Johann Sebastian Bach: Duet “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten” (We hurry with weak but diligent steps) from the cantata “Jesu, der du meine Seele” (Jesus, you who are my soul) BWV 78

Johann Sebastian Bach
born 31 March 1685 in Eisenach, Saxe-Eisenach
died 28 July 1750 in Leipzig, Electorate of Saxony

Premiere of Cantata BWV 78:
24 September 1724

‘They would have to sing better songs for me to learn to believe in their saviour: his disciples would have to look more redeemed!’ Friedrich Nietzsche once mocked (source: Nietzsche, Thus Spoke Zarathustra. A Book for All and None, Part Two, 1883. Of the Priests).
Johann Sebastian Bach composed many such ‘better songs’ in his more than 200 surviving cantatas. A direct response to Nietzsche would certainly be the joyful duet ‘Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten’ (We hurry with weak but diligent steps) from the cantata ‘Jesu, der du meine Seele’ (Jesus, you who are my soul) BWV 78. Bach composed this cantata as Thomaskantor in Leipzig for the service on Sunday, 10 September 1724. The drive and joy of being able to help each other somewhere in this world against trials, tribulations and illnesses has probably never been set to music more beautifully than in this short piece by Bach.

Listen here! (approx. 5 min.)

Listening companion:

First part (music):
In the instrumental prelude, the rushing movements of the eighth notes in the basso continuo can be heard immediately – accompanied by pizzicato basses and supported by the organ. This drive continues throughout the entire piece.

The two voices (soprano and alto) open their duet by imitating each other. One rushes enthusiastically after the other, and they only meet at ‘O Jesu’ and ‘zu Dir’ to do what is meaningful together in following the practice of Jesus.

Middle section:
The sick, especially the lost, are emphasised musically in an expressive manner, with the two solo voices first singing alone and then together to convey the distress.

Then the solo voices pause at ‘Ach höre’ (‘Oh hear’) and, once the momentarily lost confidence has been restored, continue with the optimistic, diatonically ascending opening melody..

...not without mentioning the motif of this optimism: what these ‘disciples’ (cf. Nietzsche) sense as redemptive about God in the person of Jesus is – as the music particularly expresses – only joyful. Coloraturas and ascending figures testify to this ‘joy’ and prepare for the repetition of the first part.

Repetition of the first part
And once again, the joy of following Jesus, as composed by Bach in 1724, inspires us.

Erster Teil (Text): 
Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,
O Jesu, o Meister, zu helfen zu dir!












Middle section:
Du suchest die Kranken und Irrenden treulich.




Ach höre, wie wir die Stimmen erheben, um Hilfe zu bitten!




Es sei uns dein gnädiges Antlitz erfreulich!







Repetition of the first part
Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten, 
O Jesu, o Meister, zu helfen zu dir!

 

First part (text):
We hurry with weak yet eager steps,
O Jesus, O master, to you to help.












Middle section:
You faithfully look for the sick and straying.




Ah hear, as we
raise our voices to pray for help!




May your gracious countenance give us joy!







Repetition of the first part
We hurry with weak yet eager steps,
O Jesus, O master, to you to help.

Note for music lovers:

Website: Unknown Violin Concertos

 

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