View source for Christus, der ist mein Leben, BWV 95

{{Infobox Bach composition
| name                 = {{lang|de|Christus, der ist mein Leben}}
| bwv                   = 95
| type                  = [[Church cantata (Bach)|Church cantata]]
| image                 = Thomaskirche-1885.png
| caption               = [[Thomaskirche]], Leipzig
| occasion              = 16th Sunday after [[Trinity Sunday|Trinity]]
| performed             = {{Timeline-event|date={{Start date|1723|09|12|df=y}}|location=[[Leipzig]]}}
| movements             = 7
| chorale               = {{flatlist|
* by anonymous
* "[[Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin]]"
* "[[Valet will ich dir geben]]"
* by [[Nikolaus Herman]]
}}
| vocal                 = {{Plainlist|
* [[soprano]], [[tenor]] and [[Bass (voice type)|bass]] soloists
* [[SATB|{{abbr|SATB|soprano, alto, tenor and bass}}]] choir
}}
| instrumental          = {{hlist | horn | 2 oboes d'amore | 2 violins | viola | violoncello piccolo | continuo }}
}}
[[Johann Sebastian Bach]] composed the [[church cantata]] '''{{lang|de|Christus, der ist mein Leben}}''' (Christ, he is my life),<ref name="Dellal" /> '''{{abbr|BWV|Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis (catalogue of Bach's works)}}{{nbsp}}95''' in [[Leipzig]] for the 16th Sunday after [[Trinity Sunday|Trinity]] and first performed it on 12 September 1723.
==History and text==
Bach wrote the cantata in his first year at Leipzig for the [[List of church cantatas by liturgical occasion#16th Sunday after Trinity (Trinity XVI)|16th Sunday after Trinity]] and first performed it on 12 September 1723.<ref name="Dürr" /> The prescribed readings for the Sunday were from the [[Epistle to the Ephesians]], praying for the strengthening of faith in the congregation of [[Ephesus]] ({{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Ephesians|chapter=3|verse=13|range=–21}}), and from the [[Gospel of Luke]], the raising from the dead of the [[Young man from Nain]] ({{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Luke|chapter=7|verse=11|range=–17}}). In Bach's time the story pointed immediately at the resurrection of the dead, expressed as a desire to die soon. As [[Salomon Franck]] expressed in his text for cantata {{lang|de|[[Komm, du süße Todesstunde, BWV 161|''Komm, du süße Todesstunde'', BWV 161]]|italic=unset}}, composed in Weimar in 1715, the unknown poet concentrates on a desire to die, in hope to be raised like the young man from Nain.<ref name="Dürr" /> The poet includes four [[stanza]]s from four different [[chorale]]s.<ref name="Mincham" /> Two chorale stanzas are already presented in the first [[Movement (music)|movement]], "{{lang|de|Christus, der ist mein Leben|italic=no}}" (Jena 1609)<ref name="chorale text 1" /> and [[Martin Luther]]'s "{{lang|de|[[Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin]]|italic=no}}" (1524),<ref name="chorale text 2" /> a paraphrase of the canticle {{lang|la|[[Nunc dimittis]]|italic=no}}. Movement 3 is [[Valerius Herberger]]'s "[[Valet will ich dir geben]]",<ref name="chorale text 3" /> and the closing chorale is the fourth stanza of [[Nikolaus Herman]]'s "{{lang|de|Wenn mein Stündlein vorhanden ist|italic=no}}".<ref name="chorale text 4" />
== Scoring and structure ==
The cantata in seven movements is scored for three vocal soloists ([[soprano]], [[tenor]] and [[Bass (voice type)|bass]]), a [[SATB|four-part choir]], [[Natural horn|horn]], two [[oboe d'amore]], two [[violin]]s, [[viola]], [[violoncello piccolo]] and [[basso continuo]].<ref name="Dürr" />
# Chorale and recitative (tenor): {{lang|de|Christus, der ist mein Leben / Mit Freuden, ja mit Herzenslust / Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin|italic=no}}
# Recitative (soprano): {{lang|de|Nun, falsche Welt|italic=no}}
# Chorale (soprano): {{lang|de|Valet will ich dir geben|italic=no}}
# Recitative (tenor): {{lang|de|Ach könnte mir doch bald so wohl geschehn|italic=no}}
# Aria (tenor): {{lang|de|Ach, schlage doch bald, selge Stunde|italic=no}}
# Recitative (bass): {{lang|de|Denn ich weiß dies|italic=no}}
# Chorale: {{lang|de|Weil du vom Tod erstanden bist|italic=no}}
== Music ==
