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The Johannine emphasis during Lent is on Jesus' life on earth as the mid-point in the Great Parabola of descent (anabasis) through incarnation in his kenosis (emptying, Phil. 2:5-11, CRI Voice Institute) and the ascent or "lifting up" (catabasis) in glory referred to in today's lectionary Gospel B (John 3:14). His "lifting up" is "the root of the connection between [the St. John Passion] "Herr unser Heerscher" and "Es ist vollbracht"; it is bound up with Jesus's descent/ascent character, his coming, from above and oneness with the Father, to whom he ultimately returns," says Eric Chafe.1 The 4th Sunday in Lent, Laetere, emphasizes "Rejoice," from Introit Psalm 122:1, "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord" (kjv) in Bach's time as well as the gospel of John, still used in today lectionary but with different Gospel readings. The fourth Sunday in Lent, Laetare (Wikipedia), signifies "Laetere Jerusalem" ("Rejoice, O Jerusalem"), which is from Isaiah 66:10: "Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all you who love her; rejoice with her in joy, all you who mourn over her" (NRSV).
Last 3 Sundays in Lent, John's Gospel
While the Lenten season in six Sundays moves from Jesus tempted in the desert to his ministry in the world and eventually to his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the Passiontide culminates in his sacrificial atonement in his Passion on the cross on Good Friday. The 4th and 5th Sundays in Lent before the final Palm Sunday and Holy Week of the Passion focus on John's Gospel in Bach's single lectionary, as well as in today's three-year lectionary, although the readings are different. In Bach's day the Gospel of John readings involved Jesus affirming his identity through the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000 with bread and fish (John 6:1-15, Bible Gareway) on Laetare Sunday, and in his confrontation with the Pharisees saying, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, before Abraham was, I AM (John 8:58f, Bible Gateway) on Judica Sunday. This was a "pattern that centers on Jesus's divine identity and his manifesting his glory in the form of 'signs' (miracles) of highly symbolic character," says Chafe (Ibid.: 102), "associated with the discourse in which Jesus identifies himself as the 'bread of life'" (John 6:25-59, Bible Gateway). These were two of the Jesus "I am" proclamations, that culminated in his final acknowledgement during his Passion where his identity was the central issue, when asked if he was Jesus of Nazareth. The current three-year Revised Common Lectionary offers readings from John's Gospel for the following services in Lent: +3rd Sunday in Lent, John 2:13-22 (Lectionary Library); +4th Sunday in Lent, John 12:20-33 (Lectionary Library); Palm Sunday, Mark 11:1-11 or John 12:12-16 (Lectionary Library); +Monday in Holy Week, John 12:1-11 (Lectionary Library); Tuesday in Holy Week, John 12:20-36 (Lectionary Library); +Wednesday in Holy Week, John 13:21-32 (Lectionary Library); +Maundy Thursday, John 13:1-17, 31b-35 (Lectionary Library); Good Friday, John 18:1-19:42 (Lectionary Library); +Holy Saturday, Matthew 27:57-66 or John 19:38-42 (Lectionary Library).
The three-year Revised Common Lectionary for Laetare 4th Sunday in Advent, says John S. Setterlund,2 suggests the most appropriate cantata the Laetare Gospel (John 6:1-15) is anytime chorus Cantata 21.1, Part 1, "Ich hatte viel Bekümmernis" (I harbored so much distressing woe, Ps. 94:19; Ambrose trans.; BCW). In today's 3-year lectionary Year B, Laeteri, 10 March 2024, readings (Lectionary Library), the Gospel reading Jn. 3:14-21 uses the Pentecost Monday chorus Cantata 68, "Also hat Gott die Welt geliebt" (In truth hath God the world so loved, Jn. 3:16, Ambrose trans.; BCW), alternate Pentecost Monday solo Cantata 174, "Ich liebe den Höchsten von ganzem Gemüte" (I love the Almighty with all of my spirit, Ambrose trans.; BCW). For Year C, Laeteri, 30 March 2025; readings, Lectionary Library), the Gospel, Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 (Lectionary Library), Prodigal Son), Trinity 19 chorale Cantata 5, "Wo soll ich fliehen hin?" (Where shall I refuge find, Ambrose trans.; BCW), alternate Trinity 22 tenor solo Cantata 55, "Ich armer Mensch, ich Sündenknecht" (I, wretched man, I, slave to sin, Ambrose trans.; BCW). For Year A, Laeteri, 15 March 2026; readings, Lectionary Library), the Gospel, John 9:1-41 (Lectionary Library), Jesus healing blind man); Trinity 21 chorale chorus Cantata 38, "Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu Dir" (In deep distress I cry to thee, Penitential confession Psalm 130, Ambrose trans.; BCW), alternate Estomihi chorus Cantata 23, “Du wahrer Gott und Davids Sohn” (Thou, very God and David's Son, Ambrose trans. BCW, Jesus as Messiah).
