Goldberg Variations
explain that line, sheep may graze safely where there’s a good shepherd who stays awake and where there’s a good nobleman watching over a blissful nation. Why did Bach set such a line? Well, because he was writing this music for the birthday of Duke Christian in 1713 and he knew which side his bread was buttered. The commission also gives rise to its third name, the Birthday Cantata.
The story behind this work is one of music’s best, with a cast of three. First, a count: Count Kaiserling, who suffered from insomnia. Second comes his much putupon musician, the eponymous Johann Goldberg. Finally, there is Bach. When Kaiserling was up all night, he would make Goldberg play in the adjacent antechamber. Bach’s reputation as a fine composer reached the ears of Kaiserling, so Goldberg was sent to him to be well tutored. When Bach heard of the plight of Goldberg’s boss, he penned the work. It was a genre of music into which he had never before ventured, thinking variations almost a form of musical ‘sheep counting’ (in the most respectful sense) and thus perfect for an insomniac. Luckily for Bach, and also for Goldberg, the new composition helped to ensure that Kaiserling was out for the count. For his troubles, Bach was said to have been paid a goblet full of gold louis d’or.
Recommended Recording
Concentus Musicus Vienna; Nikolaus Harnoncourt (conductor). Warner: 2564 692592. Chart Position 222
Cantata No. 140 The opening words of this cantata, Wachet auf, which translates as ‘Sleepers Awake’, contains a tune written by a Lutheran pastor called Philipp Nicolai. It caught Bach’s attention during his golden Leipzig period. It wasn’t unusual for Bach to transform original melodies by other chorale and hymn-tune composers into his own works of art. The most famous section of this cantata is Part IV: ‘Zion hears the watchmen calling’ and it is here that Nicolai’s tune features. The first performance of this most beautiful of wake-up calls was on 25 November 1731, which was the 27th Sunday after Trinity – the specific day for which the work was written to be performed. It is notable that there can be only 27 Sundays after Trinity in years when Easter falls early. As a result, this now famous
Recommended Recording
Angela Hewitt (piano). Hyperion: CDA30002. Chart Position 155
Cantata No. 208 Not many works in this book are known by three completely different names. Although best known for ‘Sheep May Safely Graze’, this particular work is described as Bach’s Hunting Cantata – a reference to its secular subject matter. Its beacon aria is the ninth movement, Schafe können sicher weiden. To
left Johann Sebastian Bach: Cantata No. 208
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