S.B. from Manchester
'Die Elenden Sollen Essen'
(He that hung'reth shall be filled)
Gladys Sweeney (Soprano)
Constance Felpts (Contralto)
Arthur Wilkes (Tenor)
Reginald Whitehead (Bass)
The St. Ann's Church Choir
The Northern Wireless Orchestra, conducted by T. H. Morrison
George Pritchard at the Organ
This Cantata has the special Interest for us that it is the one with which the great Bach introduced himself to the congregation of the Thomaskirche on his first Sunday as their cantor and organist; that was on Slay 30, 1723. We know from contemporary records that they received it with the warmest approval. Its text is based on the Gospel for that Sunday - the passage in St. Luke which tills the story of Dives and Lazarus. It is a long Cantata, In two parts, but its structure is quite simple, and no doubt intentionally so. Bach probably did not wish to begin his new task by making any startling innovation on what the good Leipzigers were used to.
The first chorus, as in at least one other Cantata which has already been broadcast, is in the form of the customary French overture of that age, beginning with a slow section and passing to one in fugal style. The words are taken from a Psalm, one in which the German version is different from ours. 'Die Elenden' means 'the wretched ones,' and in our version the corresponding word is 'the meek.' The first part of the opening chorus elaborates the German idea of the sorrowful ones in a very serious strain, and the joyous movement Illustrates the words which correspond to the English 'Your heart shall live for ever.'
Each part of the Cantata is concluded with the same chorale, both times fitted with a beautiful orchestral accompaniment, elaborated from the first line of the choral melody, and the sinfonia with which the second part begins is a fantasia on the same tune. It is the only case in which Bach makes such an orchestral fantasia out of a chorale.
Several of the solo numbers are beautiful and expressive, particularly the bass air 'My heart is glad,' which has a splendid trumpet part in the accompaniment.
English text by D. Millar Craig, copyright B.B.C., 1929.
I.- Chorus:
He that hung'reth shall be filled, and the meek be glad.
They that seek the Lord truly, shall ever praise Him.
Evermore your heart shall be joyful.
II.- Recitative (Bass):
Of what avail is majesty, for it must pass? Of what avail thy plenteous store?
For mortal riches vanish, and are no more. And what avails it sin to cherish
When ev'n thy mortal frame must perish ? All unaware, shall we be stricken.
And riches, pleasures, pride, the Spirit shall destroy.
III.- Aria (Tenor):
My Jesus still my all shall be.
For me His precious blood did flow, So His compassion did He shew,
And of His love the radiant glow, For me the wine of life shall be.
IV.- Recitative (Tenor):
God ord'reth and commandeth Time and Eternity!
Whoso on earth seeks Heav'n to know, to death shall go.
But whoso here the might of Hell withstandeth, shall blessed be.
V.- Aria (Soprano):
Then gladly my sorrows upon me I take, Who Lazarus' grieving endureth, believing On him shall a wondrous light break.
VI.- Recitative (Soprano):
God gave to man his understanding, that so the Christian's life on earth be pass'd in gladness and contentment. Yea, though he come through bitter need to death, yet at the last God leadeth him to rest.
VII.- Chorale:
What God doth, that is wise and right t Yea, though the cup appal me, No terror shall my soul affright, No evil can befall me ;
For at the last when life is past, I know, in Him believing,
There shall be no more grieving.
VIII.- Sinfonia.
IX.- Recitative (Alto):
Our fear alone the faithful spirit grieveth: when he bethinks how poor and weak his faith. He still in God believeth, Who made the heav'ns and earth, yet mourns he still the dearth of fruit His vineyard sheweth no plenteous harvest His, he knoweth.
X.- Aria (Alto):
Jesu gives me wealth untold,
With His breath my life inspireth, Nought beside my heart desireth. So His grace doth me enfold.
XI.- Recitative (Bass):
Whoso to Jesu clings, and sacrifices brings. and in God's love remaineth, and earth disdaineth, when death all earthly chains unbindeth, himself and God he findeth.
XII.- Aria (Bass):
My heart is glad and lives
In Jesu's love, that, glowing, O'er all my soul is flowing ;
And, bounteous grace bestowing, To me Himself He gives.
XIII.- Recitative (Tenor):
Ye needy, ye are rich indeed
When heart and spirit from worldly thought are freed,
And Jesus only reigns Instead.
Ev'n so His own to God are led IÃÂ Grant, God, that we Thy grace inherit.
XIV.- Chorale (Same as So. VII).
