Ich ruf' zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ, BWV639 (Bach/Kempff) - from CDA67309 - Hyperion Records

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Track(s) taken from CDA67309

Digital booklet (PDF)

Ich ruf' zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ, BWV639

composer

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

circa 1713/7; Weimar; Orgelbüchlein

arranger

Wilhelm Kempff (1895-1991)

Angela Hewitt (piano)

Recording details: April 2001
Henry Wood Hall, London, United Kingdom
Produced by Ludger Böckenhoff
Engineered by Ludger Böckenhoff
Release date: August 2001
Total duration: 2 minutes 48 seconds

Cover artwork: Front photograph of Angela Hewitt. Steve J Sherman

Reviews

‘A magnificent addition to both the Bach repertoire and Angela Hewitt's artistically unparallelled survey of Bach's keyboard compositions’ (Fanfare, USA)

‘A collection of rarities and oddities that makes for enjoyable listening. The quality of the Hyperion recording is excellent, with the right balance of ambience and instrument in the fine sounding Henry Wood Hall’ (Pianist)

‘For pure listening pleasure that is both delightful and profoundly moving, this one is hard to beat’ (National Post)

‘One of the foremost Bach interpreters of our time, Hewitt brings her own distinctive timing and touch. She makes the most of the piano’s sonority … demonstrating remarkable finger strength in sustaining the various lines of Bach’s melodies and counter-melodies and effectively drawing out the tenderness, vigour and serenity of the music. [An] attractive and impressive recording’ (The Inverness Courier)

‘Divine, uplifting’ (Ottowa Citizen, Canada)

Ich ruf’ zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ, BWV639 is a hymn of supplication, and the only trio in the collection. Of course the tune is beautiful, but it is the middle voice, whose constant semiquavers unhurriedly fill in the harmonies, and the throbbing, pulsating bass which add the shape and colour to match the words:

Ich ruf’ zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ,
Ich bitt, erhör mein Klagen;
Verleih mir Gnad zu dieser Frist,
Laß mich doch nicht verzagen.
Den rechten Glauben, Herr, ich mein,
Den wollest du mir geben, dir zu leben,
Meinm Nächsten nütz zu sein,
Dein Wort zu halten eben.

I call to Thee, Lord Jesus Christ,
O hear my sore complaining!
In Thy good time unto me list,
thine ear to me inclining!
True faith in Thee, O Lord, I seek;
O make me now and wholly love Thee solely,
my neighbour hold as self,
And keep Thy word e’er holy.

Ich ruf’ zu dir, Herr Jesus Christ, BWV639 est une supplique à Dieu. Bien entendu, la mélodie est d’une grande beauté, mais c’est la voix médiane, dont les croches constantes emplissent sans précipitation les mélodies et la basse sanglotante qui ajoutent les contours et couleurs répondant aux mots:

Je crie vers toi, Seigneur Jésus-Christ, je t’en prie, écoute mes plaintes,
Accorde-moi ta grâce en ce jour, ne me laisse pas tomber dans le découragement!
La vraie foi, Seigneur, veuille bien me l’accorder:
Donne-moi de vivre toujours pour toi, d’être utile au prochain,
D’observer toujours ta parole.

Kempff handelt sich um eine flehentliche Hymne und das einzige Trio der Sammlung. Natürlich ist die Melodie schön, aber es sind die Mittelstimme, deren ununterbrochene Sechzehntel ohne Eile die Harmonien ausfüllen, und der pochende, pulsierende Baß, die eine dem Text angemessene Form und Klangfarbe beitragen:

Ich ruf’ zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ,
Ich bitt, erhör mein Klagen,
Verleih mir Gnad zu dieser Frist,
Laß mich doch nicht verzagen;
Den rechten Glauben, Herr, ich mein,
Den wollest du mir geben, Dir zu leben,
Meinm Nächsten nütz zu sein,
Dein Wort zu halten eben.

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Ich ruf' zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ, BWV639

Angela Hewitt (piano)

Reviews

Introduction