Ich geh und suche mit Verlangen, BWV 49

I'll go and seek with longing ( BWV 49) is a church cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach.

Formation

The work was composed for the November 3, 1726 in Leipzig. The introductory symphony with their virtuoso solo organ was removed from the final of a Bach instrumental concerto, which probably comes from his time in Köthen and represents the archetype of the harpsichord concerto BWV 1053.

Topic

The work is a setting of a dialogue of Jesus ( bass) with the believing Christians symbolizing the soul (soprano), as it is also about the theme of the cantata BWV 140. This is primarily alluded to images of the Song of Solomon, the love poetry was reinterpreted in the Baroque to a marriage between Jesus and the believing soul.

Occupation

• Vocal soloists: soprano, bass,

• Orchestra: organ, violoncello piccolo, oboe d' amore, violin I / II, Viola, Basso continuo

Structure

Special

Unusual is the piece of the inherent merry - concertante character, the organ gives special treat and can be more reminiscent of a bourgeois wedding party than a church cantata. In the autographs the work is referred to as " Dialogus ", and so apart from the lack solo alto and tenor also the usual chorus. Furthermore, it is one of the few Bach cantatas in which the violoncello piccolo finds use. Striking is also the elaborate final chorale: While the organ plays a refrain, an attractive dialogue ensues between the arioso bass part and the arguments put forward by the soprano as a cantus firmus chorale melody, the 7th verse of the song How lovely shines the morning star of Philipp Nicolai ( 1599).