A week before, Bach had included three stanzas from a chorale in {{lang|de|[[Warum betrübst du dich, mein Herz, BWV 138|''Warum betrübst du dich, mein Herz'', BWV 138]]|italic=unset}}. In this cantata he includes four stanzas from four different funeral hymns.<ref name="Gardiner" /> The first three movements combine three of them, first stanzas throughout. The first chorale on a melody by [[Melchior Vulpius]]<ref name="chorale melody 1" /> is embedded in a concerto of oboes and strings in [[Syncopation|syncopated]] [[Motif (music)|motifs]] in parallels of thirds and sixths. The melody in the soprano is reinforced by the horn. The line "{{lang|de|Sterben ist mein Gewinn|italic=no}}" (Death is my reward) is slower than the others, in a tradition observed already by [[Johann Hermann Schein]].<ref name="Dürr" /> The [[recitative]] alternates between secco and accompagnato, with the same accompanying motifs as in the chorale. The second chorale on Luther's melody<ref name="chorale melody 2" /> is graced by an independent violin part, and every line is preceded by an entry of the horn. A secco recitative leads to the third chorale,<ref name="chorale melody 3" /> which is sung by the soprano alone like an [[aria]], accompanied for the first line only by the continuo, but for the rest of the text by the oboes, playing an [[obbligato]] melody in [[unison]].<ref name="Dürr" />
The only aria of the cantata is dominated by the oboes and accompanied by [[pizzicato]] in the strings which symbolizes funerary bells, according to [[John Eliot Gardiner]].<ref name="Gardiner" /> The closing chorale<ref name="chorale melody 4" /> is again enriched by a soaring additional violin part.<ref name="Dürr" /><ref name="Gardiner" />
== Recordings ==
* ''Bach Made in Germany Vol. 1 – Cantatas VIII'', [[Günther Ramin]], [[Thomanerchor]], [[Gewandhausorchester]], soloist of the Thomanerchor, [[Gert Lutze]], [[Hans Hauptmann]], Eterna 1952
* ''Die Bach Kantate Vol. 50'', [[Helmuth Rilling]], [[Gächinger Kantorei]], [[Bach-Collegium Stuttgart]], [[Arleen Augér]], [[Adalbert Kraus]], [[Walter Heldwein]], [[Hänssler Classic|Hänssler]] 1978
* ''J. S. Bach: Das Kantatenwerk – Sacred Cantatas Vol. 5'', [[Nikolaus Harnoncourt]], [[Tölzer Knabenchor]],  [[Concentus Musicus Wien]], soloist of the Tölzer Knabenchor, [[Kurt Equiluz]], [[Philippe Huttenlocher]], [[Teldec]] 1979
* ''J. S. Bach: Complete Cantatas Vol. 7'', [[Ton Koopman]], [[Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir]], [[Lisa Larsson]], [[Gerd Türk]], [[Klaus Mertens]], Antoine Marchand 1997
* ''J. S. Bach: Cantatas Vol. 11  – Cantatas from Leipzig 1723'', [[Masaaki Suzuki]], [[Bach Collegium Japan]], [[Midori Suzuki (soprano)|Midori Suzuki]], [[Makoto Sakurada]], [[Peter Kooy]], [[BIS Records|BIS]] 1998
* ''Bach Edition Vol. 20 – Cantatas Vol. 11'', [[Pieter Jan Leusink]], [[Holland Boys Choir]], [[Netherlands Bach Collegium]], [[Ruth Holton]], [[Knut Schoch]], [[Bas Ramselaar]], [[Brilliant Classics]] 2000
* ''Bach Cantatas Vol. 8: Bremen / Santiago / For the 15th Sunday after Trinity / For the 16th Sunday after Trinity'', [[John Eliot Gardiner]], [[Monteverdi Choir]], [[English Baroque Soloists]], [[Katharine Fuge]], [[Mark Padmore]], [[Thomas Guthrie (bass)|Thomas Guthrie]], [[Soli Deo Gloria (record label)|Soli Deo Gloria]] 2000
== References ==
{{reflist | 30em
| refs =
<ref name="Dellal">{{cite web
| last = Dellal
| first = Pamela
| author-link = Pamela Dellal
| url = https://www.emmanuelmusic.org/bach-translations/bwv-95
| title = BWV 95 – Christus, der ist mein Leben
| publisher = [[Emmanuel Music]]
| access-date = 24 August 2022
}}</ref>
<ref name="Dürr">{{cite book
| last = Dürr
| first = Alfred
| author-link = Alfred Dürr
| title = Die Kantaten von Johann Sebastian Bach
| year = 1981
| publisher = Deutscher Taschenbuchverlag
| isbn = 3-423-04080-7
| volume = 1
| edition = 4
| pages = [https://archive.org/details/diekantatenvonjo0002durr/page/450 450–452]
| language = de
| url = https://archive.org/details/diekantatenvonjo0002durr/page/450
}}</ref>
<ref name="Gardiner">{{Cite AV media notes
