Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit, BWV 106
Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit, ', also known as Actus tragicus', is an early sacred cantata composed by Johann Sebastian Bach in Mühlhausen, intended for a funeral.
The earliest source for the composition is a copied manuscript dated 1768, therefore the date of the composition is not certain. Research leads to a funeral of a former mayor of Mühlhausen on 16 September 1708. The text is a carefully compiled juxtaposition of biblical texts, three quotations from the Old Testament and four from the New Testament, combined with funeral hymns, of which two are sung and one is quoted instrumentally, and some additions by an anonymous author. Bach scored the work for four vocal parts and a small ensemble of Baroque instruments, two recorders, two violas da gamba and continuo. The work is opened by an instrumental Sonatina, followed by through-composed sections which have been assigned to four movements. The structure is symmetrical around a turning point, when the lower voices, who contemplate the Old Covenant, are overcome by a soprano calling for Jesus.
History
Although Bach's manuscript is lost, the work is agreed to be one of the earliest Bach cantatas, probably composed during the year he spent in Mühlhausen 1707/1708 as organist of the Divi Blasii church, at the age of 22. Various funerals known to have taken place at this time have been proposed as the occasion for the composition, for example that of his uncle Tobias Lämmerhirt from his mother's family, who died in Erfurt on 10 August 1707, and that of Adolph Strecker, a former mayor of Mühlhausen, whose funeral was 16 September 1708.The earliest surviving manuscript, in the hand of Christian Friedrich Penzel, was copied in 1768 after Bach's death. It introduced the title Actus tragicus. The cantata was published in 1876 as part of the first complete edition of Bach's works: the Bach-Gesellschaft-Ausgabe, edited by Wilhelm Rust.
Theme
The text consists of different Bible passages from the Old and New Testament, as well as individual verses of hymns by Martin Luther and Adam Reusner, which all together refer to finitude, preparation for death and dying. There are two distinct parts to the cantata: the view of the Old Testament on death shown in the first part is confronted by that of the New Testament in the second part, leading to a symmetrical structure. The juxtaposition of texts from the Old and New Testament appeared before in the Christliche Betschule by Johann Olearius. Markus Rathey, professor at the Yale Institute of Sacred Music, has argued that the sermon given at the funeral of Strecker is similar in ideas to the themes of the cantatas. This may be an indication that Bach composed the work for this occasion.Music
Structure and scoring
Bach scored the cantata for four vocal parts, alto, tenor, and bass ) and a chamber ensemble of Baroque instruments: two alto recorders, two violas da gamba, basso continuo. The duration is given as 23 minutes.The sections comprising the cantata are traditionally grouped into four movements. The musicologist Carol Traupman-Carr notes: "Although movements are marked by tempo changes, occasionally key changes, meter changes, and double bar lines, Cantata 106 appears to be a continuous work. Bach helps create a more seamless effect by occasionally resolving the cadence of one section at the downbeat of another, thus blurring the beginnings and endings of traditional movements." The keys and tempo markings are taken from the first publication. The keys in the Neue Bach-Ausgabe and other more recent publications start in F major.
| Mvmt | No. | Title | Text | Type | Voices | Instr. | Key | Time | Tempo |
| 1 | Sonatina | 2Fl 2Vg | E major | Molto adagio | |||||
| 2 | 2a | Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit | Chorus | SATB | 2Fl 2Vg | ||||
| 2 | 2b | Ach, Herr, lehre uns bedenken | Arioso | T | 2Fl 2Vg | C minor | Lento | ||
| 2 | 2c | Bestelle dein Haus | Aria | B | 2Fl 2Vg | C minor | Vivace | ||
| 2 | 2d | Es ist der alte Bund Ja, komm, Herr Jesu, komm! Ich hab mein Sach Gott heimgestellt | Johann Leon | Chorus & Solo | ATB S | 2Fl 2Vg | F minor | Andante | |
| 3 | 3a | In deine Hände befehl ich meinen Geist du hast mich erlöset, Herr, du getreuer Gott. | Aria | A | 2Vg | ||||
| 3 | 3b | Heute wirst du mit mir im Paradies sein Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin | Martin Luther after | Arioso & chorale | B A | 2Vg | C minor | ||
| 4 | Glorie, Lob, Ehr und Herrlichkeit | Adam Reusner | Chorus | SATB | 2Fl 2Vg | E major |
Movements
1
In the opening sonatina, marked Molto adagio, two obbligato alto recorders mournfully echo each other over a sonorous background of viola da gambas and continuo.2
The first vocal movement combines several aspects of getting ready to die, based mostly on texts from the Old Testament. Bach expresses their ideas in a variety of musical form and scoring. The movement opens on a text in free poetry, "Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit". The chorus has no initial tempo marking, but has a fugal section marked Allegro, and the end is Adagio assai.The thought from Psalm 90, "Ach, Herr, lehre uns bedenken, daß wir sterben müssen" is rendered as an arioso of the tenor, marked Lento. The melodic line is broken by rests of reflection.
The warning to be prepared for death from Isaiah, "Bestelle dein Haus; denn du wirst sterben", is performed as an aria by the bass, marked Vivace. Arpeggios of the recorder accompany the voice which has been described as "evocative of the command of God".
Marked Andante, the movement concludes with the central piece in the symmetrical composition. It presents a contrast: while the lower choral voices recall the Old Covenant, "Es ist der alte Bund: Mensch, du mußt sterben!", based on Jesus Sirach, the solo soprano turns to accepting death as a union with Jesus, singing three times "Ja, komm, Herr Jesu, komm!". The personal decision is supported by the instrumental quotation in the recorders of Johann Leon's hymn "Ich hab mein Sach Gott heimgestellt". The final call to Jesus closes the movement, leading to a long rest. The musicologist Wendy Heller writes:
3
The second vocal movement is a similar combination of ideas, now mostly from the New Testament. It quotes twice what Jesus said on the cross according to the Gospel of Luke. The first quotation, "In deine Hände befehl ich meinen Geist", with an added explanation "du hast mich erlöset, Herr, du getreuer Gott", from Psalm 31, is rendered as an alto aria.The second quotation, "Heute wirst du mit mir im Paradies sein", is a bass arioso, supported by Martin Luther's hymn "Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin", after the , sung by the alto as a cantus firmus.