 |
      |
|
|
| THE COFFEE CANTATA: J.S. BACH
Amor Artis Chorale and Baroque Orchestra
And soloists perform Cantatas and Motets
Ann Monoyios, soprano
John Ostendorf, bass-baritone
Stephen Oosting, tenor
Johannes Somary, conductor
Anniversary Edition 1750 – 2000
250 Years since the deat |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| THE COFFEE CANTATA: J.S. BACH
Amor Artis Chorale and Baroque Orchestra
And soloists perform Cantatas and Motets
Ann Monoyios, soprano
John Ostendorf, bass-baritone
Stephen Oosting, tenor
Johannes Somary, conductor
Anniversary Edition 1750 – 2000
250 Years since the death of Johann Sebastian Bach
Tracks:
Cantata No. 158, "Der Friede sei mit dir," BWV 158
1. Recitative: "Der Friede" - 1:50
2. Air: "Welt, Ade" - 6:14
3. Recitative: "Nun, Herr" - 1:38
4. Chorale: "Hier ist" - 1:20
5. Motet: Furchte dich nicht, ich bin bei dir, motet for chorus & continuo, BWV 228 - 8:34
6. Motet: Der Geist hilft unser Schwachheit auf, motet for chorus & continuo, BWV 226 - 8:05
Cantata No. 211, "Schweigt stille, plaudert nicht," ("Coffee Cantata"), BWV 211
7. Recitative: "Schweigt Stille" - 0:35
8. Air: "Hat man nicht" - 3:03
9. Recitative: "Du boses Kind" - 0:35
10. "Ei, wie schmeckt" - 4:14
11. Recitative: "Wenn di mir nicht" - 1:10
12. Air: "Madchen" - 2:23
13. Recitative: "Nun, folge" - 0:55
14. Air: "Heute noch" - 6:19
15. Recitative: "nun geht" - 0:45
16. Trio: "Die Katzen" - 4:26
Notes & Translation
by John Ostendorf
ln the years before his appointment as Kantor at Leipzig in 1723, Johann Sebastian Bach had
served in various musical capacities in other German cities, notably Arnstadt, Weimar and
most recently at Cothen. In each, he worked more or less at the whim of a wealthy, potentially temperamental, patron. While his new employment in the prosperous city of Leipzig did represent
a demotion in job description (he had held the loftier position of Kappellmeister before),
now the job promised stability—working for the city magistry—handsome accommodations,
good schooling for his sons. Further, the expansive range of his duties called on Bach to pro-
provide music and oversee performances at four principal city churches and for special occasions
for many venues in Leipzig. Best of all, at age 43, Bach could now rely on superb musical forces
at the churches and from a good pool of professional city musicians. Boy choristers - always
a tricky issue owing to youth and dreaded, ever-approaching puberty - were superior in num-
bers and musicianship. They provided the crucial treble (soprano and alto) membership for his
choral forces.
Composing for the Sunday service was at the heart of Bach's duties. This meant
music for the choir, and following the tradition of previous cantors, he delivered the weekly
cantata, a 15-18 minute, multi-movement composition to sacred texts, either from Lutheran bible
or provided by local librettists. Movements for solo voices were often augmented by choral movements. Accompaniments ranged from simple continuo with a solo
instrument or two or a more elaborate string complement, and—on fancier occasions—winds
and even brass. More than 200 such works survive and there is evidence that another 100
Bach cantatas do not.
Cantata BWV 158, Der Friede sei mit dir, for bass voice, treble chorus, solo violin,
Oboe and continue dates from earlier than this period (probably composed at Weimar), but like
many such works was recycled by Bach in the 1720s in Leipzig. The principal feature of the
cantata is the duet role the solo violin and voice so expressively play. A treble chorale tune
weaves in and out of the central aria.
Cantata BWV 211, Schweigt stille, plaudert nicht, "Coffee Cantata," is the princi-
pal offering of this CD, not only for its popularity and length, but for its uniqueness in Bach's
oeuvre. Only a handful of the cantatas employ secular themes, none as lively as this little
domestic drama, about as close to actual comic opera as Bach—unlike his contemporary and
friend Telemann, who wrote many, would come.
In 1729 Bach expanded his church duties to the directorship of the Leipzig
Collegium Musicum, a voluntary society of professional musicians and university students
who gave weekly concerts outside the church sphere. Performances took place in good
weather on Wednesday afternoons in the garden outside Herr Zimmermann's coffee house,
and inside on Friday evenings during Leipzig winters.
