Relayed from the Church of the Messiah, Birmingham
' ACH, GOTT, VOM HlMMEL SIEH' DAREIN '
(' Ah ! GOD IN MERCY LOOK FROM HEAVEN')
RYSPAH GOODACRE (Contralto)
TOM PICKERIKG (Tenor) ARTHUR CRANMER (Bass)
G. D. CUNNINGHAM (Continuo)
The BIRMINGHAM STUDIO CHORUS and ORCHESTRA
Conducted by JOSEPH Lewis
THE text of the Cantata for the second Sunday after Trinity is taken from Luther's version of Psalm xii.
The accompaniment is for strings, two oboes, four trombones, and the customary continuo, the wind instruments being used for the most part to reinforce the voices.
For the first Recitative, by the tenor, the accompaniment is for continuo alone, for the bass Recitative and arioso it is for strings, while in the alto aria there is a solo violin part.
The aria which precedes the final chorale is thought by Dr. Schweitzer to have been taken from some other work for inclusion in this Cantata.
The first chorus is in motet form, and is sometimes sung apart from its context, as a motet. The chorale melody is given throughout to the alto voices, the other voices imitating the melody, alike as preface and accompaniment to it; the tenors begin, followed with the same melody, by basses and soprano.
Chorus.—Ah God, in mercy look from heav'n, and save us by Thy favour. How few Thy saints among us now, abandoned we poor wretches. For faithless men deny Thy word, and true belief is perished quite among the sons of Adam.
Recitative (Tenor),—Their doctrines all are false and vain, against the Lord and His eternal truth ; naught else but man's imagination. O sorrow ! that the Church this wrong should suffer, while her the Scriptures can sustain. One makes his choice of this and one holds that; they shape their course by Reason's faithless rays, and dead men's graves they do resemble, which to the eye are fair to see, but foul within their mould'ring chambers with dead men's bones and all uncleanness.
Aria (Alto).—Let the doctrine perish which the Word perverteth. May we keep from false belief and every factious spirit, for with aweless lips they speak and dare defy the Almighty.
Recitative (Bass).—The poor forsaken lie, their sighs, their bitter weepings, their many pains and needs, whereby the foe the pious soul afflicteth, the gracious ear of God Almighty now hath heard. Wherefore saith God : I must their helper be, I have their crying heard, the Star of Hope shall rise, the brightness of the Sun of Righteousness shall lighten all their path, shall be their Comforter to quicken and to guide. Myself their sad distress will pity; my saving Word shall be their strength in weakness.
Aria (Tenor).—Thro' fire the silver pure becomes, and by the Cross God"s word is stablish'd so Christian men throughout their lifetime in pain and grief must patient be.
Chorale.--Grant us, O Lord, to keep the faith amid a faithless nation, tho' men their part with Satan take, no pow'r of hell can ever shake the Church's sure foundation.
The words (English version by Dr. E. TV. Naylor) are reprinted by permission of Messrs. Breitkopf and Hartel.