Laeteri, Judica Lenten Sundays, Prescribed Chorales
The single-year readings in Bach's time for Laetare Sunday were Introit Psalm 122, a trust psalm In Praise of Jerusalem, full kjv text Bible Gateway. Midway in the six-week Lenten period, Laeteri (Wikipedia) signifies a change from sorrow to three-fold joy as a moveable feast through the day's Collect "comfort of God's grace," the Epistle (Galatians 4:21–31, Two Covenants) of the true freedom of the "children born after the spirit," and the Gospel refreshment in the "giving of the bounteous Christ," says Paul Zeller Strodach.3 Laeteri Sunday also is known as "Refreshment Sunday" for the Gospel, John 6:1-15, the Miracle of the Feeding of the 5000 with bread and fish (Bible Gateway).4 Because of the Laeteri and Judica Sundays emphasis on affirmation, Bach's Neu Leipziger Gesangbbuch prescribed the following chorales: Hymn of the Day, "Herr Jesu Christ, wahr Mensch und Gott" (Lord Jesus Christ, true man and God, NLGB 338, Death & Dying); and the Communion/Pulpit Hymns, "O Jesu Christ, meins Lebens Licht" (O Jesus Christ, my life's light, NLGB 374, Death & Dying), "In dich hab ich gehoffet, Herr" (In you I have placed my hope, Lord, NLGB 254, Psalm 31), "Christe, der du bist Tag und Licht" (Christ, you are the day and light, NLGB 205 Catechism evening song) and its Latin version, "Christe qui lux es et dies," as well as Hymns related to the Passion of Christ (e.g. pp. 122–177 in the NLGB. These also were the same designated chorales for the 5th Sunday in Lent, Judica, in the NLGB. Cantatas for the 4th Sunday in Lent (Lateri) in Bach's time are found at IMSLP. Other cantatas are Georg Philipp Telemann: "Du bist verflucht, o Schreckensstimme," TWV 1:385 (Harmonischer Gottes-Dienst, Hamburg 1726); Christoph Graupner: List of cantatas by Christoph Graupner#GWV 1123; and Gottfried Heinrich Stölzel: "Danke für alles dem der dich geschaffen" (1738). German composers with cantatas for Laeteri that were consistently presented at the Gotha Court and in Hamburg included Christoph Graupner in Darmstadt with "Alle Fülle aller Segen," GWV 1123/22 (1722); "Befiehl dem Herrn deine Wege," GWV 1123/36 (1736), and "Aus Gottes reichen Allmachtshänden" (1744); Gottfried Heinrich Stölzel in Gotha, "Jesus von Nazareth war ein Prophet, mächtig von Taten und Worten" (String Cycle, ?Leipzig 11 March 1736), "Ich bin arm und elend" (c1750), and "Danke für alles dem der dich geschaffen (c1760); Johann Philipp Käfer in Baden, "Siehe des Herren Auge" (d.1728); Wolfgang Carl Briegel, "Evangelische Gespräche" (Gotha 1660), and Georg Benda "Du öffnest deine Hand, L.541" (Gotha c1780).
Bach Lenten Cantatas, Motets
There are only a handful of Bach cantatas extant for the Lenten season: for Oculi (3rd Sunday) in Weimar are alto solo Cantata 54, "Widerstehe doch der Sünde" (Stand steadfast against transgression, Ambrose trans.; BCW), and SATB solo Cantata 80.1(a), "Alles, was von Gott geboren" (All those of whom God is father, Ambrose trans.; BCW. About the same time, Bach produced the first of three versions of Francesco Bartolomeo Conti's Latin soprano motet, "Languet anima mea amore tu" (My soul languishes for love of you), performed by J.S. Bach in Weimar 1716, in Köthen 1718-1722, and in Leipzig 1724 (BCW). Near the end of his life c.1746-47, Bach created an arrangement BWV 10835 of Pergolesi's Stabat Mater, a Latin motet for soprano, alto, violin, and strings, set as a German contrafaction to Penitential Psalm 51, Miserere mei, Deus (Have mercy on me, O God, verses 3-20), "Tilge, Höchester, meine Sünden" (Blot out, Highest, My Transgressions, Ambrose trans.), translator unknown, possibly Picander. These cantatas and motets could have been performed during Lent in Leipzig at the progressive Paulinerkirche University Church or the New Church.
