Es ist euch gut, daß ich hingehe, BWV 108

Bach composed the cantata in his second year in Leipzig for the Fourth Sunday after Easter, called Cantate. The prescribed readings for the Sunday were from the Epistle of James, "Every good gift comes from the Father of lights" ({{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=James|chapter=1|verse=17|range=–21}}), and from the Gospel of John, Jesus announcing the Comforter in his Farewell Discourse ({{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=John|chapter=16|verse=5|range=–15}}). In his second year Bach had composed chorale cantatas between the first Sunday after Trinity and Palm Sunday, but for Easter returned to cantatas on more varied texts, possibly because he lost his librettist.

Between Easter and Pentecost Bach's congregation heard a series of nine cantatas with texts by a new librettist, Christiana Mariana von Ziegler. As the average interval between the performances was less than a week (they were not only for Sundays; there were additional ones for Ascension Day and Pentecost), Bach may have been composed at a correspondingly intense rate, although it is not known when he began work on them. The first of the series was {{lang|de|Ihr werdet weinen und heulen}}, BWV 103, followed a week later by Es ist euch gut, daß ich hingehe. It begins with a bass solo as the {{lang|la|vox Christi}} delivering a quotation from the gospel ({{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=John|chapter=16|verse=7}}); a second quotation appears in movement 4 ({{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=John|chapter=16|verse=13}}). Movements 2 and 3 deal with the hope for salvation; movement 5 is a prayer for guidance until death. The poet used as the closing chorale the tenth stanza of Paul Gerhardt's hymn "{{lang|de|Gott Vater, sende deinen Geist|italic=no}}" (1653), expressing faith in God's guidance.

The cantata text was published in 1728 in Ziegler's first collection, {{lang|de|Versuch in gebundener Schreibart}}. The version set by Bach was slightly different, as he shortened the text here as in other cantatas by the same librettist. The music survived in a holograph manuscript, but was not published until 1876 when the cantata appeared in the Bach Gesellschaft´s first complete edition of Bach's work.{{IMSLP|work=Es ist euch gut, daß ich hingehe, BWV 108 (Bach, Johann Sebastian)|cname=Es ist euch gut, daß ich hingehe, BWV 108}}

Bach structured the cantata in six movements, beginning with a biblical quotation for the vox Christi, Jesus speaking. A set of aria and recitative is followed by a chorus on another biblical quotation from the gospel, while an aria leads to the closing chorale. Bach scored the work for three vocal soloists (alto (A), tenor (T) and bass (B)), a four-part choir, and a Baroque instrumental ensemble of two oboes d'amore (Oa), two violins (Vl), viola (Va) and basso continuo. The duration of the cantata is given as 20 minutes.

In the following table of the movements, the scoring follows the Neue Bach-Ausgabe. The keys and time signatures are taken from Alfred Dürr, using the symbol for common time (4/4). The continuo, playing throughout, is not shown.

{{Classical movement header | show_text_source = yes | work = Es ist euch gut, daß ich hingehe | instruments1 = Oboe | instruments2 = Strings }}

{{Classical movement row

| id = m1

| number = 1

| title = {{lang|de|Es ist euch gut, daß ich hingehe|italic=no}}

| text_source = {{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=John|chapter=16|verse=7}}

| type = Aria

| vocal = B

| instruments1 = Oa

| instruments2 = 2Vl Va

| key = A major

| time = {{music|common-time}}

}}

{{Classical movement row

| id = m2

| number = 2

| title = {{lang|de|Mich kann kein Zweifel stören|italic=no}}

| text_source = anon.

| type = Aria

| vocal = T

| instruments1 =

| instruments2 = Vl

| key = {{nowrap|F-sharp minor}}

| time = {{music|common-time}}

}}

{{Classical movement row

| id = m3

| number = 3

| title = {{lang|de|Dein Geist wird mich also regieren|italic=no}}

| text_source = anon.

| type = Recitative

| vocal = T

| instruments1 =

| instruments2 =

| key =

| time = {{music|common-time}}

}}

{{Classical movement row

| id = m4

| number = 4

| title = {{lang|de|Wenn aber jener, der Geist der Wahrheit kommen wird|italic=no}}

| text_source = {{nowrap|{{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=John|chapter=16|verse=13}}}}

| type = Chorus

| vocal = SATB

| instruments1 = 2Oa

| instruments2 = 2Vl Va

| key = D major

| time = {{music|common-time}}

}}

{{Classical movement row

| id = m5

| number = 5

| title = {{lang|de|Was mein Herz von dir begehrt|italic=no}}

| text_source = anon.

| type = Aria

| vocal = A

| instruments1 =

| instruments2 = 2Vl Va

| key = B minor

| time = 6/8

}}

{{Classical movement row

| id = m6

| number = 6

| title = {{lang|de|Dein Geist, den Gott von Himmel gibt|italic=no}}

| text_source = Gerhardt

| type = Chorale

| vocal = SATB

| instruments1 = 2Oa

| instruments2 = 2Vl Va

| key = B minor

| time = {{music|common-time}}

}}

{{End}}

The cantata presents similarities to the one Bach wrote the previous year for the same occasion, {{lang|de|Wo gehest du hin? BWV 166 |italic=unset}}.

