BWV 9

Es ist das Heil uns kommen her

Salvation has come to us

Cantata Complete

About this Work

Cantata BWV 9, entitled Es ist das Heil uns kommen her ("Salvation has come to us"), is a choral cantata (Choralkantate) that belongs to the cycle of choral cantatas, although it was composed to fill a gap in that cycle during the later years in Leipzig. It was composed between approximately 1731 and 1735 in Leipzig. The premiere took place on July 1, 1731 (or possibly July 20, 1732 according to some sources, but most agree on 1731 or around 1731-1732) for the sixth Sunday after Trinity. The readings for the day included the Gospel of Matthew 5:20-26 (part of the Sermon on the Mount, on justice that surpasses that of the Pharisees and reconciliation), which is thematically related to salvation by grace and not by works of the law, the central theme of the hymn.

The work is based on the Lutheran hymn Es ist das Heil uns kommen her by Paul Speratus (published in 1524 in the Achtliederbuch, one of the first Protestant hymnals). The hymn consists of 14 stanzas (although Bach mainly uses the first and last ones). It is a key hymn of the Reformation, emphasizing salvation by faith and divine grace, not by one's own merits. Bach used the text of the hymn literally in the outer movements (stanza 1 in the opening chorus and stanza 12 or final stanza in the concluding chorale). An unknown librettist paraphrased the middle stanzas for the recitatives and arias, adapting them to the theological message of the day.

The cantata consists of seven movements, framed by the opening and closing chorales, typical of the choral cantata format:

  1. Chorus – Es ist das Heil uns kommen her (stanza 1 of the hymn, choral fantasy with cantus firmus in the soprano).
  2. Recitative (bass).
  3. Aria (tenor).
  4. Recitative (alto).
  5. Aria (bass).
  6. Recitative (tenor).
  7. Choral – Final verse of the hymn, harmonized for four voices.

The structure is simpler and more austere than other choral cantatas from the main cycle of 1724–1725, with fewer movements and a more direct focus on the doctrinal message.

The instrumentation is relatively modest, with the flute and oboe providing expressive obbligati in the arias, and a contemplative and devotional character in keeping with the theme of salvation by grace.

Movements

7 movements

Instrumentation
Choir Flute Oboe d'amore Viola Violin Basso Continuo
Text
Original (German)
Es ist das Heil uns kommen her
Von Gnad und lauter Güte.
Die Werk, die helfen nimmermehr,
Sie mögen nicht behüten.
Der Glaub sieht Jesum Christum an,
Der hat g'nug für uns all getan,
Er ist der Mittler worden.
Translation
Salvation has come to us
From grace and pure goodness.
The works that never help,
They may not protect.
Faith looks to Jesus Christ,
He has done enough for us all,
He has become the Mediator.

Instrumentation
Bass Basso Continuo
Text
Original (German)
Gott gab uns ein Gesetz, doch waren wir zu schwach,
Dass wir es hätten halten können.
Wir gingen nur den Sünden nach,
Kein Mensch war fromm zu nennen;
Der Geist blieb an dem Fleische kleben
Und wagte nicht zu widerstreben.
Wir sollten in Gesetze gehn
Und dort als wie in einem Spiegel sehn,
Wie unsere Natur unartig sei;
Und dennoch blieben wir dabei.
Aus eigner Kraft wo niemand fähig,
Der Sünden Unart zu verlassen,
Er möcht auch alle Kraft zusammenfassen.
Translation
God gave us a law, but we were too weak,
That we could have kept it.
We only pursued our sins,
No man could be called pious;
The spirit clung to the flesh
And dared not resist.
We should go into laws
And see there as in a mirror,
How our nature was naughty;
And yet we stuck to it.
By our own strength where none could,
To leave sin's naughtiness,
He would also gather all strength.

Instrumentation
Violin Tenor Basso Continuo
Text
Original (German)
Wir waren schon zu tief gesunken,
Der Abgrund schluckt uns völlig ein,
Die Tiefe drohte schon den Tod,
Und dennoch konnt in solcher Not
Uns keine Hand behilflich sein.
Translation
We had already sunk too deep,
The abyss swallows us whole,
The depths were already threatening death,
And yet in such distress
No hand could help us.

Instrumentation
Bass Basso Continuo
Text
Original (German)
Doch musste das Gesetz erfüllet werden;
Deswegen kam das Heil der Erden,
Des Höchsten Sohn, der hat es selbst erfüllt
Und seines Vaters Zorn gestillt.
Durch sein unschuldig Sterben
Ließ er uns Hilf erwerben.
Wer nun demselben traut,
Wer auf sein Leiden baut,
Der gehet nicht verloren.
Der Himmel ist für den erkoren,
Der wahren Glauben mit sich bringt
Und fest um Jesu Arme schlingt.
Translation
But the law had to be fulfilled;
Therefore came the salvation of the earth,
The Son of the Most High, who fulfilled it himself
And satisfied his Father's wrath.
Through his innocent death
He bought us help.
Whoever trusts in him,
Who builds on his suffering,
Shall not perish.
Heaven is chosen for him
Who brings true faith with him
And firmly wraps his arms around Jesus.

Instrumentation
Contralto Soprano Flute Oboe d'amore Basso Continuo
Text
Original (German)
Herr, du siehst statt guter Werke
Auf des Herzens Glaubensstärke,
Nur den Glauben nimmst du an.
Nur der Glaube macht gerecht,
Alles andre scheint zu schlecht,
Als dass es uns helfen kann.
Translation
Lord, you see instead of good works
On the strength of the heart,
Only faith you accept.
Only faith makes righteous,
Everything else seems too bad,
Than can help us.

Instrumentation
Bass Basso Continuo
Text
Original (German)
Wenn wir die Sünd aus dem Gesetz erkennen,
So schlägt es das Gewissen nieder;
Doch ist das unser Trost zu nennen,
Dass wir im Evangelio
Gleich wieder froh
Und freudig werden:
Dies stärket unsern Glauben wieder.
Drauf hoffen wir der Zeit,
Die Gottes Gütigkeit
Uns zugesaget hat,
Doch aber auch aus weisem Rat
Die Stunde uns verschwiegen.
Jedoch, wir lassen uns begnügen,
Er weiß es, wenn es nötig ist,
Und brauchet keine List
An uns; wir dürfen auf ihn bauen
Und ihm allein vertrauen.
Translation
When we recognize sin from the law,
So it strikes down the conscience;
But this is our consolation,
That we in the gospel
Immediately glad again
And become joyful again:
This strengthens our faith again.
We hope for this in time,
That God's goodness
Has promised us,
But also out of wise counsel
The hour withheld from us.
However, we will be content,
He knows when it is necessary,
And needs no cunning
On us; we may rely on him
And trust in him alone.

Instrumentation
Choir Flute Oboe d'amore Viola Violin Basso Continuo
Text
Original (German)
Ob sichs anließ, als wollt er nicht,
Laß dich es nicht erschrecken;
Denn wo er ist am besten mit,
Da will ers nicht entdecken.
Sein Wort lass dir gewisser sein,
Und ob dein Herz spräch lauter Nein,
So lass doch dir nicht grauen.
Translation
Whether it felt as if he didn't want to,
Let it not frighten you;
For where he is best with,
There he will not discover.
Let his word be more certain to thee,
Even if your heart says no,
Let it not make thee afraid.

Recordings

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

Information

Year 1732-1735
Place Leipzig
Occasion Sixth Sunday after Trinity
Previous Work
All Works
Next Work