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HMA 1951752
Nikolaus Bruhns (1665-1697), organist of the town of Husum, was already regarded towards the
end of his short life as one of the greatest musical talents of his age, and modern musicology
has once more, with hindsight, confirmed the high standing of his compositions. No less a figure
than Johann Sebastian Bach, as reported by his son Carl Philipp Emanuel, ‘loved and studied’
the works of Bruhns and in his early years chose them, along with other north German and French
masters, ‘as models’ for his own creations. Until recently attention has generally been focused
on Bruhns as an organ composer, but in the past few years we have also become increasingly
aware of his sonorous and expressive cantatas. The present recording presents six of them –
exactly half of the total that has come down to us.
Bruhns came of a family of musicians that had been established in Schleswig-Holstein since the
early seventeenth century. After initial studies with his father, who was a pupil of the celebrated
organ master Franz Tunder, he was apprenticed to Dietrich Buxtehude at the age of fifteen. This
instruction was to have a lasting effect on the young pupil, for from that time – as Johann Mattheson
relates – ‘in composition ... he especially endeavoured to emulate the famous Dieterich Buxtehude’.
After a short period of activity in Copenhagen Bruhns was unanimously elected organist of the
Domkirche in Husum early in 1689, when he was still only twenty-four years old, ‘since his like in
composition and performance on all manner of instruments had never before been heard in this
city’. However, he was to occupy this post for only eight years, for he died prematurely on 29.
March 1697.
Those vocal works by Bruhns that have survived probably all date from his time in Husum. Although
in many respects they show a clear affinity with the vocal style of his teacher from Lübeck, they
also display definite personal features that mark them out as a high point in the cantata repertory
before Bach. Such signs of individuality are to be seen, for example, in the choice of poetry to be
set, in the elegantly proportioned and cantabile melodic writing, and above all in the subtle formal
working-out of the compositions, which is capable of giving appropriate expression to the many
varied patterns of the texts on the one hand, whilst on the other creating structuring and unifying
relationships on a musical level in order to achieve a polished and coherent whole. In this respect
Bruhns provided important sources of stimulation for the composers of the early eighteenth
century, and not least for the young J.S. Bach.
The unusual qualities of Bruhns’s musical language are already to be observed in his – probably
early – settings of purely biblical texts. Amongst these is the fine funeral cantata Die Zeit meines
Abschieds ist vorhanden, which handles its different soggetti with consummate ease, partly in a
loose concertante manner and partly in dense contrapuntal writing. The psalm setting Wohl dem,
der den Herren fürchtet is written for two sopranos and bass, a combination of voices often used
in Italian music since Monteverdi’s time, and later common in north Germany also, here supported
by a closely woven string ensemble. This work’s closeness to Italian models is also shown in
melodic details; a conspicuously modern feature is the soloistic, as it were aria-like layout of the
middle verse of the psalm. The psalm cantata in Latin Paratum cor meum follows the same
textural principles, except that here two tenors are used in place of the sopranos. The instrumental
ensemble, consisting of a violin and two bass viols, likewise plays on the contrast between high
and low registers. This piece derives its individual character from the marked concertante
treatment of voices and instruments.
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A piece of especially high quality is the melancholy funeral cantata Ich liege und schlafe. Here, a
passage from Psalm 4 set for tutti frames three soloistic aria-strophes separated by string
ritornellos. The formal structure of the cantata Muß nicht der Mensch auf dieser Erde in stetem
Streite sein is much more complex. The text is pure madrigalian verse, based on Job 7:1. The
exceptional pretensions of this splendid setting are immediately apparent in the extensive sinfonia,
which is followed by two series of arias with tutti refrains. The tonal environment of the basic key
of C major is in several places expanded in astonishing fashion – most daringly in the third strophe
of the first part, which sidesteps as far afield as C sharp major. Comparable spaciousness is to
be found in the Easter cantata Hemmt eure Tränenflut, described in the single surviving source
as ‘Madrigale’. Its text derives from a cycle of cantata poems published in 1690, and also set
by other composers. With its concertante introductory tutti movement, its diversely laid out ariastrophes and its closing movement quoting the music of the Easter chorale Christ lag in
Todesbanden, this is a work that stands on the threshold of the eighteenth-century mixed church
cantata.
Peter Wollny
Translation: Charles Johnston
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1 | Die Zeit meines Abschieds ist vorhanden
2 Thimotheus 4, 6-8
The time of my departure is at hand
2 Timothy 4, 6-8
Die Zeit meines Abschieds ist vorhanden.
Ich habe einen guten Kampf gekämpfet.
Ich habe den Lauf vollendet.
Ich habe Glauben gehalten.
Hinfort ist mir beigelegt
die Krone der Gerechtigkeit,
welche mir der Herr an jenem Tage
der gerechte Richter geben wird.
Nicht mir aber allein, sondern auch allen,
die seine Erscheinung lieb haben.
The time of my departure is at hand.
I have fought a good fight.
I have finished my course.
I have kept the faith.
Henceforth there is laid up for me
a crown of righteousness,
which the Lord, the righteous judge,
shall give me at that day.
