(God so loved the world), 68, is a

cantata A cantata (; ; literally "sung", past participle feminine singular of the Italian verb ''cantare'', "to sing") is a vocal composition with an instrumental accompaniment, typically in several movements, often involving a choir. The meaning of ...

by Johann Sebastian Bach, a

church cantata A church cantata or sacred cantata is a cantata intended to be performed during Christian liturgy. The genre was particularly popular in 18th-century Lutheran Germany, with many composers writing an extensive output: Gottfried Heinrich Stölzel, ...

for the second day of

Pentecost Pentecost (also called Whit Sunday, Whitsunday or Whitsun) is a Christianity, Christian holiday which takes place on the 50th day (the seventh Sunday) after Easter Sunday. It commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles in the Ne ...

. Bach composed the cantata in Leipzig and first performed it on 21 May 1725. It is one of nine cantatas on texts by Christiana Mariana von Ziegler, which Bach composed at the end of his second annual cycle of cantatas in Leipzig. In a unique structure among Bach's church cantatas, it begins with a chorale and ends with a complex choral

movement Movement may refer to: Common uses * Movement (clockwork), the internal mechanism of a timepiece * Motion, commonly referred to as movement Arts, entertainment, and media Literature * "Movement" (short story), a short story by Nancy Fu ...

on a quotation from the Gospel of John. Bach derived the two arias from his ''

Hunting Cantata ''Was mir behagt, ist nur die muntre Jagd'' (The lively hunt is all my heart's desire), 208.1, BWV 208, also known as the ''Hunting Cantata'', is a secular cantata composed by Johann Sebastian Bach for the 31st birthday of Duke Chri ...

''.

History and words

Bach composed the cantata during his second year in Leipzig for

Pentecost Monday Whit Monday or Pentecost Monday, also known as Monday of the Holy Spirit, is the holiday celebrated the day after Pentecost, a moveable feast in the Christian liturgical calendar. It is moveable because it is determined by the date of Easter. In ...

. The prescribed readings for the feast day were taken from the

Acts of the Apostles The Acts of the Apostles ( grc-koi, Πράξεις Ἀποστόλων, ''Práxeis Apostólōn''; la, Actūs Apostolōrum) is the fifth book of the New Testament; it tells of the founding of the Christian Church and the spread of its messag ...

, the sermon of Saint Peter for Cornelius (), and the Gospel of John, "God so loved the world" from the meeting of Jesus and Nicodemus (). In his second year in Leipzig, Bach composed

chorale cantatas Chorale is the name of several related musical forms originating in the music genre of the Lutheran chorale: * Hymn tune of a Lutheran hymn (e.g. the melody of "Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme"), or a tune in a similar format (e.g. one of the ...

between the first Sunday after Trinity and Palm Sunday, but for Easter returned to cantatas on more varied texts, possibly because he lost his librettist. Nine of his cantatas for the period between Easter and

are based on texts by Christiana Mariana von Ziegler, including this cantata. Bach had possibly commissioned the texts in 1724 with his first cantata cycle in mind, but he did not set music to them until 1725. He later inserted most of them in his third cantata cycle, but kept this one and , composed for Ascension, in his second cycle, possibly because they both begin with a chorale fantasia. The poet opened the cantata in an unusual way with the first

stanza In poetry, a stanza (; from Italian language, Italian ''stanza'' , "room") is a group of lines within a poem, usually set off from others by a blank line or Indentation (typesetting), indentation. Stanzas can have regular rhyme scheme, rhyme and ...

from

Salomo Liscow Salomon Liscovius or Salmon Lischkow or Salomon Liscow (25 October 1640 – 5 December 1689) was a German psalmist. According to Högmarck, Liscovius was a clergyman in the German princedom of Halberstadt.Högmarck, Lars, '' Psalmeopoeographia '' ...

's hymn (1675). It is close to the beginning of the Gospel: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life". In the final movement, she quoted verse 18 from the Gospel, set by Bach as an unusual choral movement. Bach first performed the cantata on 21 May 1725.

Structure and instrumentation

The cantata in five movements is scored for two soloists,

soprano A soprano () is a type of classical female singing voice and has the highest vocal range of all voice types. The soprano's vocal range (using scientific pitch notation) is from approximately middle C (C4) = 261 Hz to "high A" (A5) = 880&n ...

and

bass Bass or Basses may refer to: Fish * Bass (fish), various saltwater and freshwater species Music * Bass (sound), describing low-frequency sound or one of several instruments in the bass range: ** Bass (instrument), including: ** Acoustic bass gui ...

