Aria: Hier in meines Vaters Stätte`
from Cantata BWV 32
for bass (G-e'), violin and continuo
Ref. no Bac 1 (in 'cantatas') Price £ 7.10 sample page cover page To order: ☞
Bach’s church cantata BWV 32, Ich geh’ und suche mit Verlangen, was written for the Lutheran liturgy for the first Sunday after Epiphany, and relates to the gospel reading set for that Sunday – Luke 2, vv 41-45. This tells of the parents of the twelve-year-old Jesus searching for him in Jerusalem at the end of their pilgrimage, and finding him in the Temple in discourse with the teachers.
The recitative is based on Jesus’ reply to his parents “How is it that ye sought me? Wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” The aria Hier in meines Vaters Stätte which follows reflects on the Temple as a spiritual home. The text is by Georg Christian Lehms (1684-1717), whose considerable literary output included five cycles of librettos for church cantatas. Bach set in all ten of his librettos.
It is thought that the work was first performed in Leipzig in 1726 on the first Sunday after Epiphany (January 13th), and it thus belongs to Bach’s third cycle of cantatas for the church’s year. The work is among five ‘Dialogue’ cantatas, which typically depict Jesus, sung by a bass, in dialogue with the soul, sung by a soprano. The aria of this present edition is remarkable for the freedom and lyricism of the violin obbligato.
Text and translation
Recitativo
Was ist’s, dass du mich gesuchet? Weisst du nicht, dass ich sein muss in dem, das meines Vaters ist? What made you search? Did you not know that I was bound to be in my Father’s house?
Aria
Hier, in meines Vaters Stätte, Here, in my Father’s house, find’t mich hier ein betrübter Geist. a troubled soul will find me. Da kansst du mich sicher finden There you can surely find me und dein Herz mit mir verbinden, and unite your heart with me, weil dies meine Wohnung heisst. for this is called my dwelling-place.