The obsession with coffee, while exaggerated in Picander's silly libretto about a
rebellious teenager who insists to her distraught father that she is addicted to the brew,
found its resonance in Germany in the early 18th century. Coffee had only recently been
introduced to bourgeois society and was a craze. In Bach's extensive work, the bubbling (per-
colating?) solo flute is joined by strings and continuo. Father Schlendrian, a bass, faces off
against his soprano daughter, Lieschen. A tenor narrator completes the trio.
For certain non-Sunday occasions where solo voices and large orchestra were not
required, Bach often supplied the sacred motet, of 10-15 minutes length, to be performed as
an introit, usually at funeral or marriage services. With excellent forces available, he creat-
ed elaborate choral fugues, often in eight-parts, with only continuo accompaniment. Given
the difficulty, for instance, of Der Geist hilft, the composer did offer an optional version with
instruments doubling the challenging choral lines.
How many sacred motets Bach wrote is unknown—alas, only six survive. Furchte
dich nicht was created in 1726 for the memorial service of the wife of the local Chief of
Police, its text taken from Isaiah. Der Geist hilft was first heard three years later at the funer-
al of the rector of St. Thomas.
1. DER FMEDE SEI MIT DIR
Cantata BWV 158
German
Der Friede sei mit dir, du angliches Gewissen.
Dein Mittier stehet hier, der hat dein Schuldenbuch,
Und des Gesetzes Fluch verglichen und zerissen.
Der Friede ... Der Fiirste dieser Welt der deiner Seele
Nachgestellt ist durch des Lammes Slut
Bezwungen und gefallt.
Mein Herz, was bist du so betrubt da dich doch Gott
Durch Christum liebt. Er selber spricht zu mir:
"Der Friede sei mit dir."
English
Peace be with you, my troubled spirit.
Your Savior stands here; he knows the record of your sins',
compares it to the Original Sin, then discards it.
Peace be... This world's kings who have tempted
your soul are, by the blood of the Lamb,
conquered and crushed.
My heart, how can you grieve if God so loves you
through his only Son? He speaks to you:
Peace be with you.
2. Air & Chorale
German
Welt, ade! Ich bin dein milde.
Salems Hiitten steh'n mir an, wo ich, Gott,
Ruh und Friede ewig selig schauen kann.
Da bleib' icb, da hab' ich vergniigen zu wohnen.
Da prang' ich gezieret mit himmlichen Kronen.
English
World, farewell! I am your weary child.
Zion's towers arise before me, where I, God,
in peace and joy will soon dwell forever.
There I shall live, there I will know pleasure,
there exalted, adorned with Heaven's crown.
3. Recitative
German
Nun, Herr, regiere meinen Sinn, damit ich auf der Welt,
So lang es dir, mich hier zu lassen noch gefallt.
Ein Kind des Friedens bin. Und lass mich, zu dir
Aus meinen Leiden wie Simeon in Frieden scheiden.
English
Now, Lord, govern my soul here on earth,
For as long as it pleases you for me to remain here.
I am a child of joy. Then lead me to you from life’s
sorrow, like Simeon, departing this world in peace
4. Chorale
German
Hier ist das rechte Osterlamm davon Gott hat geboten.
Das ist hoch an des Kreuzes Stamm
In heisser Lieb' gebraten. Das Blut zeichnet uns're Tiir,
Das halt der Glaub dem Tode fur.
Der Wflrger kann uns nicht ruhren. Alleluja.
English
Here is the true Easter lamb given by God.
He'hangs upon the risen cross, radiant with love,
His blood is imprinted upon our door,
our own faith stops Death's hand,
and the murderer cannot reach us. Hallelujah!
5. FURCHTE DICH NICHT
German
Flirchte dich niclil, ii:h bin hei dir
Weiche nicht denn icli bin drill Gott.
Ich starke dich, ich hilte dir auch,
Ich erhalte dich durch die rechte Hand
Meiner Gerechtigkeit.
Fiirchte dich nicht denn ich habe dich erioset.
Ich habe dich bei deinen Namen gerufen: du bist mein.
English
Do not he afraid, for I am with you.
Fear not, for I am your God.
I strenglhen you, and I also lift you up.
I raise you up with the left hand
of my righteousness.
Do not fear, for I have saved you.
called you by your name. You belong to me.
Chorale
German
Herr, mein Hirt, Brunn aller Freuden
Du bist mein, ich bin dein.
Niemand kann uns scheiden.
Ich bin dein weil du dein Leben
Und dein Blut mit zu gut in den Tod gegeben.
Du bist mein weil ich dich fasse
Und dich nicht, 0 mein Licht,
Aus dem Herzen lasse.
Lass mich hingelangen, da du mich
Und ich dich, lieblich, werd umfangen. Furchte ...
