J.S. Bach / Liebster Gott, wenn werd ich sterben? BWV 8 (Herreweghe) 

I can never listen to Bach without crying yet it can get me up in the morning. There is need for any more explanations, those that love Bach know what I mean. He is the ultimate and most sublime of any composer.

Nothing in Bach is simple - it just sounds that way. ("There is one art, no more, no less; to do all things with artlessness" - Piet Hein) The flute is not a bird call. Each time it plays, it sounds the same pitch 24 times. When local residents died in Bach's time and place, bells tolled 24 times to mark the death. Listen also to how the accompaniment in the 1st movement mimics the ticking of a clock, and how suddenly the first movement ends. Life is transient, Bach is telling us.

How is it that this 17th century genius still hold us spellbound

Ich will nicht wissen wann ich sterben werde. Gott ritte mich von jener Kenntnis. Leben ist schon leidvoll genug!

J.S.BACH ist für mich der größte,feinfühligste,sensibelste,weiseste.Wenn ich Bach höre dann glaube ich mich bereits im Himmel zu wissen..

Bach confronts our mortality and makes its burden bearable.

How beautiful! I can now deal with life

My non-believing father said that he would not want to die if only for the sake of hearing Bach. I do hope that Bach himself was right and that this life is only a bridge to our eternities. His music persuades me of this more than all possible words.

This is one of the most beautiful pieces of Bach's music I've ever heard. This is the first time I've ever heard it. The opening chorus with the repeating notes of the flute is so affective. For me, Bach is the greatest composer that has ever lived. He shows us heaven through his music.

I really don't think organized sound gets any better than this opening chorus.

Magnifique projet que le votre de ressusciter les œuvres de Bach !

The "Liebster Gott" chorus is timeless. There's nothing like it anywhere. It is unearthly, eternal, the intangible stuff from dreams and the mysterious hypnogogic realm of the spirit. The endless universe is in Bach's music.

Quelle beauté et quelle interprétation magnifiquement réussie. Merci Philippe Herreweghe.

Bach is absolutely the greatest composer ever. How unbelieveble that he wrote down his music he just heared in his head and soul and that it all sounds more than perfect, even like heaven and touch you so much, so deep.. I hope to meet him at last as the chiefmusician in heaven.

I'm in another world when i hear Bach, and this one is georgeous.

1.Liebster Gott, wenn werd ich sterben? (0:00) 2.Was willst du dich, mein Geist, entsetzen (6:41) 3.Zwar fuhlt mein schwaches Herz Furcht (10:25) 4.Doch weichet, ihr tollen, vergeblichen Sorgen! (11:20) 5.Behalte nur, o Welt, das Meine! (16:07) 6.Herrscher über Tor und Leben (17:11)

Bach is much more than music

Linda cantata de Bach:" Deus amado, quando morrerei?". O coro de abertura com o som de dois oboés conversando com as cordas e a flauta. Os sinos da morte do movimento de abertura soam nas notas do oboé. Essa cantata expressa esse momento de contemplação diante da morte. Maravilhosa! Bach é Bach .

...sublime ! Ah, cette palpitation, ce dialogue des flûtes, dans l'apaisement d'une "balade" en ce jardin qu'on nomme Paradis !

It seems to me that the two great spiritual composers are Bach and Beethoven. The difference is that Bach concentrates the Infinite in his music, Beethoven expands his music to fill the infinite. All great composers create cosmic music but not, perhaps, so frequently as Bach and Beethoven, who stand at the very forefront of human achievement.

C'est juste la représentation d'une brillante et épique pièce de musique. Le dialogue ici est comme si nous parlions de l'interprétation correcte de l'Écriture. Ce que nous avons ici est une performance flamboyante, bien exécutée, bien pensée et émotionnellement sensible

Hemelse muziek....the best!

Utterly sublime masterwork by the incomparable Bach. Thank you so much Philippe Herreweghe for the glory days of the Collegium Vocale Gent.

Gewoon zeer mooi ! Herreweghe got the right spirit there !!!

When I listen to Bach, I have to suspend my unbelief.

To me this one of the loveliest of Bach's cantatas, because the opening movement is so wonderfully simple, naive, and childlike.

Et cette impression sublime d'apesanteur...

This Cantata, I may have found his best yet, it really sounds like a wistful dream, a fantasy land, completely surreal and magical. What a treat.

Uwielbiam Bacha

the opening chorus is one of musics miracles.

This sound appears to me the most correct I've heard thus far with respect to cantata 8 especially this most delightful, blissful, and joyous first movement. It is if I hear Heaven calling me to eternal rest.