The similarities begin with the first movement, which like that of the previous year's cantata, is given to the bass as the vox Christi. The movement is the quotation of verse 7 from the gospel, beginning: "{{lang|de|Es ist euch gut, daß ich hingehe; denn so ich nicht hingehe, kömmt der Tröster nicht zu euch.|italic=no}}" (It is good for you that I leave; for if I did not go, the Comforter would not come to you.) It is between aria and arioso. An oboe d'amore as the obbligato instrument plays extended melodies. Voice and oboe share the musical material, conveying "the mood of grieving at parting".

The following aria, "{{lang|de|Mich kann kein Zweifel stören|italic=no}}" (No doubt can disturb me), is dominated by a virtuoso solo violin. The words "Ich glaube" (I believe) are illustrated by very long notes in the voice, while an ostinato bass line renders "steadfastness" in a different way. The musicologist Julian Mincham notes that Bach uses the key F-sharp minor selectively, "often for slowish movements of great expressive force", for example for the alto aria Buß und Reu from his St Matthew Passion.

A short secco recitative expresses "{{lang|de|Dein Geist wird mich also regieren, daß ich auf rechter Bahne geh|italic=no}}" (Thus Your Spirit will guide me, so that I walk on the right path).

The next biblical quotation, verse 13 of the gospel, "{{lang|de|Wenn aber jener, der Geist der Wahrheit, kommen wird, der wird euch in alle Wahrheit leiten.|italic=no}}" (But when that one, the Spirit of Truth, shall come, He shall lead you into all truth.) is rendered by the choir. It is divided in three sections, similar to a da capo form. All three parts are fugues, combined in motet style, the instruments playing mostly colla parte with the voices. The second section begins "{{lang|de|Denn er wird nicht vom ihm selber reden|italic=no}}" (For He will not speak of His own accord); the third section expresses "{{lang|de|und was zukünftig ist, wird er verkündigen|italic=no}}" (and what is to come, He will foretell), on a fugue subject similar to the first, giving the movement a "feeling of unity".

The last aria,"{{lang|de|Was mein Herz von dir begehrt|italic=no}}" (What my heart desires from You), is accompanied by the strings, dominated by the first violin. The word "Herz" (heart) is rendered in sighing motifs, intensified by following rests.

The closing chorale, "{{lang|de|Dein Geist, den Gott vom Himmel gibt, der leitet alles, was ihn liebt|italic=no}}" (Your Spirit, which God sends from heaven, leads everything that loves Him), is a four-part setting on the melody of "{{lang|de|Kommt her zu mir, spricht Gottes Sohn|italic=no}}". The bass line is pacing forward constantly.

The selection is taken from the listing on the Bach Cantatas website. Vocal ensembles with one voice per part (OVPP) and instrumental groups playing period instruments in historically informed performances are marked green.

{{Cantata discography header | work=Es ist euch gut, daß ich hingehe | show_choir_type=yes | instruments={{abbr|Instr.|Type of instruments}} }}

{{Cantata discography row

| id = Ristenpart

| title = The RIAS Bach Cantatas Project (1949–1952)

| conductor = {{sortname|Karl|Ristenpart}}

| choir = RIAS Kammerchor

| orchestra = RIAS Kammerorchester

| soloists = {{plainlist|

• Ingrid Lorenzen
• Helmut Krebs
• {{nowrap|Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau}}

}}

| label = Audite

| year = {{Start date|1950}}

| choir_type =

| orchestra_type =

}}

{{Cantata discography row

| id = Richter

| title = Bach Cantatas BWV 67, 108 & 127

| conductor = {{sortname|Karl|Richter|dab=conductor}}

| choir = Münchener Bach-Chor

| orchestra = Bayerisches Staatsorchester

| soloists = {{plainlist|

• Lilian Benningsen
• Peter Pears
• Kieth Engen

}}

| label = Archiv Produktion

| year = {{Start date|1958}}

| choir_type =

| orchestra_type =

}}

{{Cantata discography row

| id = Harnoncourt

| title = J. S. Bach: Das Kantatenwerk • Complete Cantatas • Les Cantates, Folge / Vol. 6