| last = Gardiner
| first = John Eliot
| author-link = John Eliot Gardiner
| url = https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/dc.asp?dc=D_SDG104
| title = Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) / Cantatas Nos 8, 27, 51, 95, 99, 100, 138 & 161
| publisher = [[Soli Deo Gloria (record label)|Soli Deo Gloria]] (at [[Hyperion Records]] website)
| year = 2006
| access-date = 7 September 2018
}}</ref>
<ref name="Mincham">{{cite web
| last = Mincham
| first = Julian
| url = https://www.jsbachcantatas.com/documents/chapter-19-bwv-95
| title = Chapter 19 BWV 95 Christus, der ist mein Leben
| publisher = jsbachcantatas.com
| year = 2010
| access-date = 24 August 2022
}}</ref>
<ref name="chorale text 1">{{cite web
| url = http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Texts/Chorale038-Eng3.htm
| title = Christus, der ist mein Leben / Text and Translation of Chorale
| publisher = Bach Cantatas Website
| access-date = 4 October 2011
}}</ref>
<ref name="chorale text 2">{{cite web
| url = http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Texts/Chorale011-Eng3.htm
| title = Mit Fried und Freud / Text and Translation of Chorale
| year = 2005
| publisher = Bach Cantatas Website
| access-date = 4 October 2011
}}</ref>
<ref name="chorale text 3">{{cite web
| url = http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Texts/Chorale039-Eng3.htm
| title = Valet will ich dir geben / Text and Translation of Chorale
| year = 2006
| publisher = Bach Cantatas Website
| access-date = 4 October 2011
}}</ref>
<ref name="chorale text 4">{{cite web
| url = http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Texts/Chorale040-Eng3.htm
| title = Wenn mein Stündlein vorhanden ist / Text and Translation of Chorale
| year = 2005
| publisher = Bach Cantatas Website
| access-date = 4 October 2011
}}</ref>
<ref name="chorale melody 1">{{cite web
| url = http://www.bach-cantatas.com/CM/Christus-der-ist-mein-Leben.htm
| title = Chorale Melodies used in Bach's Vocal Works / Christus, der ist mein Leben
| publisher = bach-cantatas.com
| year = 2005
| access-date = 4 October 2011
}}</ref>
<ref name="chorale melody 2">{{cite web
| url = http://www.bach-cantatas.com/CM/Mit-Fried-und-Freud.htm
| title = Chorale Melodies used in Bach's Vocal Works / Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin
| publisher = Bach Cantatas Website
| year = 2005
| access-date = 4 October 2011
}}</ref>
<ref name="chorale melody 3">{{cite web
| url = http://www.bach-cantatas.com/CM/Valet-will-ich-dir-geben.htm
| title = Chorale Melodies used in Bach's Vocal Works / Valet will ich dir geben
| publisher = bach-cantatas.com
| year = 2005
| access-date = 4 October 2011
}}</ref>
<ref name="chorale melody 4">{{cite web
| url = http://www.bach-cantatas.com/CM/Wenn-mein-Stundlein.htm
| title = Chorale Melodies used in Bach's Vocal Works / Wenn mein Stündlein vorhanden ist
| publisher = Bach Cantatas Website
| year = 2005
| access-date = 4 October 2011
}}</ref>
}}
== Sources ==
* {{IMSLP|work=Christus, der ist mein Leben, BWV 95 (Bach, Johann Sebastian)}}
* [http://www.bach-digital.de/receive/BachDigitalWork_work_00000120?lang=en Christus, der ist mein Leben BWV 95; BC A 136 / Chorale cantata (16th Sunday after Trinity)] [[Bach Digital]]
* [http://www.bach-cantatas.com/BWV95.htm Cantata BWV 95 Christus, der ist mein Leben] history, scoring, sources for text and music, translations to various languages, discography, discussion, Bach Cantatas Website
* [http://www.uvm.edu/~classics/faculty/bach/BWV95.html BWV 95 Christus, der ist mein Leben] English translation, [[University of Vermont]]
* [http://webdocs.cs.ualberta.ca/~wfb/cantatas/95.html BWV 95 Christus, der ist mein Leben] text, scoring, [[University of Alberta]]
* Luke Dahn: [http://www.bach-chorales.com/BWV0095_7.htm BWV 95.7] bach-chorales.com
{{Church cantatas by Johann Sebastian Bach}}
{{Bach cantatas}}
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{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Christus, der ist mein Leben'', BWV 95}}
[[Category:Church cantatas by Johann Sebastian Bach]]
[[Category:1723 compositions]]