ADORO BACH❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤MILIONI DI❤PER BACH❤GRANDE AMORE MIO❤

A joyful sadness.

Beautiful collection. Multilayered, a lot of things happening at the same time, but still a peaceful end result. All glory to God - that's probably what Bach would say.

Explaining complexity in clear understandable terms: the mark of genius.

Unfolds such a cornucopia of unanticipated beauties like waking to birdsong.

Awesome spirituel!🎼🎶👏🙏🍀🍁

The repeated note motif of the flute matches the art work perfectly!

1. Chor Liebster Gott, wenn werd ich sterben? Meine Zeit läuft immer hin, Und des alten Adams Erben, Unter denen ich auch bin, Haben dies zum Vaterteil, Daß sie eine kleine Weil Arm und elend sein auf Erden Und denn selber Erde werden. ("Liebster Gott, wenn werd ich sterben?" verse 1) 1. Chorus Dearest God, when will I die? My time runs away continually, and the old legacy of Adam, which includes me as well, has this as its inheritance; for a little time to be poor and wretched on the earth and then to become earth itself. 2. Arie T Was willst du dich, mein Geist, entsetzen, Wenn meine letzte Stunde schlägt? Mein Leib neigt täglich sich zur Erden, Und da muß seine Ruhstatt werden, Wohin man so viel tausend trägt. 2. Aria T Why should you recoil, my spirit, when my last hour strikes? My body bows itself daily to the earth, and there must my resting-place be, to which so many thousand are borne. 3. Recitativ A Zwar fühlt mein schwaches Herz Furcht, Sorge, Schmerz: Wo wird mein Leib die Ruhe finden? Wer wird die Seele doch Vom aufgelegten Sündenjoch Befreien und entbinden? Das Meine wird zerstreut, Und wohin werden meine Lieben In ihrer Traurigkeit Zertrennt, vertrieben? 3. Recitative A Indeed my weak heart feels fear, worry, pain: where will my body find rest? Who will yet from its overlaid burden of sin release and free my soul? All that is mine will be destroyed, and what will become of my loved ones, in their grief cut off, exiled? 4. Arie B Doch weichet, ihr tollen, vergeblichen Sorgen! Mich rufet mein Jesus: wer sollte nicht gehn? Nichts, was mir gefällt, Besitzet die Welt. Erscheine mir, seliger, fröhlicher Morgen, Verkläret und herrlich vor Jesu zu stehn. 4. Aria B But hence, you foolish, useless worries! My Jesus calls me: who wouldn't go? Nothing that delights me belongs to the world. Dawn on me, blessed, joyful morning, transfigured and glorious, standing before Jesus. 5. Recitativ S Behalte nur, o Welt, das Meine! Du nimmst ja selbst mein Fleisch und mein Gebeine, So nimm auch meine Armut hin; Genug, daß mir aus Gottes Überfluß Das höchste Gut noch werden muß, Genug, daß ich dort reich und selig bin. Was aber ist von mir zu erben, Als meines Gottes Vatertreu? Die wird ja alle Morgen neu Und kann nicht sterben. 5. Recitative S Keep then, o world, my possessions! You take indeed my flesh and my bones, so take also these poor belongings; it is enough, that from God's abundance the greatest good must come to me, enough, that I shall be rich and happy there. What else is there to inherit from me, other than the fatherly love of my God? This is renewed every morning and can never die. 6. Choral Herrscher über Tod und Leben, Mach einmal mein Ende gut, Lehre mich den Geist aufgeben Mit recht wohlgefaßtem Mut. Hilf, daß ich ein ehrlich Grab Neben frommen Christen hab Und auch endlich in der Erde Nimmermehr zuschanden werde! ("Liebster Gott, wenn werd ich sterben?" verse 5) 6. Chorale Sovereign over death and life, make my end a good one, teach me to resign my spirit with a well-composed courage. Help, that I might have an honorable grave next to righteous Christians and also at last, in the earth, nevermore be dishonored! "Liebster Gott, wenn werd ich sterben?" Kaspar Neumann (before 1697) (verse 1, mov't 1; verses 2-4, source for mov'ts. 2-5; verse 5, mov't. 6)

Excellente interprétation

Now I confirm my foreboding. Millions of people enjoy Bach´s music. It´s the foyer of Heavens. THANKS!!!!!!!!

...God has been enjoying before and after he sent JSB down to earth.... „ Meer sollte er heißen“ ( He should be called Sea) as Beethoven said. RDS

I just knew the Cantata, thus listened to an aria " Doch weichet ,ihn trollen vergiblichen sorgen" about 30 times this weekend...I'm happy to have found it here in youtube.

