 10, 15, and 16; 6. verse 18 of the hymn. 14 January 1725, Leipzig. BG 1; NBA I/15. 1. Chorus [Verse 1] (S, A, T, B) Ah God, how oft a heartfelt grief
2. Chorale [Verse 2] (S, A, T, B) and Recit. (T, A, S, B) (S, A, T, B)
(T)
(A)
(S)
(B)
3. Aria (B) Though I feel fear of hell and pain,
Who can dispel unmeasured sorrows As though a gentle mist dividing. 4. Recit. (T) Though both my flesh and soul may languish,
5. Aria (S, A) When sorrow round me presses,
So I'll devoutly say now: It serves me best in every hour.(2) 6. Chorale [Verse 18] (S, A, T, B) If thou my heart in faith keep pure,
1. An alternate version of this line from a Dresden hymnbook of 1725 is cited by Neumann: sich zwingen zu dem ewgen Gut., which avoids the heterodyne accentuation of Bach's text. 2. This line is verbatim from the hymn. © Copyright Z. Philip Ambrose |