Was willst du dich betrüben
Encyclopedia
Was willst du dich betrüben (Why do you want to distress yourself) is a hymn
in seven stanzas by the German Baroque poet, Lutheran
minister and hymn-writer Johann Heermann
. The chorale
was first published in 1630 during the Thirty Years' War
. It is focused on trust in God, even when facing adversaries.
Buch von der deutschen Poeterey (Book of the German poetry) by Martin Opitz’s, published in 1624, which defended German poetry and set guidelines on how German poetry should be composed.
Heermann lived in Köben
, Silesia
, when he wrote the hymn, an area which suffered under the war. The town was plundered four times. Several times, he lost his possessions and had to flee for his life. Nonetheless, in 1630 in Breslau (now Wrocław, Poland), Silesia, he published a volume of hymns, Devoti musica cordis, Hauss-und Herz-Musica (Latin, German: music for a devout heart, house and heart music), including Was willst du dich betrüben. The volume also contained O Jesu Christe, wahres Licht (O Christ, our true and only light), among "Songs of Tears” in a section "In the Time of the Persecution and Distress of Pious Christians", and Herzliebster Jesu, was hast du verbrochen, "The Cause of the Bitter Sufferings of Jesus Christ, and the Comfort of His Love and Grace", which Johann Sebastian Bach
chose as the first chorale in his St Matthew Passion. The volume contained in a section "A Few Prayers and Meditations" the hymn O Gott, du frommer Gott (O God, Thou faithful God), and Herr, unser Gott, lass nicht zuschanden werden (O Lord, our Father, shall we be confounded). A fourth edition of the volume in 1644 contained Jesu, deine tiefen Wunden (O what precious balm and healing), "Consolation from the wounds of Jesus in all manner of temptation. From the Manual of St. Augustine". These hymns have been described as "the first in which the correct and elegant versification of Opitz was applied to religious subjects, ... distinguished by great depth and tenderness of feeling, by an intense love of the Saviour, and earnest but not self-conscious humility".
.
The seven stanzas have eight lines each, in bar form
(Stollen–Stollen–Abgesang). Each Stollen has two lines, the Abgesang has four, with a rhyme of the outer two lines (5 and 8), and the inner two (6 and 7).
The hymn opens, addressing the "liebe Seele" (beloved soul) of the speaker, such as some psalms do, for example Psalm 103
, . This look at the individual differs from Martin Luther
's approach in his hymn A mighty fortress is our God
, written a century earlier, which covers a similar topic: trust in God against adversaries including Satan, called Teufel (devil) by Luther. The beginning is a paraphrase from Psalm 42
, , in Luther's translation: "Was betrübst du dich, meine Seele, und bist so unruhig in mir? Harre auf Gott" (Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God).
The central fourth stanza begins with strong words on Satan as an enemy: "Wenn auch gleich aus der Höllen / der Satan wollte sich / dir selbst entgegenstellen / und toben wider dich" (Even if, out of hell, Satan wishes to set himself against you, and vent his rage on you).
The final stanza includes as the fifth line "O Vater, Sohn und Geist" (Oh Father, Son and Spirit) as a miniature doxology
.
Was willst du dich betrüben, BWV 107
on the chorale's exact words in 1724, using the tune in common time in movement 1 and in 12/8-time in the final movement 7, both times with the vocal parts embedded in an instrumental concerto
.
Hymn
A hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification...
in seven stanzas by the German Baroque poet, Lutheran
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
minister and hymn-writer Johann Heermann
Johann Heermann
Johann Heermann was a German poet and hymn-writer. He is commemorated in the Calendar of Saints of the Lutheran Church on 26 October with Philipp Nicolai and Paul Gerhardt.- Life :...
. The chorale
Chorale
A chorale was originally a hymn sung by a Christian congregation. In certain modern usage, this term may also include classical settings of such hymns and works of a similar character....
was first published in 1630 during the Thirty Years' War
Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
. It is focused on trust in God, even when facing adversaries.
History
Heermann, the hymn's poet, was influenced by the tractTract (literature)
A tract is a literary work, and in current usage, usually religious in nature. The notion of what constitutes a tract has changed over time. By the early part of the 21st century, these meant small pamphlets used for religious and political purposes, though far more often the former. They are...
Buch von der deutschen Poeterey (Book of the German poetry) by Martin Opitz’s, published in 1624, which defended German poetry and set guidelines on how German poetry should be composed.
Heermann lived in Köben
Chobienia, Lubin County
Chobienia is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Rudna, within Lubin County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland...
, Silesia
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
, when he wrote the hymn, an area which suffered under the war. The town was plundered four times. Several times, he lost his possessions and had to flee for his life. Nonetheless, in 1630 in Breslau (now Wrocław, Poland), Silesia, he published a volume of hymns, Devoti musica cordis, Hauss-und Herz-Musica (Latin, German: music for a devout heart, house and heart music), including Was willst du dich betrüben. The volume also contained O Jesu Christe, wahres Licht (O Christ, our true and only light), among "Songs of Tears” in a section "In the Time of the Persecution and Distress of Pious Christians", and Herzliebster Jesu, was hast du verbrochen, "The Cause of the Bitter Sufferings of Jesus Christ, and the Comfort of His Love and Grace", which Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity...
chose as the first chorale in his St Matthew Passion. The volume contained in a section "A Few Prayers and Meditations" the hymn O Gott, du frommer Gott (O God, Thou faithful God), and Herr, unser Gott, lass nicht zuschanden werden (O Lord, our Father, shall we be confounded). A fourth edition of the volume in 1644 contained Jesu, deine tiefen Wunden (O what precious balm and healing), "Consolation from the wounds of Jesus in all manner of temptation. From the Manual of St. Augustine". These hymns have been described as "the first in which the correct and elegant versification of Opitz was applied to religious subjects, ... distinguished by great depth and tenderness of feeling, by an intense love of the Saviour, and earnest but not self-conscious humility".
