BWV 21 I had so much distress and woe within my bosom

Johann Sebastian Bach

BWV	21
Title	I had so much distress and woe within my bosom
Composed	17th June 1714, Weimar
Scoring	Choir for 4 voices Soprano solo Tenor solo Bass solo Trumpet I + II + III Trombone I + II + III + IV Bassdrum Oboe Bassoon Violin I + II Viola Organ Basso continuo
Movements	1. Sinfonia: Instrumental 2. Choir: I had so much distress and woe within my bosom 3. Aria (Soprano): Sighing, crying, sorrow, need 4. Recitative (Tenor): Why hast thou, O my God 5. Aria (Tenor): Streams of salty tears are welling 6. Choir: Why art thou distressed, O my spirit 7. Recitative (Soprano): Ah Jesus, my repose 8. Duett (Alt, Tenor): Come, my Jesus 9. Choir: Be now once more contented 10. Aria (Tenor): Be glad, O my spirit, be glad 11. Choir: The lamb that is slaughtered now is worthy
Category	Spiritual Cantata
Event	3rd Sunday after Trinity
Author of text	Probably by Salomo Franck
Text 1. Sinfonia: Oboe Bassoon Violin I + II Viola Organ Basso continuo	Part 1
2. Choir: Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass Oboe Bassoon Violin I + II Viola Organ Basso continuo	I had so much distress and woe within my bosom; But still thy consoling restoreth all my spirit.
3. Aria: Soprano solo Oboe Organ Basso continuo	Sighing, crying, sorrow, need, Anxious yearning, fear and death Gnaw at this my anguished heart, I am filled with grieving, hurt.
4. Recitative: Tenor solo Bassoon Violin I + II Viola Organ Basso continuo	Why hast thou, O my God, In my distress, In my great fear and anguish Then turned away from me? Ah! Know'st thou not thy child? Ah! Hear'st thou not the wailing Of those who are to thee In bond and faith allied? Thou wast once my delight And to me art now cruel; I search for thee in ev'ry region, I call and cry to thee, But still my "Woe and Ah" Seems now by thee completely unperceived.
5. Aria: Tenor solo Bassoon Violin I + II Viola Organ Basso continuo	Streams of salty tears are welling, Floods are rushing ever forth. Storm and waters overwhelm me, And this sorrow-laden sea Would my life and spirit weaken, Mast and anchor are near broken, Here I sink into the depths, There peer in the jaws of hell.
6. Choir: Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass Oboe Bassoon Violin I + II Viola Organ Basso continuo	Why art thou distressed, O my spirit, and art so unquiet in me? Trust firm in God; for I even yet shall thank him, That he of my countenance the comfort and my God is.
7. Recitative: Soprano solo, Bass solo Bassoon Violin I + II Viola Organ Basso continuo	Part 2 Soprano: Ah Jesus, my repose, My light, where bidest thou Bass: O Soul, behold! I am with thee. Soprano: With me? But here is nought but night. Bass: I am thy faithful friend, Who e'en in darkness guards, Where nought but fiends are found. Soprano: Break through then with thy beam and light of comfort here. Bass: The hour draweth nigh In which thy battle's crown Shall thee a sweet refreshment bring.
8. Duetto: Soprano solo, Bass solo Organ Basso continuo	Soprano: Come, my Jesus, with refreshment Bass: Yes, I'm coming Soprano: And delight in thine appearing Bass: For thee in my grace appearing. Soprano:This my spirit, Bass: This thy perish Soprano:Which shall flourish flourish Bass:And not perish Soprano:And in its misfortune's cavern Bass:Here from its afflictions' Go to ruin. Soprano: Shalt thou merit I must e'er in sorrow hover, Bass: Healing through the grapes' sweet flavor. Yes, ah yes, I am forsaken! Soprano: No, ah no, thou hast been chosen! No, ah no, thou hatest me! Bass: Yes, ah yes, I cherish thee! Ah, Jesus, now sweeten my spirit and bosom! Soprano: Give way, all ye troubles, and vanish, thou sorrow!
9. Choir: Tenor solo, Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass Trumpet I + II + III Trombone I + II + III + IV Bassdrum Oboe Violin I + II Viola Basso continuo (Cantus firmus in Tenore e Soprano)	Be now once more contented, O my spirit, for the Lord serves thee well. What use to us this heavy sorrow, What use all this our "Woe and Ah?" What use that we should ev'ry morning Heap sighs upon our sore distress? We only make our cross and pain Grow greater through our discontent. Think not within the heat of hardship That thou by God forsaken art, And that he rests within God's bosom Who doth on constant fortune feed. Pursuing time transformeth much And gives to ev'rything its end.
10. Aria: Tenor solo Organ Basso continuo	Be glad, O my spirit, be glad, O my bosom, Give way now, O trouble, and vanish, thou sorrow. Transform thyself, weeping, to nothing but wine, For now shall my sobbing pure triumph become! Now burneth and flameth most purely the candle Of love and of hope in my soul and my heart, For Jesus consoles me with heavenly joy.
11. Choir: Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass Trumpet I + II + III Trombone I + II + III + IV Bassdrum Oboe Violine I + II Viola Basso continuo	The lamb that is slaughtered now is worthy To have all might and riches and wisdom and power and honor and praise and fame. Fame and honor and praise and great might Be to our God from evermore to evermore. Amen, alleluia! (1.)
Epistle	1 Peter 5: 6-11
Gospel	Luke 15: 1-10
Bibletext	Psalms 94:19; Psalms 42:12; Psalms 116:7; Revelation 5:12-13; 1. Revelation 5:15
Parody	1. Sinfonia: = BWV 152/1 Sinfonia 2. Choir: I had so much distress and woe within my bosom = BWV 536/2; BWV 541/ 2; BWV 544/2; BWV 596/2
YouTube	Video 1; Ton Koopman, 1. Sinfonia Video 2; Ton Koopman, 2. Choir Video 3; Ton Koopman, 3. Aria Video 4; Ton Koopman, 4. Recitative Video 5; Ton Koopman, 5. Aria Video 6; Ton Koopman, 6. Choir Video 7; Ton Koopman, 7. Recitative Video 8; Ton Koopman, 8. Duetto Video 9; Ton Koopman, 9. Choir Video 10; Ton Koopman, 10. Aria Video 11; Ton Koopman, 11. Choir
Manuscript	Estate C. Ph. E. Bach

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