Bach Cantata: Du Hirte Israel, höre | Ton Koopman, Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir

One of the most beautiful opening choruses and one of the most difficult can be heard in Johann Sebastian Bach's cantata “Du Hirte Israel, höre” (You Shepherd of Israel, hear), BWV 104. Bach expert Ton Koopman and his Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir performed this moving work as part of the Leipzig Bach Festival on June 11, 2023 in Leipzig’s St. Thomas Church.

00:00 Intro
00:07 Prelude
01:01 I. Coro: Du Hirte Israel, höre
04:31 II. Recitativo (Tenor): Der höchste Hirte sorget vor mich
05:10 III.Aria (Tenor): Verbirgt mein Hirte sich zu lange
09:17 IV. Recitativo (Bass): Ja, dieses Wort ist meiner Seelen Speise
10:15 V. Aria (Bass): Beglückte Herde, Jesu Schafe
17:29 VI. Choral: Der Herr ist mein getreuer Hirte

TILMAN LICHDI | Tenor
KLAUS MERTENS | Bass
AMSTERDAM BAROQUE ORCHESTRA & CHOIR
TON KOOPMAN | Conductor & Organist

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) wrote the cantata “Du Hirte Israel, höre”, BWV 104 for the second Sunday after Easter (Misericordia Sunday) in 1774. On what is also called Good Shepherd Sunday, the church traditionally reads about the Good Shepherd from the Gospel of John, chapter 10. There, the Good Shepherd refers to Jesus Christ, who tends and protects his sheep, who represent the faithful.

Starting with the prelude, the instruments suggest the rural ambience of a pastoral. The oboes prepare the pastoral scene with their sound, the violins play triplets. Although this piece was written for the Easter season, the shepherd melodies and the accompanying drone basses create a Christmassy atmosphere. Bach also used them in his Christmas Oratorio in the second cantata, the so-called “Shepherds' Cantata”.

In addition to the two oboes specified by Bach, Dutch conductor Ton Koopman enhances the expressive oboe sound by adding a third: an oboe da cacca, also known as a “hunting oboe,” a curved oboe from the late Baroque period with a deeper sound. Bach used this instrument in his Christmas Oratorio and in his Passions.

In the opening chorus, the shepherds call out to God, entreating him to appear and protect them. Again and again they call out “höre, höre” (hear, hear). But in the bass aria (10:13), with the line “Beglückte Herde, Jesu Schafe, Die Welt ist euch ein Himmelreich“ (Happy flock, Jesus' sheep, the world is a kingdom of heaven for you), there is no longer talk of God, but of Jesus as the faithful shepherd. This solemn bass aria with a slightly lilting instrumental accompaniment, from which the oboes resound as if from afar, is almost a showpiece for the pastoral ambience of the cantata. The final chorale is kept simple. The psalm “Der Herr ist mein getreuer Hirt” (The Lord is my faithful Shepherd) is sung to the well-known chorale melody “Allein Gott in der Höh‘ sei Ehr’” (Alone to God in the highest be glory).

This peaceful cantata is very dear to Ton Koopman’s heart. He says the chorus at the beginning of “Du Hirte Israel, höre” is one of the most beautiful opening movements he knows. But its fugue and changing rhythms do not make it easy for the singers and instrumentalists. “This is a cantata you have to prepare well,” says the early music specialist. “It's not a piece you can pull off the bookshelf and just play.”

Ton Koopman, Dutch conductor, organist, harpsichordist and university lecturer, is one of the leading interpreters of early music, specializing in historically informed performances. He founded his ensemble, the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, in 1979 and the choir in 1992. The ensemble consists of internationally renowned specialists in early music. The instruments played by the musicians are either originals or replicas, so that their interpretations of Baroque music sound as true to the period as possible.

© 2023 Deutsche Welle/Bachfest Leipzig

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