And not to me only, but unto all them also
that love his appearing.
2 | Muß nicht der Mensch auf dieser Erden in stetem Streite sein
(Nach Hiob 7, 1)
Must not Man on this earth be in continuous strife?
(after Job 7: 1)
Muß nicht der Mensch auf dieser Erden in stetem Streite sein?
Ja wenn wir nur geboren werden, da find’ sich Furcht und Pein.
Da gibt es schon auf allen Seiten zu kämpfen und zu streiten.
Sind wir gelangt zu unseren Jahren, da geht die Unruh an,
da müssen wir alsdann erfahren, was die Begierde kann.
Dann gibt es auch auf allen Seiten zu kämpfen und zu streiten.
Läuft unser Lebenslauf zu Ende, o weh,
da findet sich Welt, Satan, Sünd und Tod behende,
die sind uns hinderlich,
die machen uns auf allen Seiten zu kämpfen und zu streiten.
Must not Man on this earth be in continuous strife?
For even when we are born it is in fear and pain.
There already, on every side, there is need to struggle and to fight.
When we come into man’s estate, then begins our trouble,
for then we must find out what lust can do.
Then too, on every side, there is need to struggle and to fight.
When our life has run its course, alas,
there spring up the World, Satan, Sin and Death,
they stand in our way,
they oblige us, on every side, to struggle and to fight.
3 | Doch wer sich tapfer hält, behält das Feld,
und überkommt zum Lohne den Kranz der Ewigkeit,
die wunderschöne Krone, die unser Siegesfürst den
Kämpfern selbst bereit’.
Drum so lasset uns mit Haufen, auf den rauhen Kampfplatz laufen,
daß wir bis ans Ende kämpfen und die stolzen Feinde dämpfen.
Ach, aber ach! wir sind ja viel zu schwach,
des Geistes Schwert zu führen,
drum steh’ uns bei, du starker Held,
der du bezwungen hast Tod, Sünde, Höll’ und Welt,
sonst müssen wir verlieren.
Du mußt uns und unsern Waffen, selber Glück und Sieg verschaffen.
Ja, du mußt uns helfen ringen,
bis wir fröhlich können singen.
Triumph! Der Kampf ist gekämpfet,
die Feinde gedämpfet,
der Lauf ist vollendet,
weil alles zu unserm Vergnügen sich endet. Triumph!
But he who carries himself bravely wins the day,
and receives as his reward the laurel wreath of eternity,
the wonderful crown that our Lord of Battles
himself prepares for those who fight.
Then let us run in great number to the rude battlefield,
that we may fight till the end and subdue the proud foe.
But ah, alas, we are already much too weak
To wield the sword of the spirit,
so stand by us, mighty hero,
you who have overcome Death, Sin, Hell and World,
otherwise we are bound to lose.
You yourself must provide good fortune and victory for our weapons.
Yes, you must help us to strive,
until we can joyfully sing:
Triumph! The battle has been fought,
the foe conquered,
the race is run,
for all has ended to our delight. Triumph!
Wohl dem, der den Herren fürchtet
(Psalm 128)
Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord
(Psalm 128)
4 | Wohl dem, der den Herren fürchtet
und auf seinen Wegen gehet.
Du wirst dich nähren deiner Hände Arbeit;
wohl dir, du hast es gut.
5 | Dein Weib wird sein wie ein fruchtbarer Weinstock
um dein Haus herum, und deine Kinder wie
Ölzweige um deinen Tisch herum.
6 | Siehe also wird gesegnet der Mann,
der den Herren fürchtet.
7 | Der Herr wird dich segnen aus Zion,
daß du siehest deine Kinder
und deiner Kinder Kinder Friede über Israel.
Amen.
Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord
and that walketh in his ways.
For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands:
happy shalt thou be well with thee.
Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine
by the sides of thine house: thy children
like olive plants round about thy table.
Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed
that feareth the Lord.
The Lord shall bless thee out of Zion:
thou shalt see thy children’s children.
Peace upon Israel.
Amen.
Ich liege und schlafe
(Psalm 4/9)
I lie down and sleep in peace
(Psalm 4, 9)
8 | Ich liege und schlafe ganz mit Frieden, denn du allein, Herr, hilfest mir,
[daß ich sicher wohne.
9 | Ich hab, Gottlob, das mein vollbracht, Welt, gute Nacht, wir müssen uns
[nun scheiden.
In Jesu Namen sanft und still ich wandern will zur Seligkeit mi Frieden.
In dieser Welt war mir bestellt nur Angst und Not, zuletzt der Tod, jetz
[endet sich mein Leiden.
10 | Ritornello
I lie down and sleep in peace, for thou alone, Lord, dost help me to
[dwell in safety.
I have, praise be unto God, done my duty; world, good night, we now
{must part.
In Jesus’ name I shall softly and quietly go to blessedness in peace.
In this world my lot was but fear and distress, and finally death, now my
suffering does end.
11 | In Jesu Namen schlaf ich ein, er führt allein mich aus dem Tod ins Leben.
