Jesu, der du meine Seele (Jesus, You, who my soul), BWV
78, is a church cantata of Johann Sebastian Bach. He
composed the chorale cantata in Leipzig for the 14th
Sunday after Trinity and first performed it on 10
September 1724. It is based on the hymn by Johann
Rist.
Bach wrote the cantata in his second year in Leipzig,
when he composed an annual cycle of chorale cantatas.
For the 14th Sunday after Trinity, 10 September 1724,
he chose the chorale of Johann Rist (1641) in 12
stanzas. Ris...(+)
Jesu, der du meine Seele (Jesus, You, who my soul), BWV
78, is a church cantata of Johann Sebastian Bach. He
composed the chorale cantata in Leipzig for the 14th
Sunday after Trinity and first performed it on 10
September 1724. It is based on the hymn by Johann
Rist.
Bach wrote the cantata in his second year in Leipzig,
when he composed an annual cycle of chorale cantatas.
For the 14th Sunday after Trinity, 10 September 1724,
he chose the chorale of Johann Rist (1641) in 12
stanzas. Rist set the words and probably also the
melody. An unknown librettist wrote the poetry for
seven movements, keeping the first and last stanza and
quoting some of the original lines as part of his own
writing in the other movements. Movement 2 corresponds
to stanza 2 of the chorale, 6 to 11, 3 to 3–5, 4 to
6–7, and 5 to 8–10.
The cantata is remarkable for its widely contrasting
affects: meditative profundity in the opening chorus,
nearly joyful though hesitant bouncing in the second
movement, and despair in the third.
This, the last aria "Nur du wirst mein Gewissen
stillen" (Now You will still my conscience) is similar
to a concerto for oboe and the bass voice.
Although originally scored for bass soloist, oboe and
basso continuo. I created this arrangement for Oboe,
French Horn & Strings (2 Violins, Viola & Cello).