From St. Ann's Church
S.B. from Manchester
'O Heiliges Geist und Wasserbad'
(Baptismal water - Holy Ghost)
Gladys Sweeney (Soprano)
Constance Feuts (Contralto)
Arthur Wilkes (Tenor)
Reginald Whitehead (Bass)
The St. Ann's Church Choir
The Northern Wireless Orchestra (Strings and Bassoon)
Conducted by T. H. Morrison
George Pritchard at the Organ

One very interesting thing about this Cantata is that the autograph score is thought to be in the handwriting of Bach's second wife, Anna Magdalena. Her handwriting had become so like her husband's that for many years the autograph was taken to be Bach's own, and even now there is some doubt about it. In spite of her large family, which she tended with devoted care, the second Frau Bach found time to become a musician of some accomplishment, and a real help-meet in her husband's work as well as in his household; the MS. of this Cantata is a beautiful piece of careful and painstaking work.
The Cantata is for four solo voices, the chorus having only the Chorale at the end to sing. It could, of course, be sung by the four solo voices, with or without the congregation.
The first aria is in fugal form, and it may be that Bach sought in this rather formal way to Insist on the certainty of grace through baptism. But the whole music is so eloquent an illustration of the text as to need nothing more by way of explanation, unless it be pointed out how in the last aria before the chorale, Bach seizes, as was his way, on one word in the text to give him an idea for illustration. The words speak of the Saviour as 'a little serpent,' the reference being to Moses lifting up the Serpent in the wilderness. Listeners will remember the passage in the third chapter of John: —
'And as Moses lifted up the serpent In the wilderness, oven so must the Son of Man be lifted up.'
In this aria, Bach weaves a sinuous figure through all his accompaniment.
The words of the Cantata are as follows:
I - Aria (Soprano).
Baptismal water, Holy Ghost,
Within God's grace did you enfold us: And In the Book of Life enroll'd us!
O stream, that pure and cleansing flowest, In thy deep might our sins are drowned. With life eternal are we crowned.
II - €Recit. (Hast).
The sinful race of man, of Adam's generation. Hath earned the wrath of God. nian'9 death and his damnation.
For mortal flesh, in evil rife.
Is nought but flesh, from birth with sin acquainted, befouled and attainted.
How blest the Christian's life!
For him hath God a place appointed Amid the host of His anointed. The Christian's robe of white
Hath he put on, to shed It never; He shall be one with Christ. Iu royal robes for ever
At baptism is he dight.
III.—Aria (Alto).
Jesus, by Thy great compassion,
Through Thy baptism dost Thou fashion Me in grace and holy ways.
Help me. Thy will gladly doing, Life in Thee- to be renewing,
Here on Earth, through all my daya.
IV.—Recit. (Bass).
I sware to Thee, Soul's Bridegroom, when that I
A second birth was granted,
To guard for aye the seed then planted, Thou Lamb of God. Most High I
Yet see how oft that promise have I broken. Nor aye fulfilled what I had spoken ; O pity me, turn not away Thy Face.
Forgive me. Lord, hear my conf­ession; Thou know'st how I repent my sore transgression,
My falling from Thy grace.
As gall, hath sin my soul, my body, Feared Help me to serve Thee still unwearied ; Behold the crucifix whereon my Lord was nailed,
Now all my grief is o'er, and strength it mine, that save for Thee had tailed. v.—Aria (Tenor).
Jesus, Victor over death. Let my faith ne'er falter,
Ev'n until my latest breath. Nought can change nor alter
That Thou still my Saviour an. From the world's temptation, Jesus, keep my soul and heart Safe In Thy salvation.
VI.—Choral.
His Word and Faith His people still Shall guard against all evil ;
The Holy Ghost hath taught us,
To Him, in faith, hath brought us.

English Text by D. Millar Craig. Copyright by the B.B.C., 1928.