Johann Sebastian Bach
| BWV | 5 |
| Title | Whither shall I flee |
| Composed | 15th October 1724, Leipzig |
| Scoring | Choir
for 4 voices |
| Movements | 1. Choir:
Whither shall I flee 2. Recitative (Bass): 3. Aria (Tenor): Ergiesse dich reichlich, du göttliche Quelle 4. Recitative (Alto): Mein treuer Heiland tröstet mich 5. Aria (Bass): Verstumme, Höllenheer 6. Recitative (Soprano): Ich bin ja nur das kleinste Teil der Welt 7. Choral: Führ auch mein Herz und Sinn |
| Category | Spiritual Cantata |
| Event | Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity |
| Author of text | Johann Heermann, 1630 |
| Text 1. Choir: Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass Pulling trumpet Oboe I + II Violin I + II Viola Basso continuo (Cantus firmus in Soprano) |
Whither shall I flee, For I am burdened low By sins both great and many? Where shall I find salvation? Were all the world here gathered, My fear it would not vanquish. |
| 2. Recitative: Bass solo Basso continuo |
Chaotic sin hath me not merely stained, It hath, much worse, my soul completely veiled. God surely would have banished me as sullied; But since a drop of holy blood Such mighty wonders doth, I can still unrejected bide here. Those wounds are now an open sea, Wherein I may sink my transgressions, And when I steer my course into these waters, Then doth he me of all my stains make free. |
| 3. Aria: Tenor solo Viola solo Basso continuo |
Pour forth thine abundance, thou fountain immortal, Ah, well up with blood-streaming rivers o'er me! My heart doth perceive here its moment of comfort, Now sink all my burdensome sins to the bottom, It purgeth the sin-ridden stains from itself. |
| 4. Recitative: Alto solo Oboe I Basso continuo |
My faithful Savior comforts me, Let now within the tomb be buried All wrongs I have committed; Though my transgressions be so great, He makes me free and safe. When faithful people refuge find beside him, Shall fear and grief No longer danger bring And in a trice shall vanish. Their spirit's store, their highest wealth Is Jesus' very priceless blood; It is their shield gainst devil, death and error; In it shall they have vict'ry. |
| 5. Aria: Bass solo Pulling trumpet Oboe I + II Violin I + II Viola Basso continuo |
Grow silent, host of hell, Thou mak'st me not afraid! If I this blood now show thee, Thou must at once be silent, For this in God I dare. |
| 6. Recitative: Soprano solo Basso continuo |
I am, indeed, the world's mere smallest part, And since that blood's rare liquid hath Its boundless mighty pow'r Preserved intact, So that each drop, however small it be, Can all the world make clean Of its transgressions, Then let thy blood Upon me bring no ruin, And me so benefit, That I, then, heaven may inherit. |
7. Chorale: Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass |
Lead e'en my heart and will |
| Epistle | Ephesians 4: 22-28 |
| Gospel | Matthew 9: 1-8 |
| YouTube | Video 1; Nikolaus Harnoncourt, 1. Choir; 2. Recitative Video 2; Nikolaus Harnoncourt, 3. Aria; 4. Recitative Video 3; Nikolaus Harnoncourt, 5. Aria; 6. Recitative; 7. Chorale |
| Manuscript | Music history museum Wilhelm Heyer, Cologne; Thomasschool, Leipzig; Singing Academy, Berlin; University and Town library, Cologne; University library, Warszawa |