Ich habe meine Zuversicht (I have placed my
confidence), BWV 188, is a church cantata by Johann
Sebastian Bach. He composed the solo cantata in Leipzig
for the 21st Sunday after Trinity and probably first
performed it on 17 October 1728.
Bach composed this cantata for the 21st Sunday after
Trinity. However, the score was "cut to pieces and sold
to private individuals" in the 1800s; the work as it
now exists is a reconstruction. The prescribed readings
for the day were Ephesians 6:10--1...(+)
Ich habe meine Zuversicht (I have placed my
confidence), BWV 188, is a church cantata by Johann
Sebastian Bach. He composed the solo cantata in Leipzig
for the 21st Sunday after Trinity and probably first
performed it on 17 October 1728.
Bach composed this cantata for the 21st Sunday after
Trinity. However, the score was "cut to pieces and sold
to private individuals" in the 1800s; the work as it
now exists is a reconstruction. The prescribed readings
for the day were Ephesians 6:10--17, and John 4:46--54
. The text for movements 2 to 5 was written by
Picander. The sixth movement is an anonymous chorale
written before 1603.
The opening sinfonia derives from Bach's keyboard
concerto in D minor, BWV 1052. The tenor aria has been
compared to movements from both the French Suite and
the Fifth English Suite. It opens with a string
ritornello doubled by oboe; the two parts move into
counterpoint after the tenor enters. Formally, the
movement has an extended two-part A section before
moving to a B section remarkable for its emphasis on
instrumental arpeggiation. The bass recitative is secco
and concludes with a pastoral arioso. The alto aria is
"dark and dramatic", in E minor with cello and organ
obbligato. The organ line is complex, contributing to a
movement that is "a complex and ever-changing
kaleidoscope of richly entwined rhythms and melodies".
The soprano recitative is short and accompanied by
chordal strings. The final movement is a four-part
setting of the chorale tune, doubled by oboe, taille,
and strings.
Although originally composed for four solo voices
(soprano, alto, tenor, and bass), a four-part choir,
two oboes, taille, two violins, viola, organ, and basso
continuo, I created this arrangement for Clarinet
Quartet (3 Bb Clarinets & Bass Clarinet).