, a four-part choir,

horn Horn most often refers to: *Horn (acoustic), a conical or bell shaped aperture used to guide sound ** Horn (instrument), collective name for tube-shaped wind musical instruments *Horn (anatomy), a pointed, bony projection on the head of various ...

, cornett, three trombones, two oboes,

taille The ''taille'' () was a direct land tax on the French peasantry and non-nobles in ''Ancien Régime'' France. The tax was imposed on each household and was based on how much land it held, and was directly paid to the state. History Originally o ...

(tenor oboe), two violins, viola, violoncello piccolo and

basso continuo Basso continuo parts, almost universal in the Baroque era (1600–1750), provided the harmonic structure of the music by supplying a bassline and a chord progression. The phrase is often shortened to continuo, and the instrumentalists playing th ...

. # Chorus: # Aria (soprano): # Recitative (bass): # Aria (bass): # Chorus:

Music

The opening chorus is a chorale fantasia, as in Bach's chorale cantatas. The hymn melody by

Gottfried Vopelius Gottfried Vopelius (28 January 1645 – 3 February 1715), was a German Lutheran academic and hymn-writer, mainly active in Leipzig. He was born in Herwigsdorf, now a district of Rosenbach, Oberlausitz, and died in Leipzig at the age of 70. Rober ...

(1682) is sung by the soprano, doubled by a horn. Bach changed the rhythm of the tune from the original common time to 12/8. The musicologist Julian Mincham notes that he "embellishes it to a degree whereby 'it hardly seems like a chorale any more. The two arias are based on arias from Bach's 1713 ''Hunting Cantata'' (). The soprano aria "" (My faithful heart) resembles the former aria of the shepherd goddess Pales "" (While the herds all woolly-coated). In the church cantata, Bach used an obbligato violoncello piccolo, an instrument he experimented with in cantatas of the second cantata cycle (1724–25). John Eliot Gardiner describes it as "surely one of Bach's most refreshing and unbuttoned expressions of melodic joy and high spirits". The bass aria is based on the aria of the god Pan, "" (A prince is his own country's Pan). Klaus Hofmann notes that the "splendid wind writing gives some hint of the pathos with which Pan ... is portrayed in Bach's hunting music". The final movement is not, as in many church cantatas, a simple four-part chorale, but a

motet In Western classical music, a motet is mainly a vocal musical composition, of highly diverse form and style, from high medieval music to the present. The motet was one of the pre-eminent polyphonic forms of Renaissance music. According to Margar ...

-like structure which conveys a verse from the Gospel of John. The juxtaposition of "" (Whoever believes in Him) and "" (but whoever does not believe) is expressed by a double

fugue In music, a fugue () is a contrapuntal compositional technique in two or more voices, built on a subject (a musical theme) that is introduced at the beginning in imitation (repetition at different pitches) and which recurs frequently in the c ...

with two contrasting themes. The voices are doubled by a choir of trombones. Gardiner comments:

Recordings

* ''Bach Made in Germany Vol. 2 – Cantatas IV'', Kurt Thomas, Thomanerchor,

Gewandhausorchester The Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra (Gewandhausorchester; also previously known in German as the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig) is a German symphony orchestra based in Leipzig, Germany. The orchestra is named after the concert hall in which it is bas ...

, Elisabeth Grümmer, Theo Adam, Eterna 1960 * ''J. S. Bach: Cantatas BWV 68 & BWV 70'', Kurt Thomas, Kantorei der Dreikönigskirche Frankfurt, Collegium Musicum, Ingeborg Reichelt, Erich Wenk, L’Oiseau-Lyre 1962? * ''Les Grandes Cantates de J.S. Bach Vol. 14'', Fritz Werner,

Heinrich-Schütz-Chor Heilbronn Fritz Werner (15 December 1898 – 22 December 1977) was a German choral conductor, church music director, conductor, organist and composer. He founded the Heinrich-Schütz-Chor Heilbronn in 1947 and conducted it until 1973. Career Born in Berli ...

, Pforzheim Chamber Orchestra,

Agnes Giebel Agnes Giebel (10 August 1921 – 24 April 2017) was a German classical soprano. She was born in Heerlen, in the Netherlands, where she lived the first years of her life. She studied at the Folkwangschule in Essen and made her first public appe ...

Jakob Stämpfli Jakob Stämpfli (23 February 1820 – 15 May 1879) was a Swiss politician and member of the Swiss Federal Council (1854–1863). He was elected to the Federal Council of Switzerland on 6 December 1854, and handed over office on 31 December 1863. ...

Erato In Greek mythology, Erato (; grc, Ἐρατώ) is one of the Greek Muses, which were inspirational goddesses of literature, science, and the arts. The name would mean "desired" or "lovely", if derived from the same root as Eros, as Apollonius o ...

