Johann Sebastian Bach
| BWV | 18 |
| Title | Just as the showers and snow from heaven fall and return again not thither |
| Composed | 24th February 1715, Weimar |
| Scoring | Choir
for 4 voices |
| Movements | 1. Sinfonia 2. Recitative (Soprano,Tenor,Bass):Just as the showers and snow from heaven fall and return again not thither 3. Recitative und Chor (Sopran,Tenor,Bass): My God, here shall my heart abide 4. Aria (Soprano): My soul's true treasure is God's word 5. Chorale: I pray, O Lord, with inmost heart |
| Category | Spiritual Cantata |
| Event | Sexuagesimae |
| Author of text | Erdmann Neumeister |
| Text 1. Sinfonia: Flute I + II Viola I - IV Bassoon Violoncello Basso continuo |
|
| 2. Recitative: Bass solo Bassoon Basso continuo |
Just as the showers and snow from heaven fall and return again not thither, rather give the earth moisture and make it fertile and fruitful, so it gives seed for the sowing and bread for eating: Just so shall the word which from mine own mouth proceedeth, be too; it shall not come again to me empty, but shall do what I have purposed and shall that accomplish for which I send it. |
| 3. Recitative
und Choir: Soprano
solo, Tenor solo, Bass solo Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass Flute I + II Viola I - IV Bassoon Basso continuo |
Tenor: My God, here shall my heart abide: I open it to thee in Jesus' name now; So scatter wide thy seed then As if on fertile land in me. My God, here shall my heart abide: Let it bring forth in hundredfold its harvest. O Lord, Lord, help! O Lord, O let it prosper! (1.) Choir: That thou might to the word thy Spirit add, and power, O hear us, O good Lord, our God! Bass: But keep us, faithful Father, keep us, Both me and any Christian soul, From Satan's lies attending. His mind has only one intent, Of this thy word to rob us With all our happiness. Choir: That Satan underneath our feet be trodden, O hear us, O good Lord, our God! Tenor: Ah! Many, word and faith renouncing, Do fall away like rotting fruit, When persecution they must suffer. Thus they are plunged in everlasting grief For having passing woe avoided. Choir: And from all the Turk's and all the Pope's Most cruel murder and oppression, Anger and fury, fatherlike protect us. O hear us, O good Lord, our God! Bass: One man may but for belly care, And meanwhile is his soul left quite forgotten; And Mammon, too, Hath many hearts' allegiance, And then the word is left without its power. How many are the souls Of pleasure not the captive? So well seduceth them the world, The world which must by them instead of heav'n be honored, So that they then from heaven stray and wander. Choir: All those now who are gone and led astray recover. O hear us, O good Lord, our God! |
| 4. Aria: Soprano
solo Flute I + II Viola I - IV Basso continuo |
My
soul's true treasure is God's word; Otherwise are all those treasures Mere devices By the world and Satan woven, Scornful spirits for beguiling. Take them all now, take them hence! My soul's true treasure is God's word. |
| 5. Chorale:
Soprano,
Alto, Tenor, Bass Flute I + II Viola I - IV Bassoon Basso continuo |
I pray, O Lord, with inmost heart, |
| Epistle | 2 Corinthians 11: 19 - 12: 9 |
| Gospel | Luke 8: 4-15 |
| Bibletext | Isaiah 55:10-11; 1. Psalms 118:25 |
| YouTube | Video 1; Ton Koopman, 1. Sinfonia Video 2; Ton Koopman, 2. Recitative Video 3; Ton Koopman, 3. Recitative and Choir Video 4; Ton Koopman, 4. Aria Video 5; Ton Koopman, 5. Chorale |
| Manuscript | Joseph Maria Radowitz |