'Bleib Bei Uns'
(Bide with us)
Belayed from the Guildhall School of Music
Doris Owens (Contralto)
Tom Pickering (Tenor)
Stanley Riley (Bass)
The Wireless Chorus
Ambrose Gauntlett (Violoncello Piccolo)
Edward J. Robinson (Violoncello)
Continuo Edward 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 poetic 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 accompaniment 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 violoncello, or shared between the violoncello 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 never 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):
O bide with us, Thou Saviour dear, Forsake us not when eve is near.
Thy sacred word. clear guiding light, O grant it ne'er be quenched in night. In this our last and weakest hour
Inspire us. Lord. with steadfast pow'r. That undefil'd Thy faith we keep, Until in death secure we sleep.
IV. - Recitative (Bass):
Behold, around us, on ev'ry side, to 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 God is walking, and in the works the Saviour loves abounding; And thus instead of light there is but darkness.
V. - Aria (Tenor):
Lord, to us Thyself 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 depend. That so their thanks may never end.

The text is reprinted by courtesy of Messrs. Novello and Co., Ltd.
The Cantata for Sunday, July 21, is No. 136 'Erforsche mich Gott' ('Thou knowest me God')