{{Infobox musical composition , name = {{lang, de, Ich will den Kreuzweg gerne gehen , type =

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, ...

, composer = {{nowrap,

Georg Philipp Telemann Georg Philipp Telemann (; – 25 June 1767) was a German Baroque composer and multi-instrumentalist. Almost completely self-taught in music, he became a composer against his family's wishes. After studying in Magdeburg, Zellerfeld, and Hildesh ...

, image = Ich will den Kreuzweg gerne gehen, TWV 1-884, first page of bass part (DK-Kk mu 6510.0136 manuscript).png , image_upright = 1.2 , caption = First page of bass part (DK-Kk mu 6510.0136 manuscript){{RISM, 150204801 , occasion = 21st Sunday after Trinity , catalogue =

TWV The Telemann-Werke-Verzeichnis (Telemann Works Catalogue), abbreviated TWV, is the numbering system identifying compositions by Georg Philipp Telemann, published by musicologist Martin Ruhnke. The prefix TWV is generally followed by a Music genre, ...

1:884 , text = by

Erdmann Neumeister Erdmann Neumeister (12 May 1671 – 18 August 1756) was a German Lutheran pastor and hymnologist. He was born in Uichteritz near Weißenfels in the province Saxonia of Germany. As a fifteen-year-old boy he started his studies in Schulpforta ...

, written = c. 1700 , language = German , composed = 1710s , published = , scoring = {{hlist,

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 ...

, violin , continuo

composed the

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, ...

{{lang, de, Ich will den Kreuzweg gerne gehen (I will gladly walk the Cross way),

1:884, for

, violin and continuo for the 21st Sunday after

Trinity The Christian doctrine of the Trinity (, from 'threefold') is the central dogma concerning the nature of God in most Christian churches, which defines one God existing in three coequal, coeternal, consubstantial divine persons: God the F ...

. He used a text by

History

Telemann composed the cantata while he was church musician in

Frankfurt Frankfurt, officially Frankfurt am Main (; Hessian: , "Frank ford on the Main"), is the most populous city in the German state of Hesse. Its 791,000 inhabitants as of 2022 make it the fifth-most populous city in Germany. Located on its na ...

at the Barfüßerkirche and Katharinenkirche, beginning in 1712. When he applied for the post he described his voice as not tenor, not bass. Many of his church cantatas are written for a high bass, possibly written for himself, including {{lang, de, Ich will den Kreuzweg gerne gehen.

wrote the text of the cantata as part of his first year-cycle of cantata librettos, which was, around 1700, first set by

Johann Philipp Krieger Johann Philipp Krieger (also ''Kriger'', ''Krüger'', ''Krugl'', and ''Giovanni Filippo Kriegher''; baptised 27 February 1649; died 7 February 1725) was a German people, German Baroque composer and organist. He was the elder brother of Johann Krieg ...

, court

Kapellmeister (, also , ) from German ''Kapelle'' (chapel) and ''Meister'' (master)'','' literally "master of the chapel choir" designates the leader of an ensemble of musicians. Originally used to refer to somebody in charge of music in a chapel, the term ha ...

in Weissenfels.{{sfn, Krausse, 1986, p=22 Although the entire cycle was set by several composers, only a few isolated cantatas with a text from the cycle survive. All of Krieger's settings are lost, and from Telemann, who likely also set the entire cycle, only seven cantatas on its librettos are extant. Other than that, the only surviving settings of the cycle's librettos are a few by

Johann Kuhnau Johann Kuhnau (; 6 April 16605 June 1722) was a German polymath, known primarily as a composer today. He was also active as a novelist, translator, lawyer, and music theorist, and was able to combine these activities with his duties in his offi ...

, and a single one by Emanuel Kegel. The cantata text of ''Ich will den Kreuzweg gerne gehen'', as used by Telemann, was printed in 1705.{{RISM, 230001352 Neumeister's text for this cantata possibly inspired the anonymous poetry for Bach's {{lang, de, ''Ich will den Kreuzstab gerne tragen'', BWV 56, italic=unset.{{sfn, Krausse, 1986, pp=22–23 Neumeister's libretto and its setting by Telemann are intended for the 21st Sunday after Trinity. Telemann's setting was published in a

critical edition Textual criticism is a branch of textual scholarship, philology, and of literary criticism that is concerned with the identification of textual variants, or different versions, of either manuscripts or of printed books. Such texts may range in da ...

by Deutscher Verlag für Musik, Leipzig, now distributed by Breitkopf, edited by Walter Heinz Bernstein and Wolf Hobohm.{{DNB-IDN, 357086449

Music

Telemann structured the composition in five

movements 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 ...

