Johann Sebastian Bach

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BWV 166
Title Where to dost thou go?
Composed 7th May 1724, Leipzig
Scoring

Choir for 4 voices
Alto solo
Tenor solo
Bass solo

Oboe

Violin I + II
Viola
Basso continuo

Movements Aria (Bass): Where to dost thou go?
Aria (Tenor): I'll be unto heaven mindful
Chorale (Soprano): I pray to thee, Lord Jesus Christ
Recitative (Bass): Like as the rain-sent water soon subsideth
Aria (Alto): Let ev'ryone beware
Chorale: Who knows how near to me mine end is?
Category Spiritual Cantata
Event Cantate
Author of text Unknown
Text
Aria:
Bass solo
Oboe
Violin I + II
Viola
Basso continuo

Aria
: Tenor solo
Oboe
Basso continuo




Chorale: Soprano solo
Violin I + II
Viola
Basso continuo




Recitative: Bass solo
Basso continuo
 







Aria: Alto solo
Oboe
Violin I + II
Viola
Basso continuo

Chorale: Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass
Oboe
Violin I + II
Viola
Basso continuo


Where to dost thou go?





I'll be unto heaven mindful,
Nor the world my heart surrender.

For in leaving or in staying
I'll keep e'er that question near:
Man, ah man, where dost thou go?

I pray to thee, Lord Jesus Christ,
Hold me to these reflections
And let me never any time
From this resolve to waver,
Instead to it be ever true
Until my soul shall leave its nest
And into heaven journey.

Like as the rain-sent water soon subsideth
And many hues are quickly faded,
So is it, too, with pleasures of the world,
For which so many men such admiration hold;
For though one now and then may see
That his most hoped-for fortune blooms,
Yet can still in the best conditions
Quite unannounced the final hour strike him.

Let ev'ryone beware
When his good fortune laughs.

On earth it is so easy
That evening be quite other
Than in the morning had been thought. (1.)

Who knows how near to me mine end is?
Hence fleeth time, here cometh death;
Ah, with what promptness and what quickness
Can come to me my trial of death.
My God, I pray through Christ's own blood:
Allow but that my end be good!

Epistle

James 1: 17-21

Gospel

John 16: 5-15

Bibletext John 16:5; 1. Ecclesiastes 18:26
Manuscript Estate C.Ph.E. Bach; Singing Academy, Berlin

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