English
Lord, my shepherd, the source of all joys,
you are mine and I am yours.
No man can part us.
I am yours since you gave me life
and your blood, for my benefit, for my death.
You are mine because I embrace you,
and never, my eternal light, will
I release you from my heart,
Lead me to the place where you will lovingly enfold me
and I thee. Do not be afraid ...
6. DER GEIST HILFT
German
Der Geist hilft unsrer Schwachheit auf.
Denn wir wissen nicht was wir beten sollten
Wie sichs gebuhret.
Sondern der Geist selbst vertritt uns
Aufs beste mit unaussprechlichem Seufzen.
Der aber die Herzen forschet
Der weiss was des Geistes Sinn sei.
Denn er vertritt die Heil'gen nach dem das Gott gefallet.
Du heilige Brunst, siisserTrost, nun hilft uns,
Frohlich und getrost in deinem Dienst bestandig bleiben,
Die Triibsal uns nicht antreiben.
0 Herr, durch dein Kraft uns bereit und stark
Des Fleisches Blodigkeit dass wir hie ritterlich ringen
Durch Tod und leben zu dir bringen. Halleluja.
English
The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we
do not know for what we should pray
as our obligation.
However, the Spirit itself intercedes for us
on our behalf with indescribable sighing.
Still, he that can read every heart
knows what is in the mind of the Spirit,
because he intercedes for the Saints as God commands
Holy fire, sweet consolation, help us now, that
happily and comfortably we may serve thee
and not be paralyzed by grief.
0 Lord, prepare us by your might, fortify our
weak flesh thai we cm valiantly struggle, passing
through life and death to come to you. Hallelujah!
COFFEE CANTATA
7. RECITATIVE: Narrator (to the audience)
German
Schweigt stille, plaudert nicht und horet was jetzund
geschicht. Da kommt Herr Schlendrian mit seiner
Tochter Lieschen hier. Er brummt ja wie ein ZeidelBar.
Hort selber was sie ihm getan!
English
Quiet! Stop chatting and listen to what is going on.
Here we have Mister Schlendrian and his little daughter
He 's roaring like an old circus bear.
Just listen to what she 's putting him through!
8. AIR: Papa Schlendrian (enters grumbling)
German
Hat mann nicht mit seinen Kindern
Hunderttausend Hudelei!
Was ich immer alle Tage meiner Tochter Lieschen
Gehetohne Frucht vorbei.
English
A man gets absolutely nothing from his children
but a hundred-thousand headaches!
And what I tell my daughter Lizzie
sage every single day
falls on totally deaf ears.
9. RECITATIVE: Papa (to his daughter Lizzie who enters)
German
Un hoses Kind. du loses Madchen. Ah! wenn eriang'
ich mcincn Zweck? Tu mir den Kaffee weg!
English
Naughty child, wicked little girl, how can I get it
across to you? Get that coffee out of my sight!
Lizzie (calmly)
German
Herr Vater, seid doch nicht so scharf! Wenn ich des Tages
nlicht dreimal mein Schalchen kaffee trinken darf, so werd
ich zu meiner Qual wie ein verdorrtes Ziegenbratchen.
English
Dad, don't be so cranky! If I don't my cup of
coffee at least three times a day, I will turn to my
horror into an old goat!
10. AIR: Lizzie
German
Ei, wie schmeckt der Kaffee susse,
Lieblicher als tausend Kusse, milder als Muskaten Wein.
Kaffes muss ich haben und wenn Jemand mich will laben
Ach, so schenkt mir Kaffee ein!
English
Oh, how good coffee tastes, lovelier than
a thousand kisses, sweeter even than Muscatel wine.
I've got to have coffee and if someone wants to please
me, they need only pour me a cup!
RECITATIVE: Papa (trying a new approach)
German
Wenn du mir nicht den Kaffee lasst, so sollst du auf
kein Hochzeitsfest, auch nicht spazieren gehen.
English
If you won't give up the coffee, you'll go to no more
parties, you won't even get out for a walk.
Lizzie
German
Ach, ja. Nur lasset mir den Kaffee da.
English
OK, fine. Just let me have my coffee.
Papa (to himself)
German
(Da hab' ich nurden kleinen Affen!) Ich will dir
keinen Fischbeinrock nach jetz'ger Weite schaffen...
English
(I've got a regular little monkey here.) Now look here,
I won't buy you that skirt that's all the rage now...
Lizzie (doesn't care)
German
Ich kann mich leicht dazu versteh'n.
English
Yes, I can easily understand that. Daddy.
