BWV 6

Bleib bei uns, denn es will Abend werden

Stay with us, for evening is coming

Cantata Complete

About this Work

Cantata BWV 6, entitled Bleib bei uns, denn es will Abend werden ("Stay with us, for evening is falling"), is a sacred cantata for the second day of Easter (Easter Monday). Composed in Leipzig in 1725 during his second year as Thomaskantor, it belongs to the period when Bach had already left the strict cycle of choral cantatas and returned to more varied texts with choral elements. It was premiered on April 2, 1725, in Leipzig. The prescribed readings for Easter Monday included Peter's sermon in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 10:34-43) and Luke's Gospel about the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35), where the disciples ask the stranger (the risen Jesus) to stay because it is getting dark.

The text is by an anonymous librettist (possibly Christoph Birkmann or a contemporary theologian). It begins with verse 29 of Luke's Gospel (Luke 24:29): "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over." It includes in movement 3 two stanzas of the hymn Ach bleib bei uns, Herr Jesu Christ (verse 1 by Philipp Melanchthon, German translation of "Vespera iam venit," and verse 2 added by Nikolaus Selnecker). The final chorale is stanza 2 of Martin Luther's hymn Erhalt uns, Herr, bei deinem Wort. The librettist emphasizes the contrast between light and darkness, faith and unbelief, salvation and sin, relating it to the theme of Emmaus.

The cantata consists of six movements:

  1. Chorus – Bleib bei uns, denn es will Abend werden (extensive opening chorus in madrigal style, with contrasting sections and descending motifs evoking the falling of night).
  2. Aria (alto) – Hochgelobter Gottessohn (with oboe da caccia obbligato).
  3. Chorale aria (soprano) – Ach bleib bei uns, Herr Jesu Christ (two stanzas of the hymn, in trio style with obbligato violoncello piccolo and continuo; in the form of an allemande).
  4. Recitative (bass).
  5. Aria (tenor) – Verleih uns Freud und Trost (or similar, asking for the light of Jesus).
  6. Chorale – Verse from Erhalt uns, Herr, bei deinem Wort (four-part harmony).

The work is solemn and reflective, with a darker and more contemplative character than other Easter cantatas, highlighting the theme of divine light versus darkness.

Instrumentation

  • 2 oboes.
  • 1 oboe da caccia.
  • 2 violins.
  • Viola.
  • Violoncello piccolo (in movement 3, obbligato).
  • Basso continuo.
  • Four-part choir (SATB).
  • Soloists: soprano, alto, tenor, and bass.

The oboe da caccia and violoncello piccolo add warm, expressive colors, reinforcing the introspective tone and symbolism of the fading light.

Movements

6 movements

Instrumentation
Oboe da caccia Choir Viola Violin Oboe Basso Continuo
Text
Original (German)
Bleib bei uns, denn es will Abend werden, und der Tag hat sich geneiget.
Translation
Stay with us, for it is getting late and the day is drawing to a close.

Instrumentation
Oboe da caccia Contralto Basso Continuo
Text
Original (German)
Hochgelobter Gottessohn,
Laß es dir nicht sein entgegen,
Dass wir itzt vor deinem Thron
Eine Bitte niederlegen:
Bleib, ach bleibe unser Licht,
Weil die Finsternis einbricht.
Translation
Highly praised Son of God,
Do not refuse us,
As we now kneel before your throne
And make this request:
Remain, oh remain our light,
For darkness is falling.

Instrumentation
Cello Soprano Basso Continuo
Text
Original (German)
Ach bleib bei uns, Herr Jesu Christ,
Weil es nun Abend worden ist,
Dein göttlich Wort, das helle Licht,
Laß ja bei uns auslöschen nicht.

In dieser letzt'n betrübten Zeit
Verleih uns, Herr, Beständigkeit,
Dass wir dein Wort und Sakrament
Rein b'halten bis an unser End.
Translation
Stay with us, Lord Jesus Christ,
For now it is evening,
Your divine word, the bright light,
Do not let it be extinguished in us.

In these last troubled times,
Grant us, Lord, steadfastness,
That we may keep your word and sacrament
Pure until our end.

Instrumentation
Bass Basso Continuo
Text
Original (German)
Es hat die Dunkelheit
An vielen Orten überhand genommen.
Woher ist aber dieses kommen?
Bloß daher, weil sowohl die Kleinen als die Großen
Nicht in Gerechtigkeit
Vor dir, o Gott, gewandelt
Und wider ihre Christenpflicht gehandelt.
Drum hast du auch den Leuchter umgestoßen.
Translation
Darkness has taken hold
in many places.
But where does this come from?
Simply because both the small and the great
have not walked in righteousness
before you, O God,
and have acted contrary to their Christian duty.
Therefore, you have also overturned the candlestick.

Instrumentation
Violin Viola Tenor Basso Continuo
Text
Original (German)
Jesu, lass uns auf dich sehen,
Dass wir nicht
Auf den Sündenwegen gehen.
Laß das Licht
Deines Worts uns heller scheinen
Und dich jederzeit treu meinen.
Translation
Jesus, let us look to you,
That we may not
Walk in the ways of sin.
Let the light
Of your Word shine brighter upon us
And keep us faithful to you at all times.

Instrumentation
Oboe da caccia Choir Viola Violin Oboe Basso Continuo
Text
Original (German)
Beweis dein Macht, Herr Jesu Christ,
Der du Herr aller Herren bist;
Beschirm dein arme Christenheit,
Dass sie dich lob in Ewigkeit.
Translation
Prove your power, Lord Jesus Christ,
You who are Lord of all lords;
Protect your poor Christianity,
That they may praise you forever.

Recordings

Listen on IDAGIO Maasaki Suzuki · Bach Collegium Japan, Bach Collegium Japan Chorus

Information

Year 1725
Place Leipzig
Occasion Easter Monday
Text Author Anonymous
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