bach and nicolai
i read an inspiring article in the wall street journal today over coffee titled "a song of spiritual awakening" by mene ukeuberuwa.
in his 1731 cantata "wachet auf, ruft uns die stimme", johann sebastian bach finished a composition by a predecessor, the hymnist and preacher philipp nicolai. in both its tune and its text, the cantata (known in english as "sleepers awake") describes the ultimate feast: the fulfillment of all human hope.
musically, nicolai belonged to the last generation of meistersingers, german musicians with rigorous training in poetry, harmony, and vocal performance who were quickly being replaced by the orchestras and organs of the emerging baroque style.
what captured my attention was not only this teamwork between composers, but the fact that nicolai began this work of hope in 1598 while the bubonic plague was ravaging his hometown of unna, claiming the life of one of his top music students. nicolai channeled his grief into this piece which urges people to await the fulfillment of hope at a diving wedding feast, drawn from biblical parable.
bach leaves this message intact and adds adaptive verses from old and new testament divine love poetry. through duets for baritone and soprano (representing the roles of God and the human soul) there is foreshadowing here on earth of the feast and joy yet to come; a message of hope just beyond the horizon.
in his 1731 cantata "wachet auf, ruft uns die stimme", johann sebastian bach finished a composition by a predecessor, the hymnist and preacher philipp nicolai. in both its tune and its text, the cantata (known in english as "sleepers awake") describes the ultimate feast: the fulfillment of all human hope.
musically, nicolai belonged to the last generation of meistersingers, german musicians with rigorous training in poetry, harmony, and vocal performance who were quickly being replaced by the orchestras and organs of the emerging baroque style.
what captured my attention was not only this teamwork between composers, but the fact that nicolai began this work of hope in 1598 while the bubonic plague was ravaging his hometown of unna, claiming the life of one of his top music students. nicolai channeled his grief into this piece which urges people to await the fulfillment of hope at a diving wedding feast, drawn from biblical parable.
bach leaves this message intact and adds adaptive verses from old and new testament divine love poetry. through duets for baritone and soprano (representing the roles of God and the human soul) there is foreshadowing here on earth of the feast and joy yet to come; a message of hope just beyond the horizon.
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