Gustav Adolf Theill 3 Bach Lenten Time Cantatas
Other recent research, especially by the Bach scholar, composer and arranger Gustav Adolf Theill (1924-97), "attracted particular attention with the reconstruction of works by Johann Sebastian Bach that were lost or only preserved as fragments. His most important work in this respect has become the reconstruction and completion of Bach's St Mark Passion" (Wikipedia), says Wikipedia (Wikipedia), followed by three Bach cantatas for Lent time. Extant are Theill realizations of pre-Lenten Cantata “Valet will ich dir geben” (I want to bid you farewell) for the 6th Sunday after Epiphany, Ernstscherzhafte und satyrische Gedichte. Leipzig, Boetii Tochter 1732-1737, page 127 (Internet Archive), which fell on 13 February 1729 on Septuagesimae Sunday, which uses musical material from bass solo profane Cantata 203,6 "Amore traditore" (O Love, thou art a traitor), first aria and third aria, "Chi in amore ha nemica la sorte" (To all lovers who have an enemy in fortune), soprano recitative "Nun, falsche Welt!" (Now, treach'rous world!, Ambrose trans.) from Trinity 16 chorale chorus Cantata 95, "Christus, der ist mein Leben" (Lord Christ, he is my living), and closing chorale, “Jesu, der du meine Seele” (Jesus, by whom my soul), BWV 354 or BWV 262, "Alle Menschen müßen sterben" (Everybody must die), Theill's score, “Valet will ich dir geben,” with forward, published by Forberg Verlag in Bonn, 1984 (Source, Schmieder BWV [203] catalog 1990: 328). Theill also borrowed Lenten Sunday texts from Picander's 1728-29 full cycle (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Picander_cycle_of_1728–29: copy, Google paste), for Laetare Sunday (4th in Lent, 27 March 1729), "Wer nur den lieben Gott läßt walten"7 (Whoever lets only the dear God reign, Francis Browne English trans.; text, Ernstscherzhafte und satyrische Gedichte. Leipzig, Boetii Tochter 1732-1737, page 139 (Internet Archive)), and for the next Lenten Sunday (5th), Judica (3 April 1729), "Böse Welt, schmäh immerhin" (Bad world, I insult after all, Google trans.), BWV 209a,8 based on Cantata 209,9 text Ernstscherzhafte und satyrische Gedichte. Leipzig, Boetii Tochter 1732-1737, page 140 (Internet Archive). The Laeteri and Judica 4th and 5th Lenten Sundays are discussed at length, as well as the Italian Cantatas 203 and 209 as materials for Lenten Cantatas BWV 209a and "Valet will ich dir geben" (see "Cantatas for Lent Sunday," BCW: scroll down to "4th, 5th Sundays in Lent, Judica Cantata BWV 209a").
Judica (5th Sunday in Lent)
In Bach's one-year lectionary, the 5th Sunday in Lent,.Judica, is held on March 17 with the readings10 of the Old Testament, Jer. 31:31–34; Psalm Introit 119: 9-16; Epistle, Heb. 5:1-10; and Gospel, Mark 10:(32– 34) 35–45 (Son of Man comes to serve. The 5th Sunday in Lent, also known as "Passion Sunday" (Wikipedia), Judica, takes its name from the first word of the Introit Psalm 43, Judica me, Deus (Judge me, O God), a prayer to God in time of trouble (Bible Gateway). The two readings in Bach's time in the one-year lectionary were Hebrews 9:11–15 (Heavenly Sanctuary) and John 8:46–59, Jesus last words in debate with the Pharasees, "Before Abraham was, I am." The Gospel (John 8:46-59 is not found in today's three-year lectionary. Today's Year B three-year lectionary Gospel for Judica, 17 March 2024, is John 12:20-33 (Son of Man glorified; servanthood, Bible Gateway). The Epistle is Hebrews 5:5-10 (Jesus glorified, Bible Gateway). The First Reading is God's fifth and final covenant, Jeremiah 31:31-34 (Bible Gateway). The Psalm reading is penitential Psalm 51, Miserere mei, Deus (Have mercy on me, O God). Bach's most appropriate setting for this Sunday is the motet, BWV 1083,11 "Tilge, Höchester, meine Sünden" (Blot out, Highest, My Sins), was composed in Leipzig 1746/47 as a transcription of Pergolesi's Stabat Mater, in a paraphrase of Psalm 51 (BCW, YouTube). It was appropriate for Lent and Good Friday Services and was performed March 15 in Albuquerque (Facebook).