Am Kreuzesstamm vergossnes Blut kommt mir zu gut, macht fröhlich
[mich daneben;
der edle Saft gibt rechte Kraft, stärkt mir mein Herz im Todesschmerz,
[kann Freud und Wonne geben.
In Jesus’ name I go to sleep, he alone leads me from death to life.
The blood shed upon the cross’s tree stands me in good stead, and fills
me with joy;
the noble liquid give me great strength, resolves my heart in the pangs
of death, and can grant me joy and bliss.
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12 | Ritornello
13 | In Jesu Namen fahr ich hin, denn mein Gewinn ist Christus, wenn ich
[sterbe.
Ich weiß, daß er mich nicht verläßt, und glaube fest: im Tod ich
[nicht verderbe.
Mir ist bereit in Ewigkeit von Gottes Sohn die Ehrenkron’, das
[rechte Himmelserbe.
In Jesus’ name I depart, for my reward is Christ when I die.
I know that he will not forsake me, and firmly believe that in death
[I shall not perish.
The glorious crown of God’s son is prepared for me for all eternity, heaven’s
true heritage.
14 | Ich liege und schlafe…
I lie down and sleep in peace…
Paratum cor meum
(Psalm 57, 8-12)
My heart is ready
(Psalm 57, 7-11)
15 | Alleluja!
Paratum cor meum, Deus.
Cantabo et psallam in gloria mea.
Exsurge, gloria mea.
Exsurge, psalterium et cithara;
exsurgam diluculo.
16 | Confitebor tibi in populis, Domine,
et psallam tibi in natibus.
Quia magna est sub coelo misericordia tua,
et usque ad nubes veritas tua.
17 | Exaltare super coelos, Deus,
et super omnem terram gloria tua.
Alleluja.
My heart is ready, O God,
I shall sing and give praise upon the psaltry in my glory.
Rise up, my glory;
rise up, psaltry and cithara;
I shall rise up at dawn.
I shall confess you amongst the peoples, O God,
and I shall sing your praise amongst the nations.
For his mercy is great and reaches beyond the heavens,
and your truth unto the clouds.
Rise up above the heavens, O God,
and may your glory rise up over the entire earth.
Hemmt eure Tränenflut
Staunch your floods of tears
18 | Hemmt eure Tränenflut und trocknet ab die nassen Wangen,
die ihr bei Jesu seid zu Grabe mitgegangen,
der heutge Tag ist unvergleichlich gut.
Das Grab ist leer, die Leich ist nicht vorhanden,
der Herr ist ganz gewiß von Toten auferstanden.
and dry your damp cheeks,
you who have accompanied Jesus to his grave,
for this is a day of incomparable joy.
The grave is empty, the body is not to be found:
it is quite certain that the Lord has risen from the dead.
Nun hat es keine Not! Die Feinde sind all überwunden.
Der große Siegesfürst, der führt mit sich gebunden
und träget schon die Sünde, Teufel, Tod.
Nun höret auf ihr Drohen, Wüten, Morden,
weil Jesus hat gesiegt, ist ewger Friede worden.
Now there need be no affliction! The enemy have all been overcome.
The mighty Lord of Battles leads them away with him in chains
and is already bearing Sin, the Devil and Death.
Now end their threats, raging, killing,
for Jesus has triumphed, everlasting peace has begun.
19 | Der Stein war allzu groß. Die Zentnerlast der schweren Sünden,
die drückt und ließe mich gar nirgends Ruhe finden.
Gott sei gedankt, nun bin ich solcher los,
weil Jesus lebt, so lagern sich die Schmerzen,
der allzu große Stein ist abgewälzt vom Herzen.
The stone was too massive, that great burden of heavy sins
that oppressed me and would not let me find rest anywhere.
Thanks be to God, I am now free of it,
for Jesus lives, and so my sorrows can find rest;
that stone too heavy to bear has been rolled from off my heart.
20 | Die Christi Grab bewacht sind weg und haben sich verkrochen,
der starke Simson hat die Tor entzweigebrochen
und trägt sie fort bei finstrer Mitternacht.
So wird er auch, wie er mir hat verheißen,
mich noch mit starker Hand aus allen Nöten reißen.
Those who kept watch over Christ’s tomb are gone, they have crept away,
Samson the strong has broken the door in two
and carries it away in the darkness of midnight.
Thus will he, as he has promised me,
pluck me from all affliction with his strong hand.
21 | Verlaß ich gleich die Welt, mir grauet nicht für meinem Grabe,
weil ich dies Leben selbst im Tode bei mir habe
und Engel sich im Grab zu mir gesellt.
Von Mund auf soll die Seel’ zum Himmel gehen,
der Leib wird auch gewiß von Toten auferstehen.
Now I can forsake the world, my grave has no terrors for me,
because I have this life with me even in death
and angels have joined me in the grave.
The soul shall ascend to Heaven from the mouth,
and the body too will surely rise from the dead.
22 | Amen.
Amen.
Translation: Charles Johnston (2-3, 18-22)
Translation: Derek Yeld (8-14)
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