1963 * ''J. S. Bach: Erschallet, ihr Lieder, Kantate BWV 172; Also hat Gott die Welt geliebt, Kantate BWV 68'',

Klaus Martin Ziegler Klaus Martin Ziegler (23 February 1929 – 22 September 1993) was a German choral conductor, organist and Protestant church musician. Career Ziegler was born in Freiburg. He studied music at the Hochschule für Musik Karlsruhe and matriculated f ...

, Vocalensemble Kassel,

Deutsche Bachsolisten Deutsche Bachsolisten (DBS) (The German Bach Soloists) is a German Baroque chamber orchestra dedicated to the works of J.S. Bach Johann Sebastian Bach (28 July 1750) was a German composer and musician of the late Baroque period. He is known ...

Ursula Buckel Ursula Buckel (11 February 1926 – 5 December 2005) was a German soprano singer, known for singing works of Johann Sebastian Bach. Career Born in the Thuringian town of Lauscha, Ursula Buckel studied singing in the School of Church Music in Br ...

, Cantate 1966 * ''Bach Cantatas Vol. 3 – Ascension Day, Whitsun, Trinity’'', Karl Richter, Münchener Bach-Chor,

Münchener Bach-Orchester The (Munich Bach Orchestra) is a classical music ensemble based in Munich, Germany, which specialises in the performance of works by Johann Sebastian Bach. It was founded in 1954 by the conductor Karl Richter (conductor), Karl Richter. It works ...

Edith Mathis Edith Mathis (born 11 February 1938) is a Swiss soprano and a leading exponent of the works of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart worldwide. She is known for parts in Mozart operas, but also took part in premieres of operas such as Henze's ''Der junge Lord' ...

, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Archiv Produktion 1975 * ''J. S. Bach: Das Kantatenwerk · Complete Cantatas · Les Cantates, Folge / Vol. 17 – BWV 65–68'',

Nikolaus Harnoncourt Johann Nikolaus Harnoncourt or historically Johann Nikolaus Graf de la Fontaine und d'Harnoncourt-Unverzagt; () (6 December 1929 – 5 March 2016) was an Austrian conductor, particularly known for his historically informed performances of music ...

Tölzer Knabenchor The Tölzer Knabenchor (Tölz Boys' Choir) is a German boys' choir named after the Upper Bavarian city of Bad Tölz and since 1971 based in Munich. The choir is ranked among the most versatile and sought-after boys' choirs in the world. Histor ...

Concentus Musicus Wien Concentus Musicus Wien (CMW) is an Austrian baroque music ensemble based in Vienna. The CMW is recognized as a pioneer of the period-instrument performance movement. History Nikolaus Harnoncourt and Alice Harnoncourt co-founded the CMW in 1953 ...

, soloist of the Tölzer Knabenchor,

Ruud van der Meer Ruud and Rud are surnames of Norwegian origin. Both are also Norwegian place names of numerous farmsteads named Rud or Ruud from Old Norse ''ruð'' meaning clearing. Ruud is also a Dutch masculine given name meaning "famous wolf" although it is also ...

, Teldec 1975 * ''Die Bach Kantate Vol. 37'', Helmuth Rilling, Gächinger Kantorei, Bach-Collegium Stuttgart,

Arleen Augér Joyce Arleen Auger (sometimes spelled Augér ; September 13, 1939 – June 10, 1993) was an American soprano, known for her coloratura voice and interpretations of works by Bach, Handel, Haydn, Monteverdi, Mozart, and Schubert. She won a posthum ...

Philippe Huttenlocher Philippe Huttenlocher (born 29 November 1942) is a Swiss baritone. Life and career He was born in Neuchâtel, Switzerland. He first studied violin at the conservatory in Neuchâtel, and then voice in Fribourg. In 1972, he won the international ...

, Hänssler 1981 * ''Bach Made in Germany Vol. 4 – Cantatas II'', Hans-Joachim Rotzsch, Thomanerchor,

, Theo Adam, Leipzig Classics 1981 * ''J. S. Bach: Cantatas with Violoncelle Piccolo'',

Christophe Coin Christophe Coin (; born 26 January 1958) is a French cellist, viola da gamba player and conductor active in the field of historically informed performance. He is the cellist of the Quatuor Mosaïques and is the director of the Ensemble Baroque de L ...

, Chœur de Chambre Accentus,

Ensemble Baroque de Limoges Christophe Coin (; born 26 January 1958) is a French cellist, viola da gamba player and conductor active in the field of historically informed performance. He is the cellist of the Quatuor Mosaïques and is the director of the Ensemble Baroque de ...