, alternating

aria In music, an aria (Italian: ; plural: ''arie'' , or ''arias'' in common usage, diminutive form arietta , plural ariette, or in English simply air) is a self-contained piece for one voice, with or without instrumental or orchestral accompanime ...

s and

recitative Recitative (, also known by its Italian name "''recitativo''" ()) is a style of delivery (much used in operas, oratorios, and cantatas) in which a singer is allowed to adopt the rhythms and delivery of ordinary speech. Recitative does not repea ...

s: # Aria "Ich will den Keuzweg gerne gehen" # Recitative "Ach, wer die Frucht des Kreuzes nur bedachte" # Aria "Ich küsse die Rute mit freudigem Mute" # Recitative "Und zwar, was sag ich weiter" # Aria "Ach, mein Heiland, würd ich doch morgen" In the first aria, the singer is ready to take part in the way of the

Cross A cross is a geometrical figure consisting of two intersecting lines or bars, usually perpendicular to each other. The lines usually run vertically and horizontally. A cross of oblique lines, in the shape of the Latin letter X, is termed a sa ...

. The German ''Kreuzweg'' means specifically the

Stations of the Cross The Stations of the Cross or the Way of the Cross, also known as the Way of Sorrows or the Via Crucis, refers to a series of images depicting Jesus Christ on the day of Crucifixion of Jesus, his crucifixion and accompanying prayers. The station ...

, but more generally a path following Jesus. The recitative, "Ah, whoever reflected the fruit of the Cross", expands that being Christian is connected to bearing hardship. A line from the hymn "

Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan "" (What God Ordains Is Always Good) is a Lutheran hymn written by the pietist German poet and schoolmaster Samuel Rodigast in 1675. The melody has been attributed to the cantor Severus Gastorius. An earlier hymn with the same title was written i ...

" is quoted in text and melody. The central aria, in a

major Major (commandant in certain jurisdictions) is a military rank of commissioned officer status, with corresponding ranks existing in many military forces throughout the world. When used unhyphenated and in conjunction with no other indicators ...

key, begins with an exalted acceptance of hardship and punishment, "I kiss the whip with joyful courage". It claims that the "myrrhs of the pains are sugar to the heart". The second recitative expresses the hope that the "cross is my ladder to heaven". The concluding aria turns to longing for death as a way to Heaven, "Ah, my Saviour, if only I would e lifted to Heaventomorrow". The singer expects "yes" ("Ja") to the question if the hour of departure will be soon. For this final line, the music is lively, and the hoped-for "yes" is repeated several times, the last time after a rest, and in low register.

Performances and recordings

Telemann Cantata Kreuzweg, Dreikönigskirche, Frankfurt

The cantata was first recorded in 2009 by bass

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 ...

with the ensemble

Accademia Daniel Accademia Daniel is an Israeli music ensemble that specializes in performing music of the baroque era. The ensemble performs regularly both in their native country and in Europe, appearing at such places as the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, the Haydn F ...

conducted by Shalev Ad-El from the keyboard, in a collection of five church cantatas by Telemann titled ''Passion Cantatas''.

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 ...

was the soloist, with the ensemble L'Armonia Sonora, for a recording in 2017 as part of the album ''Telemann: Die stille Nacht'' of solo cantatas, arias and chamber music by Telemann. The cantata was performed in a series of cantata services at the

Dreikönigskirche, Frankfurt The Dreikönigskirche (English: Church of the Three Kings) is a Lutheran Protestant church and parish in Frankfurt, the city's largest Protestant parish. It is located on the south bank of the Main in Sachsenhausen, opposite the Frankfurt Cathedra ...

on 21 March 2021 during the

COVID-19 epidemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identifie ...

, with Johannes Hill as the singer and the Telemann Ensemble Frankfurt.

