Tilge, Höchster, meine Sünden, BWV 1083


Tilge, Höchster, meine Sünden, BWV 1083, is an arrangement by Johann Sebastian Bach of Pergolesi's 1736 Stabat Mater. Bach used a German paraphrase of psalm 51 as text for his composition. The incipit translates as "Cancel, Highest, my sins". Bach wrote his version in the 1740s, slightly expanding the orchestral material. It is indicated as Motetto, i.e. motet, in the header of Bach's manuscript of the arrangement.

History and text

Tilge, Höchster, meine Sünden is a musical parody of the Stabat Mater which Pergolesi had composed in 1736. It uses a German text based on Psalm 51.
The parody version was made 1745/1747. A first performance in 1746-1747 in Leipzig has been assumed. Bach's performance of Tilge, Höchster, meine Sünden, before Pergolesi's work was printed for the first time in 1748, is the earliest demonstrable performance of this music by Pergolesi in Germany.

Scoring

Bach's version is scored for soprano and alto soloists, two concertante violin parts, two ripieno violin parts, viola, violone, violoncello, and basso continuo.
Bach's orchestration is richer than Pergolesi's original. Where in Pergolesi's version the viola often plays in unison with the continuo, Bach increases the independence of this instrument, thus creating the four-part harmony typical of his own style.

Recordings