Structure and words
Was willst du dich betrüben is focused on trust in God, even when facing adversaries, including SatanSatan
Satan , "the opposer", is the title of various entities, both human and divine, who challenge the faith of humans in the Hebrew Bible...
.
The seven stanzas have eight lines each, in bar form
Bar form
Bar form is a musical form of the pattern AAB.-Original Use:The term comes from the rigorous terminology of the Meistersinger guilds of the 15th to 18th century who used it to describe their songs and the songs of the predecessors, the minnesingers of the 12th to 14th century...
(Stollen–Stollen–Abgesang). Each Stollen has two lines, the Abgesang has four, with a rhyme of the outer two lines (5 and 8), and the inner two (6 and 7).
- Was willst du dich betrüben
- Denn Gott verlässet keinen
- Auf ihn magst du es wagen
- Wenn auch gleich aus der Höllen
- Er richts zu seinen Ehren
- Drum ich mich ihm ergebe
- Herr, gib, daß ich dein Ehre
The hymn opens, addressing the "liebe Seele" (beloved soul) of the speaker, such as some psalms do, for example Psalm 103
Psalm 103
Psalm 103 is the 103rd psalm from the Book of Psalms . The first verse attributes it to King David, the author of many Psalms. J.A...
, . This look at the individual differs from Martin Luther
Martin Luther
Martin Luther was a German priest, professor of theology and iconic figure of the Protestant Reformation. He strongly disputed the claim that freedom from God's punishment for sin could be purchased with money. He confronted indulgence salesman Johann Tetzel with his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517...
's approach in his hymn A mighty fortress is our God
A Mighty Fortress is Our God
"A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" is the best known of Martin Luther's hymns. Luther wrote the words and composed the melody sometime between 1527 and 1529. It has been translated into English at least seventy times and also into many other languages...
, written a century earlier, which covers a similar topic: trust in God against adversaries including Satan, called Teufel (devil) by Luther. The beginning is a paraphrase from Psalm 42
Psalm 42
Psalm 42 op. 42 "Wie der Hirsch schreit" is a composition by Felix Mendelssohn composed in 1837/38 for soloists, mixed choir and orchestra....
, , in Luther's translation: "Was betrübst du dich, meine Seele, und bist so unruhig in mir? Harre auf Gott" (Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God).
The central fourth stanza begins with strong words on Satan as an enemy: "Wenn auch gleich aus der Höllen / der Satan wollte sich / dir selbst entgegenstellen / und toben wider dich" (Even if, out of hell, Satan wishes to set himself against you, and vent his rage on you).
The final stanza includes as the fifth line "O Vater, Sohn und Geist" (Oh Father, Son and Spirit) as a miniature doxology
Doxology
A doxology is a short hymn of praises to God in various Christian worship services, often added to the end of canticles, psalms, and hymns...
.
Tune
The text was sung on the melody of Von Gott will ich nicht lassen. This tune is derived from a secular song, and is similar to the tune Monica, which was popular throughout Europe from the 16th century. The fifth line, the beginning line of the Abgesang, is highlighted, beginning an octave higher than the last note of the Stollen and leading to a rest, after which the other three lines are sung consecutively. Heermann seems to written the text for that tune, because the climax of the words coincides with the climax of the melody in line 5 in most stanzas.Musical settings
Johann Sebastian composed the chorale cantataChorale cantata
In music, a chorale cantata is a sacred composition for voices and instruments, principally from the German Baroque era, in which the organizing principle is the words and music to a chorale. Usually a chorale cantata is in multiple movements or parts. Most chorale cantatas were written between...
Was willst du dich betrüben, BWV 107
Was willst du dich betrüben, BWV 107
Was willst du dich betrüben , BWV 107, is a church cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach. He composed it in Leipzig for the seventh Sunday after Trinity and first performed it on 23 July 1724...
on the chorale's exact words in 1724, using the tune in common time in movement 1 and in 12/8-time in the final movement 7, both times with the vocal parts embedded in an instrumental concerto
Concerto
A concerto is a musical work usually composed in three parts or movements, in which one solo instrument is accompanied by an orchestra.The etymology is uncertain, but the word seems to have originated from the conjunction of the two Latin words...
.
External links
- Johann Heermann on the bach cantatas website
- Cantata BWV 107 Was willst du dich betrüben on the bach cantatas website
- BWV 107 Was willst du dich betrüben text, structure, instrumentation, University of AlbertaUniversity of AlbertaThe University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
- BWV 107 Was willst du dich betrüben English text, University of VermontUniversity of VermontThe University of Vermont comprises seven undergraduate schools, an honors college, a graduate college, and a college of medicine. The Honors College does not offer its own degrees; students in the Honors College concurrently enroll in one of the university's seven undergraduate colleges or...