Ongelofelijk. Goddelijk. Synoniemen zoeken en vinden doen afbreuk aan het niveau van deze muziek. Leve Bach. Dit haalt bijna het niveau van de h moll Messe. Bijna :-)

dzięki Bachowi i Philippe człowiek przestaje się bać śmierci

Heel mooi en lief uitgevoerd. Klinkt machtig. Dankjewel, Lutje

Music made in Heaven, wonderfully played and sung.Thankyou

Its so beautiful

A late friend of mine, who was an organist, music teacher, choir master, and organ consultant, put this on at an Episcopal Church in 1967 when he was a student at the University of Minnesota. He became a choir director when he was still in high school. I like it, but it's not one of Bach's best known cantatas. I bought some good USB speakers and connected them to my I-Mac. Now I have good sound for this sort of thing, but I still need to add a subwoofer.

Thanks for uploading. I had been looking for this version, which I had lost, for ages. I think I heard 'Was willst du dich, mein Geist, entsetzen' about 5 thousand times as a young lad, and I'm doing it again.

i play this when i am in an especially happy mood

Outstanding music.

The singin of a bird! Now we know what the birds say when they're praising to God ;)

This was just the very thing I needed right now. I am so thankful for finding this clip, thank you for uploading it!

Yes the clock ticking its perfect

This is my FAVOURITE cantata.

SO BEAUTIFUL ! THANK YOU FOR POSTING 💖🎶😇💖

Fantastic...beautiful!thank you...

leads us to contemplate the Infinite

Amazing!

Here everyone is scolded immediately, who understands the flutes in the entrance choir as a bird song instead of a death bell. Maybe this is simply Bach's intention: The orchestral accompaniment sounds like a paradisiac idyll with its string pizzicato, like the "Scene by the Bach" from Beethoven's Pastorale! Maybe both are meant: both the death bells and the birds singing in paradise. Hier wird sofort jeder gescholten, der die Flöten im Eingangschor als Vogelgesang statt als Totenglöckchen versteht. Vielleicht ist das schlicht Bachs Absicht: Die Orchesterbegleitung klingt mit seinem Streicherpizzicato wie eine paradiesische Idylle, wie die "Szene am Bach" aus Beethovens Pastorale! Vielleicht ist beides gemeint: Sowohl die Todesglocken als auch die Vögel, die im Paradies singen.

Doch weichet, ihr tollen, vergeblichen Sorgen! is the best

Bach does the most unexpected in the most expected place

Excellent performance.

Thank you for sharing this.

De vez em sempre eu retorno aqui.

Bach = the voice of God............

it is the clock of time ticking

the peeping of the flute is quite birdlike, so I understand the picture. But when I first saw it, I thought of Poe's raven...

bwv8:4 track.. beautiful beautiful flute

Even though it’s in E major, baroque tuning makes it sound E-flat major

I am absolutely convinced that this recording is on Eb Major.

I like the blockflute. It's like a bird singing. Maybe Bach had heard the bird outside while writing this wonderful piece of Music? :-)

Sublime 💙

Helemaal niet triest, mooi. Dankjewel, Lutje

I need some peace I my life

Santo João Sebastião Bach

ALABADO SEA JESUCRISTO

The King .

Querido Dios, ¿cuándo moriré?

how can you maske music from 100 years age very nice

Even Bach had to start somewhere :P

This makes me think of the savanna in Africa

Saturated with Music.

The repeated piccolo notes high above everything else in the 1st movement are too quick to represent funeral bells, and the style is far from funereal. They are better seen as the ticking of life's clock, as the poet asks "how much longer have I got?"

... the birds try as hard as they can.

the flute is supposed to symbolize the death bell that rings through town when someone dies

11:20 Auch hier, welch "paradiesische" Flöte!

Cлава Богу!

Art, or construction. ...or both. ... and then interpretation.

Roughly translated, can it be "Dear Lord, when will be my last hour?"

Quel compositeur dit que Bach devrait s'appeler Fluss (ou Strom), jeu de mot pour ruisseau et fleuve ?

name of the painting?

Liebster Gott, wenn werd ich sterben? ? DIESES LEBEN IST KEIN LEBEN MEHR

Die Arie "Doch weichet, ihr tollen, vergeblichen Sorgen" ist viel zu schnell gespielt. 1). Kann man das weder dem Flötisten noch dem Sänger antun und 2). wird das nur Gehuddel