Who's behind the notes? Discover Johann Sebastian Bach: Master of Baroque Music
"Mein Gott, wie lang, ach lange" (My God, how long, ah how long), BWV 155, is a sacred cantata composed by Johann Sebastian Bach. Here are some interesting facts about this composition:
Composition Date: Bach composed BWV 155 in 1716 during his tenure as the Thomaskantor in Leipzig, Germany. This period was highly productive for Bach, and he composed numerous cantatas for use in the Lutheran liturgy.
Liturgical Context: BWV 155 is a church cantata and was likely composed for the 23rd Sunday after Trinity. In the Lutheran liturgical calendar, the themes for the Sundays after Trinity often revolve around penance, repentance, and the anticipation of the Second Coming.
Textual Basis: The libretto for BWV 155 is by an unknown author and is based on the biblical passages of the day. The text reflects themes of longing, waiting, and the desire for salvation.
Structure: The cantata is structured in six movements, including a sinfonia (instrumental introduction), recitatives, arias, and a closing chorale. This reflects the typical structure of Bach's cantatas.
Instrumentation: Like many of Bach's cantatas, BWV 155 is scored for a chamber ensemble. The instrumentation typically includes strings, oboes, bassoon, and continuo.
Expression of Longing: The title, "Mein Gott, wie lang, ach lange," reflects the deep sense of longing and impatience expressed in the text. The music, too, conveys these emotions through its melodic and harmonic language.
Chorale Usage: The closing movement often features a chorale, a hymn tune, sung by the choir. In BWV 155, the final movement includes a four-part chorale setting of the hymn "Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme" (Awake, the voice is calling us).
Spiritual Themes: The cantata explores spiritual themes of waiting for divine intervention, seeking solace, and expressing faith in the face of challenges. These themes are common in Bach's sacred compositions.
Surviving Manuscripts: The original manuscript of BWV 155 is lost, but the work is preserved through later copies. Scholars have reconstructed the score based on these surviving sources.
Legacy: BWV 155 is just one of over 200 sacred cantatas composed by Bach. His cantatas are considered masterpieces of Baroque sacred music and are still performed and studied extensively today.