References

{{reflist , refs = {{cite web , last = Köhs , first = Andreas , url = https://www.andreas-koehs.de/de/konzertprogramm-de/jahresprogramm/216-jahresprogramm2021-1 , title = Jahresprogramm 2021 – 1. Halbjahr / Sonntag, 21.03.2021, 10:00 Uhr , website = andreas-koehs.de , date = January 2021 , access-date = 27 March 2021 {{cite web , last = Sealey , first = Mark , url = http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2009/May09/Telemann_7772992.htm , title = Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767) / Passion Cantatas , website = musicweb-international.com , date = May 2009 , access-date = 27 March 2021 {{cite book , last1 = Neumeister , first1 = Erdmann , author-link1 = Erdmann Neumeister , date = 1705 , chapter = Ein und zwanzigster Trinitatis , trans-chapter = Twenty-first (Sunday after) Trinity , chapter-url = https://books.google.com/books?id=e-dYAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA121 , title = Geistliche Cantaten, Über alle Sonn- Fest- und Apostel-Tage , trans-title = Sacred Cantatas, for all Sun-, Feast- and Apostle-days , url = https://books.google.com/books?id=e-dYAAAAcAAJ , language = de , location = Halle in Magdeburg , publisher = Renger , pages = 121–123 {{cite web , last = Veen , first = Johan van , url = http://www.musica-dei-donum.org/cd_reviews/CPO_777-299-2.html , title = Georg Philipp Telemann (1681 - 1767): "Ich will den Kreuzweg gerne gehen - Passion Cantatas" , website = musica-dei-donum.org , year = 2009 , access-date = 27 March 2021 {{cite web , url = https://www.allmusic.com/composition/ich-will-den-kreuzweg-gerne-gehen-sacred-cantata-for-voice-violin-continuo-twv-1884-mc0002671946 , title = Georg Philipp Telemann / Ich will den Kreuzweg gerne gehen, sacred cantata for voice, violin & continuo, TWV 1:884 , website =

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

, year = , access-date = 27 March 2021 {{cite web , url = https://www.breitkopf.com/work/6571/ich-will-den-kreuzweg-gerne-gehen , title = Georg Philipp Telemann (1681–1767) / Ich will den Kreuzweg gerne gehen , publisher = Breitkopf , year = 2016 , access-date = 25 March 2021 {{cite web , url = https://www.muziekweb.nl/en/Link/U00001562464/CLASSICAL/Cantata-for-bass-violin-and-b-c-TWV-1-no-884-%22Ich-will-den-Kreuzweg-gerne-gehen%22 , title = Cantata for bass, violin and b.c. TWV.1, no.884, "Ich will den Kreuzweg gerne gehen" , website = muziekweb.nl , year = 2009 , access-date = 27 March 2021 {{cite web , url = http://www.musiqueorguequebec.ca/catal/telemann/telgp01e.html#0166 , title = Georg Philipp Telemann, Catalogue TWV 01: Cantates d'église, Temps de la Pentecôte , website = musiqueorguequebec.com , year = , language = French , access-date = 2 April 2021

Sources

* {{cite book , last1 = Krausse , first1 = Helmut K. , date = 1986 , chapter = Erdmann Neumeister und die Kantatentexte Johann Sebastian Bachs , trans-chapter = , chapter-url = https://doi.org/10.13141/bjb.v19861629 , editor1-last = Schulze , editor1-first = Hans-Joachim , editor1-link = Hans-Joachim Schulze , editor2-last = Wolff , editor2-first = Christoph , editor2-link = Christoph Wolff , title = Bach-Jahrbuch 1986 , trans-title = , url = https://journals.qucosa.de/bjb/issue/view/147 , series =

Bach-Jahrbuch The ''Bach-Jahrbuch'' ("Bach yearbook" or according to the publication's website "Bach Annals") is an Periodical literature, annual publication related to the composer Bach. It is published in German by the Neue Bachgesellschaft in Leipzig. It is t ...

, language = de , volume = 72 , others =

Neue Bachgesellschaft The Neue Bachgesellschaft, or New Bach Society, is an organisation based in Leipzig, Germany, devoted to the music of the composer Johann Sebastian Bach. It was founded in 1900 as the successor to the Bach Gesellschaft, which between 1850 and 1900 ...

, location = Berlin , publisher =

Evangelische Verlagsanstalt The Evangelische Verlagsanstalt (EVA) is a denominational media company founded in Berlin in 1946. Its shareholders are the and the Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Saxony. The managing director is Sebastian Knöfel. Book publisher The range inc ...

, publication-date = 1985 , pages = 7–31 , doi = 10.13141/bjb.v1986 , issn = 0084-7682 , via = {{ill, Qucosa, de

External links

* {{IMSLP, work=Ich will den Kreuzweg gerne gehen, TWV 1:884 (Telemann, Georg Philipp), cname=Ich will den Kreuzweg gerne gehen, TWV 1:884 (Telemann, Georg Philipp) * {{DNB portal, 300574029 {{Georg Philipp Telemann, state=collapsed {{authority control {{italic title Sacred vocal music by Georg Philipp Telemann Church cantatas