Bach: Cantata No. 117 “Sei Lob und Ehr dem höchsten Gut” / Gustav Leonhardt
Chorale cantata based on a hymn melody and lyrics by Johann Jakob Schütz, composed in Leipzig. It is a compact and substantial work. The opening chorus is a chorale fantasy accompanied by two traverso, two oboes, and a string ensemble. The other voices add free counterpoint to the chorale melody sung by the soprano. The bass recitative becomes an arioso after the middle, and the words “Gebt unserm Gott die Ehre! (Glory to our God!)” is repeated several times. The next piece, “Was unser Gott geschaffen hat” is a beautiful tenor aria with obbligato by two oboes d’amore. The following four-part chorale “Ich rief dem Herrn in meiner Not” which appears in the middle of the cantata. Although it is not written in the score, it could be a two-part work with this piece as the last part of the first half. So perhaps a sermon was preached here. The following recitative in alto becomes an arioso in the middle of the piece, and the words “Glory to our God!” is repeated in the middle of the recitative. The next is the aria “Wenn Trost und Hülf ermangeln muss” in which the lyrics “Glory to our God! is repeated with the same melody as the arioso part of the previous movement. This is followed by the alto aria “Ich will dich all mein Leben lang” which opens with the charming sounds of the traverso and violin octaves. The alto part intertwines with the traverso melody and is interspersed with unison with the traverso in places, making this an aria with a stylish orchestration. The tenor recitative should have been followed by the finale (the ninth stanza of the chorale), but the score (Breitkopf und Härtel) omits it. Leonhardt concludes with the four-part chorale “So kommet vor sein Angesicht”. In looking Bach’s autograph, instead of the four-voice chorale, the same chorale fantasy at the beginning is written in the last part of the score, and after then canceled it out. This suggests that Bach had initially considered such an ending. #baroque #bach #cantata #片山俊幸