Today's 3-year Revised Common Lectionary for the Fifth Sunday in Lent (Judica) has the following: Year (B), 17 March 2024, readings (Lectionary Library), Gospel John 12:20-33 (Lectionary Library), Son of Man glorified), Cantata BWV 1083, alternate Trinity 11 chorale Cantata 114, "Ach, lieben Christen, seid getrost" (Ah, fellow Christians, be consoled, Ambrose trans.; BCW). Year C, 6 April 2026; readings (Lectionary Library), Gospel John 12:1-8 (Lectionary Library), pure-hyymn Motet BWV 227, "Jesu, meine Freude"" (Jesus, my true pleasure, Ambrose trans.; BCW: scroll down to "Discussions in the Week of June 19, 2016 (4th round"), alternate penitential Cantata 150, "Nach dir, Herr, verlanget mich" (For thee, Lord, is my desire, Ps. 25:1-2, Ambrose trans.; BCW. Cantatas for the 5th Sunday in Lent (Judica) are found at IMSLP; specific works Bach may have known are Georg Philipp Telemann: "Wer ist, der dort von Edom kömmt?" TWV 1:1584 (Harmonischer Gottes-Dienst, Hamburg 1726); Christoph Graupner: see List of cantatas by Christoph Graupner#GWV 1124; and Gottfried Heinrich Stölzel: "Ihr Heiligen lobsinget dem Herren" (1738). The 3-year lectionary also has special services such as Martin Luther, Renewer of the Church, 18 February18, Gospel John 15:1-11 (Bible Gateway, I am the true vine), Purification solo Cantata 82, "Ich habe genug" (I have now enough, Ambrose, trans,; BCW), and Joseph, Guardian of Jesus, 19 March, Gospel Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24a (Oremus Bible Browser), 1 Advent chorus Cantata 36, "Schwingt freudig euch empor" (Soar joyfully aloft, Ambrose trans.; BCW.
(Editor''s Note: Texts. for the Theill Bach Cantata adaptations follow.)
ENDNOTES
1 Eric Chafe, J. S. Bach's Johannine Theology: The St. John Passion and the Cantatas for Spring 1725 (Oxford University Press, 2014: 331).
2 John S. Sutterlund, Bach Through the Year: The Church Music of Johann Sebastian Bach and the Revised Common Lectionary (Minneapolis MN: Lutheran University Press, 2013: 43f), Amazon.com.
3 Paul Zeller Strodach, The Church Year: Studies in the Introits, Collects, Epistles, and Gospels (Philadelphia PA: United Lutheran Publication House, 1924: 121).
4 Laetare readings: Epistle (Galatians 4:31-31), English kjv 1612 (Bible Gateway) Luther German 1545 (New Christian Bible Study); and Gospel (John 6:1-15), Bible Gateway, New Christian Bible Study); Luther Gospel sermon, Martin Luther's Sermons.
5 BWV 1083, BCW; text, UVM; Bach Digital, Bach Digital; description, Wikipedia; score, Wikipedia; recording, YouTube; performance, Friends of Cathedral Music-Bach and Pergolesi (KFHM).
6 BWV 203, Amore traditore (O Love, thou art a traitor, Ambrose trans; BCW); description BCW, text BCW; score BCW; liner notes, BCW recording, YouTube; Bach Digital Bach Digital.
7 Laetare Cantata "Wer nur den lieben Gott läßt walten" (Whoever lets only the dear God reign), with the closing chorale, "Dein Seel lebend, bewahr dein Leib" (text, Ernstscherzhafte und satyrische Gedichte. Leipzig, Boetii Tochter 1732-1737, page 139 (Internet Archive)), research suggests that this work may have been a partial parody of Bach's Italianate bass sole Cantata 203, "Amore traditore" (O Love, thou art a traitor, Ambrose trans.; BCW).
8 BWV 209a, Böse Welt, schmäh immerhin, the cantata for Judica of Picander's 1728–29 libretto cycle, a 1983 reconstruction by Gustav Adolf Theill, based on music of the secular cantata BWV 209, publication WorldCat Libraries.
9 Cantata 209, "Non sa che sia dolore" (He knows not what true grief is, Ambrose trans.); description, BCW; text, BCW; score, BCW; liner notes, BCW; recording, YouTube; Bach Digital, Bach Digital.
10 Judica readings, Epistle (Hebrews 9:11-15), English, Bible Gateway; German, New Christian Bible Study. Gospel (John 8:46-59), English, Bible Gateway; German, New Christian Bible Study); Luther's Sermon, Martin Luther's Sermons).
11 Cantata BWV 1083, "Tilge, Höchester, meine Sünden" (Blot out, Highest, My Sins); description, BCW; discussion, BCW; text, UVM; score, Carus-Media; music, YouTube. |