Barbara Schlick Barbara Schlick (born 21 July 1943, Würzburg) is a German soprano who is particularly admired for interpretations of the concert literature of the baroque era. Career Schlick studied singing under at the Hochschule für Musik Würzburg and in E ...

Gotthold Schwarz Gotthold Schwarz (born 2 May 1952 in Zwickau) is a German Bass-baritone and conductor. Based in Leipzig, he started as a member of the Thomanerchor and has conducted the Gewandhausorchester. Between 2016 and 2021, he was the 17th Thomaskantor af ...

, Auvidis Astrée 1995 * ''Bach Cantatas Vol. 26: Long Melford / For Whit Sunday / For Whit Monday'', John Eliot Gardiner, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists,

Lisa Larsson Lisa Larsson (born 14 February 1967) is a Swedish classical soprano singer. Career Larsson studied in Basel and since 1993 appeared in the ''Internationales Opernstudio'' of the Zurich Opera House under conductors such as Franz Welser-Möst, ...

Panajotis Iconomou Panajotis Iconomou (born May 22, 1971 in Munich) is a German bass-baritone of Greek parentage. Iconomou was born in Munich. He joined the Tölzer Knabenchor in 1980 and toured Europe as a boy. He made notable appearances in 1985 at the Salzburger ...

, Soli Deo Gloria 2000 * ''Bach Edition Vol. 21 – Cantatas Vol. 12'',

Pieter Jan Leusink Pieter Jan Leusink (born 5 April 1958 in Elburg) is a Dutch conductor of classical music. He studied organ in Zwolle at the Municipal Conservatory and took conducting lessons from Gottfried van der Horst. He founded the Stadsknapenkoor Elburg ( ...

Holland Boys Choir Pieter Jan Leusink (born 5 April 1958 in Elburg) is a Dutch conductor of classical music. He studied organ in Zwolle at the Municipal Conservatory and took conducting lessons from Gottfried van der Horst. He founded the Stadsknapenkoor Elburg (E ...

Netherlands Bach Collegium The Netherlands Bach Collegium is a Baroque orchestra based in the Netherlands. It is conducted by Pieter Jan Leusink. They are noted for their Complete Cantatas Brilliant Series, a recording of the complete Bach cantata, sacred cantatas by Johann S ...

Marjon Strijk Marjon Strijk is a Dutch classical soprano. She is focused on Renaissance and Baroque music. She has recorded Bach cantatas with the Holland Boys Choir, conducted by Pieter Jan Leusink. Career Strijk studied voice with Jeanne Companjen, Eugenie ...

Bas Ramselaar Bas Ramselaar (born 1961 in Amersfoort) is a Dutch Bass (voice type), bass singer and Conducting, conductor. A graduate of the Utrechts Conservatorium, he has sung with notable ensembles such as the Berliner Symphoniker, the Royal Concertgebouw Or ...

, Brilliant Classics 2000 * ''J. S. Bach: Complete Cantatas Vol. 14'', Ton Koopman, Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir, Deborah York,

Klaus Mertens Klaus Mertens (born 25 March 1949, in Kleve) is a German bass and bass-baritone singer who is known especially for his interpretation of the complete works of Johann Sebastian Bach for bass voice. Career Klaus Mertens took singing lessons ...

, Antoine Marchand 2001 * ''J. S. Bach: Cantatas Vol. 39 – BWV 28, 68, 85, 175, 183'', Masaaki Suzuki, Bach Collegium Japan,

Carolyn Sampson Carolyn Sampson (born 18 May 1974) is an English soprano in opera and concert. Specialising in historically informed performance, she has sung in Masaaki Suzuki's recording project of Bach cantatas and has appeared at the English National Opera. ...

Peter Kooy Peter Kooij (or, internationally Kooy, born 1954, in Soest) is a Dutch bass singer who specializes in baroque music. Biography Kooij started his musical career at 6 years as a choir boy. However he started his musical studies as a violin stud ...

, BIS 2007 * ''J. S. Bach: Himmelfahrts-Oratorium'', Philippe Herreweghe, Collegium Vocale Gent, Dorothee Mields, Stephan MacLeod, Rapidshare 2008

References

Sources

*
Also hat Gott die Welt geliebt BWV 68; BC A 86 / Sacred cantata (2nd Day of Pentecost)
Bach Digital
Cantata BWV 68 Also hat Gott die Welt geliebt
history, scoring, sources for text and music, translations to various languages, discography, discussion, Bach Cantatas Website

English translation, University of Vermont
BWV 68 Also hat Gott die Welt geliebt
text, scoring, University of Alberta {{DISPLAYTITLE:''Also hat Gott die Welt geliebt'', BWV 68 Church cantatas by Johann Sebastian Bach 1725 compositions