J. S. Bach - "Ach wie flüchtig, ach wie nichtig", BWV 26 (1/6)

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750)

Opening chorale "Ach wie flüchtig, ach wie nichtig" from the cantata "Ach wie flüchtig, ach wie nichtig" (chorus), BWV 26, Mov. I

Chorale Cantata for the 24th Sunday after Trinity
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach in Leipzig, 1724
First performance: November 19, 1724 - Leipzig

Scoring:
-------------------
Soloists: Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass; 4-part Chorus
Orchestra: transverse flute, 3 oboes, 2 violins, viola, basso continuo (including organ) & horn

Lyrics for Mov.I
-----------------
German (original):
Ach wie flüchtig, ach wie nichtig
Ist der Menschen Leben!
Wie ein Nebel bald entstehet
Und auch wieder bald vergehet,
So ist unser Leben, sehet!

English (translation):
Ah, how fleeting, ah, how empty
Is the life of mortals!
As a mist which quickly riseth
And again as quickly passeth,
Even thus our life is, witness!

French (translation)
Hélas, combien éphémère, combien vaine
Est la vie humaine!
Naissant comme le brouillard
Qui bientôt se dissipe,
Voyez, ainsi va notre vie!

Italian (translation)
Ah, quanto fugace, quanto effimera
è la vita umana!
Come una nebbia che subito si alza
e altrettanto subito svanisce,
così, guardate, è la nostra vita!

Portuguese (translation by The30YearOldVirgin)
Ah, quão fugaz, ah, quão fátua
É a vida dos mortais!
Como' cerrar d'uma névoa
Que logo se desvanece,
Eis a nossa vida, vede!

Russian (translation)
Ах, как мимолётна, ах, как ничтожна
человеческая жизнь!
Как туман скоро опускается,
и также скоро вновь рассеивается,
так и наша жизнь, внимайте!

Spanish (translation)
¡Ay, qué fugaz y vana
es la vida humana!
¡Tan rápido como se cierne la niebla
y así como tan pronto se disipa,
así es nuestra vida, fijaos!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Johann
• Sebastian
• Bach
• Cantata
• BWV
• 26
• Ach
• wie
• flüchtig
• ach
• nichtig
• baroque
• chorus
• chorale
• classical

[wcbroccoli]

Inquiring minds want to know who performs this.

Please correct your notes: "basso continuo including organ & horn".

Bassoon, yes. Horn, no way.

[The30YearOldVirgin]

This version is from Gächinger Kantorei Stuttgart / Bach-Collegium Stuttgart, conducted by Helmuth Rilling and recorded at Gedächtniskirche Stuttgart, Germany.

[The30YearOldVirgin]

As for the horn, the reason why you probably can't hear it in is because it's "corno col soprano", i.e. horn plays the parts of soprano along with the choir. But there is a horn both in this movement and in the sixth one.

I sent you a link with the score through PM since I can't post it here.

I suggest you try to listen to the 6th movement: the performers sing not as loud as they do here, and the horn can be heard more easily.

[wcbroccoli]

A horn might be used to double the voices singing the cantus firmus. Indeed, the Bach Gesellschaft score shows "corno col soprano" (="horn with soprano") on the soprano line of the choruses. But that has nothing to do with "basso continuo".

Your notes state "basso continuo including organ & horn", as though the horn were part of the basso continuo.

The basso continuo would surely include an organ, even a bassoon, but not a horn.

[The30YearOldVirgin]

While I don't understand why do you read "basso continuo (including organ & horn)" instead of what's actually written there, I will concede that the current form (which, btw, it's the same used in bach-cantatas[dot]com) might be misleading.

I will thus change it from "basso continuo including organ & horn" to "basso continuo (including organ) & horn".

Thank you for your contribution!

[diegooogle]

The opening is similar to BWV 111

[rkwittem]

@bassoon1784 I think it's the Bach Collegium Stuttgart under Helmut Riling.

[javierpe9103]

genial maravilloso coro i love bach

[flemishdreams]

Well on Youtube you need actually some images at least to honor the medium. If not, you can as well listen to an audio recording.

I had the vinyl recording of Archiv since I was in my early teens (some ice ages ago) but I gave all my vinyl away to a collector.

Anyways, if you're still virgin at 30, you must be obsessed by Bach. :-p

[bassoon1784]

This is truly great! I love the new dimension your video adds to the music! The pictures really fit the text. But who are the musical performers? Gardiner? Harnoncourt? It's such a great rendition of the cantata!

[zavinullava]

Yeah, especially Orgy's "Candyass" at 2.14:)

[pawtdtmd]

awesome thanks for posting

[jimbobboyorganist]

Wow...what a shot! Enlightening interpretation...taught me a thing or two about pure style. Found myself clutching the desk when the 'Opening Chorus' ended. Abundant thanks for posting.

[flemishdreams]

Great video creation!

[rieder1977]

Danke für dieses Video!

J.S. Bach ist eine wirkliche Bereicherung unser aller Leben.