Papa
German
... du sollst nicht an das Fenster treten, und...
keinen seh'n vorubergehen...
English
... I'll not let you look out your window to watch
your friends stroll by...
Lizzie
German
Ach dieses! Doch seid nur gebeten und lassen mir
den Kaffee zu!
English
I can even put up with that. All I'm asking is that
you let me have my coffee!
Papa
German
Du sollst auch nicht von meiner Hand ein silbern
oder gold'nes Band auf deine Haube kriegen!
English
...and you're not getting my silver ring nor that gold
brooch you wanted for your bonnet!
Lizzie
German
Ja, ja! Nur lasset mir mein vergnugen!
English
Fine! Fine! Just give me my one pleasure!
Papa
German
Du loses Lieschen, du...so gibst du mir denn Alles zu.
English
Lizzie, you... just explain this all to me.
12. AIR: Papa (.trying to regroup)
German
Madchen, die von harten Sinnen,
Sind nicht leichte zu gewinnen!
Doch trifft man den rechten Ort,
0, so kommt man glucklich fort!
English
Teenage girls with stubborn heads
are not so easily won over.
But if a father just uses his wits,
he may just end up getting his way.
13. RECITATIVE: Papa
German
Nun, folge was dein Vater spricht!
English
Now, will you do what your daddy says?:
Lizzie
German
In Allem, nurden Kaffee nicht!
English
Yes, in all things, just not the coffee.
Papa (pulls out the heaviest artillery):
German
Wohlan! So musst du dich bequemen auch
niemals einen Mann zu nehmen.
English
So be it. You'll have to face life without
a husband.
Lizzie (faltering)
German
Achja, Herr ater, einen Mann...
English
Oh my, papa, no husband...
Papa: (thinking he's making headway now)
German
Ich schwore dass es nicht geschicht!
English
I swear that will happen!
Lizzie
German
...bis ich den Kaffee lassen kann?
Nun Kaffee, bleib nur immer liegen. Herr Vater,
Hort, ich trinke keinen nicht!
English
...not unless I give up coffee?
Well, beloved coffee, I forsake you forever. Dear dad,
I'll never drink another cup!
Papa: (so pleased, he doesn't notice her fingers are crossed)
German
So sollst du endlich einen kriegen!
English
Oh, then you will surely find a man!
13. AIR: Lizzie
German
Heute noch, lieber Vater, tut es doch. Ach, ein Mann!
Dieser steht mir trefflich an! Wenn es sich
Doch balde fugte dass ich endlich vor Kaffee
Dass ich einen Liebsten kriegte, eh' ich noch
Zu Bett geh' einen wackern Liebsten kriegte!
English
Oh, make it happen today, daddy. Ah, a husbad!
One must be out there waiting for me. Soon it will
happen that in exchange for forsaking my coffee, I'll
have a boyfriend. Maybe even before bedtime I will
get a gallant new suitor!
14. RECITATIVE: Tenor
German
Nun geht und sucht der alte Schlendrian wie er vor
Doch, Lieschen streuet heimlich an: "Kein Freier komm
mir in das Haus er hab es mir denn selbst versprochen
und ruck' es auch der Ehestiftung ein dass mir eriaubet
moge sein den Kaffee, wenn ich will zu kochen!"
English
Off goes old man Schlendrian to try to find a
Man for his daughter Lizzie. Meantime Lizzie had discretely
spread the word: “No man need come over to my house
until he has personally pledged and written
into the marriage vow that I shall be permitted to brew
my coffee when and where I like!”
15. TRIO
German
Die Katze lasst das Mausen nicht.
Die Jungfrau bleiben Kaffeeschwestern.
Die Mutter liebt den Kaffeebrauch,
Die Grossmama trank solchen auch,
Wie will nun auf die Tochter lasstern?
English
The cat cannot leave the mice alone
and teenage girls can't stay away from coffee.
Mom loves her coffee habit and even
Granny drank plenty of it in her day,
so why should the daughter be any different?
----------------------------------------------------
CREDITS:
Edward Brewer, harpsichord, baroque organ
Ruth Waterman,
solo violin for Cantata #158
Daniel Waltzman, solo flute for
Coffee Cantata, #211,
Myron Lutzke, cello
Digital Engineering and Editing
Timothy Martyn and Malcolm Addey
Recorded at Merkin Concert Hall and
St. Jean Baptiste Church, New York City
Liner notes by John Ostendorf
Cover photo by Nick Fritsch
Design by G.S. Cram-Drach
Executive Producer, Nick Fritsch
Compact Disc produced by John Ostendorf
Lyrichord Early Music Series |
|
|
|
 |
|