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Non sa che sia dolore, BWV 209

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Non sa che sia dolore (He knows not what sorrow is), BWV 209, is a secular cantata composed by Johann Sebastian Bach and first performed in Leipzig in 1747.

Contents

History and text

Bach likely composed this cantata as a farewell for Lorenz Albrecht Beck (1723-1768). The librettist for the work is unknown.

Scoring and structure

The piece is scored for solo soprano voice, flauto traverso, two violins, viola, and basso continuo.

The cantata has five movements:

  1. Sinfonia
  2. Recitative: Non sa che sia dolore
  3. Aria: Parti pur e con dolore
  4. Recitative: Tuo saver al tempo e l'età contrasta
  5. Aria: Ricetti gramezza e pavento

Music

Bach may have derived the opening sinfonia in B minor from a previous concerto. It includes a prominent "baroque 'weeping' figure". The first recitative uses tonality to underline the meaning of the "quasi-philosophical" text. The following da capo aria is in E minor and features a flute obbligato. The second recitative is short and secco, contrasting sharply with the final "ebulliently major" da capo aria.

Recordings

  • Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields, Neville Marriner. Bach Cantatas. EMI, 1973.
  • Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, Ton Koopman. J.S. Bach: Complete Cantatas Vol. 4. Erato, 1996.
  • The Bach Ensemble, Joshua Rifkin. J.S. Bach: Weichet nur betrübte Shatten "Hochzeitskantate". Decca, 1989.
  • Cologne Soloists Ensemble, Helmut Müller-Brühl. Maria Stader singt Kantaten von Johann Sebastian Bach. Pelca, 1965.
  • Orchestra of the Bach Guild, Anton Heiller. J.S. Bach: Cantata Nr. 51; Cantata Nr. 209. Amadeo, 1952.

    • References

    Non sa che sia dolore, BWV 209 Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA