(No. 6) BACH
'BLEIB BEI UNS'
(Bide with us)
Relayed from the Guildhall School of Music
DORIS OWENS (Contralto)
TOM PiGKERING (Tenor)
STANLEY RILEY (Bass)
THE WIRELESS CitORUS
AMBROSE GAUNTLETT
(Violoncello Piccolo)
EDWARD J. ROBINSON
( Violoncello)
Continuo EUGENE CRUFT (Bass)
LESLIE WOODGATE (Organ) "
THE WIRELESS ORCHESTRA
(Oboes and Strings)
Conducted by STANFORD ROBINSON
The most impressive part of this
Cantata is the opening chorus; it is always regarded as among the most noble and p tie of all the great Bach's conceptions. It sets the words of the disciples, ' Abide with us,' with a wonderful sense of their affection, blended with their pleading. And in both the German and the English versions. an impressive effect is made by the way in which the accent falls first on the word ' bide,' next on • with ' and the third time on 'us.' Then where the text tells of evening drawing nigh, the voices sink down as though oppressed by the coming of night, and the music of the accompani ment suggests an anxious trembling. There is a middle section where the time changes to four-in-the-bar, and the cry is still more insistent, and at the end the opening mood of pleading returns. The final close is in major, with a wonderful effect of gladness as though the watchers suddenly knew that their prayer was heard
The second number is a very beautiful alto aria with an obbligato for oboe da caccia, usually replaced now by the English Horn, and then there follows a Chorale for the treble voices with a full and expressive orchestral accompaniment. It has an obbligato for the old violoncello piccolo, now usually replaced either by the cello, or shared between the 'cello and viola.
' .The tenor aria, number five, lying very high and difficult to sing, is instinct with tenderness. It is finely accompanied by the strings and continuo alone. In the final Chorale, dignified and simple. all the instruments, two oboes, oboe da caccia, strings and continuo, reinforce the voices.
I.—Chorus :
Bide with us, for eve is drawing onward. and the day is now declining.
II—Aria (Alto): .-
Thou, whose praises nerer end,
Son of God, vouchsafe to hear us : While before Thy throne we bend. Let Thy favour still be near us. Grant, 0 grant us needful light. Thro' the coming hours of night.
III.— Chorale (Treble):
0 bide with us. Thou Saviour dear, Forsake us not when eve is near.
Thy sacred word. clear guiding lisht, 0 grant it ne'er be quenched in night. In this our last and weakest hour.
Inspire us. Lord, with steadfast powr. That undeflTd Thy faith we keep, Until in death secure we sleep.
IV.—Recitatire (Bass) :
Behold, around us, on ev'ry Bide b darkness still increasing. And if we ask whence comes this darkness, hence It comes. 'Tis that, from the least to the greatest, scarce one in righteousness before his Cod ts walking, and in the works the Saviour loves abounding; And thus instead of light there is but darkness.
V.—Aria (Tenor) !
Lord, to us Thysell be showing
That no more we in ways of sin be going. May the light of Thy word on men be shining
All to trust in Thee inclining.
VI—Chorale :
Lord, Jesus Christ, Thy pow'r display; Thou, Lord, whom other lords obey,
Thy servants with Thy grace defend, That so their thanks may never end.
The text is reprinted by courtesy of Messrs.
NoveUo and Co., Ltd.
The Cantata for Sunday, July 7, is : —
No. 9.
' Es ist das Heil uns kommen her.'
(' Behold Salvation is at hand.')