Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ, BWV 177

Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ, BWV 177 is a chorale cantata written by Johann Sebastian Bach. The title means "I call to You, Lord Jesus Christ" in English. The cantata is performed for the fourth Sunday after Trinity. It was written in Leipzig. It was first performed on 6 July 1732. The cantata is based on Johann Agricola's hymn of the same name.

History

In 1724, the fourth Sunday after Trinity happened on the same day as the Feast of Visitation. Bach wrote Meine Seel erhebt den Herren, BWV 10, a chorale cantata for the Feast of Visitation. He did not write a cantata for the fourth Sunday itself. In 1732, Bach wrote BWV 177. He completed his second chorale cantata cycle. The text of the cantata is from Johann Agricola's hymn.^[1]

Structure

The cantata has five movements. The cantata is written for SATB choir, soprano, alto, and tenor soloists, a solo violin, two violins, a viola, basso continuo, a bassoon, and two oboes.^[1]

Chorus: Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ
Versus 2 (alto): Ich bitt noch mehr, o Herre Gott
Versus 3 (soprano): Verleih, daß ich aus Herzensgrund
Versus 4 (tenor): Laß mich kein Lust noch Furcht von dir
Versus 5 (chorale): Ich lieg im Streit und widerstreb

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 Dürr, Alfred (2006). The Cantatas of J. S. Bach: With Their Librettos in German-English Parallel Text. Oxford University Press. pp. 422–423. ISBN 978-0-19-929776-4.

Other websites

Free scores by Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ, BWV 177 at the International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP)
BWV 177 Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ English translation, University of Vermont
Listening guide by Julian Mincham

[durr-1] 1.0 ^1.1 Dürr, Alfred (2006). The Cantatas of J. S. Bach: With Their Librettos in German-English Parallel Text. Oxford University Press. pp. 422–423. ISBN 978-0-19-929776-4.

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