| conductor = {{nowrap|{{sortname|Nikolaus|Harnoncourt}}}}

| choir = Tölzer Knabenchor

| orchestra = Concentus Musicus Wien

| soloists = {{plainlist|

• Paul Esswood
• Kurt Equiluz
• Ruud van der Meer

}}

| label = Teldec

| year = {{Start date|1979}}

| choir_type =

| orchestra_type = Period

}}

{{Cantata discography row

| id = Rilling

| title = {{lang|de|Die Bach Kantate Vol. 33}}

| conductor = {{sortname|Helmuth|Rilling}}

| choir = Gächinger Kantorei

| orchestra = Bach-Collegium Stuttgart

| soloists = {{plainlist|

• Carolyn Watkinson
• Peter Schreier
• Philippe Huttenlocher

}}

| label = Hänssler

| year = {{Start date|1981}}

| choir_type =

| orchestra_type =

}}

{{Cantata discography row

| id = Leusink

| title = Bach Edition Vol. 15 – Cantatas Vol. 8

| conductor = {{sortname|Pieter Jan|Leusink}}

| choir = Holland Boys Choir

| orchestra = Netherlands Bach Collegium

| soloists = {{plainlist|

• Sytse Buwalda
• Marcel Beekman
• Bas Ramselaar

}}

| label = Brilliant Classics

| year = {{Start date|2000}}

| choir_type =

| orchestra_type = Period

}}

{{Cantata discography row

| id = Gardiner

| title = Bach Cantatas Vol. 24: Altenburg/Warwick / For the 3rd Sunday after Easter (Jubilate) / For the 4th Sunday after Easter (Cantate)

| conductor = {{sortname|John Eliot|Gardiner}}

| choir = Monteverdi Choir

| orchestra = English Baroque Soloists

| soloists = {{plainlist|

• Robin Tyson
• James Gilchrist
• Stephen Varcoe

}}

| label = Soli Deo Gloria

| year = {{Start date|2000}}

| choir_type =

| orchestra_type = Period

}}

{{Cantata discography row

| id = Koopman

| title = J. S. Bach: Complete Cantatas Vol. 15

| conductor = {{sortname|Ton|Koopman}}

| orchestra = Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir

| soloists = {{plainlist|

• Bogna Bartosz
• Jörg Dürmüller
• Klaus Mertens

}}

| label = Antoine Marchand

| year = {{Start date|2001}}

| choir_type =

| orchestra_type = Period

}}

{{Cantata discography row

| id = Suzuki

| title = J. S. Bach: Cantatas Vol. 36 – (Cantatas from Leipzig 1725) – BWV 6, 42, 103, 108

| conductor = {{sortname|Masaaki|Suzuki}}

| orchestra = Bach Collegium Japan

| soloists = {{plainlist|

• Robin Blaze
• James Gilchrist
• Dominik Wörner

}}

| label = BIS

| year = {{Start date|2006}}

| choir_type =

| orchestra_type = Period

}}

{{Cantata discography row

| id = Kuijken

| title = J. S. Bach: Cantatas for the Complete Liturgical Year Vol. 10 – "Himmelfahrts-Oratorium " – Cantatas BWV 108 · 86 · 11 · 44

| conductor = {{sortname|Sigiswald|Kuijken}}

| choir =

| orchestra = La Petite Bande

| soloists = {{plainlist|

• Siri Thornhill
• Petra Noskaiová
• Christoph Genz
• Jan van der Crabben

}}

| label = Accent

| year = {{Start date|2008}}

| choir_type = OVPP

| orchestra_type = Period

}}

{{End}}

{{reflist | 30em

| refs =

{{cite web

| last = Bischof

| first = Walter F.

| url = http://webdocs.cs.ualberta.ca/~wfb/cantatas/108.html

| title = BWV 108 Es ist euch gut, daß ich hingehe

| publisher = University of Alberta

| access-date = 23 April 2016

}}

{{cite web

| last = Dellal

| first = Pamela

| author-link = Pamela Dellal

| url = https://www.emmanuelmusic.org/bach-translations/bwv-108

| title = BWV 108 – Es ist euch gut, daß ich hingehe

| publisher = Emmanuel Music

| access-date = 25 August 2022

}}

{{cite book

| last = Dürr

| first = Alfred

| author-link = Alfred Dürr

| others = Translated by Richard D. P. Jones

| chapter-url = https://books.google.com/books?id=m9JuwslMcq4C&pg=PA317

| chapter = Es ist euch gut, daß ich hingehe, BWV 108

| title = The Cantatas of J. S. Bach: With Their Librettos in German-English Parallel Text

| publisher = Oxford University Press

| year = 2006

| pages = 317–319

| isbn = 978-0-19-929776-4

}}

{{Cite AV media notes

| last = Gardiner

| first = John Eliot

| author-link = John Eliot Gardiner

| url = https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/dc.asp?dc=D_SDG107

| title = Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) / Cantatas Nos 12, 103, 108, 117, 146 & 166

| publisher = Soli Deo Gloria (at Hyperion Records website)

| year = 2005

| access-date = 11 May 2019

}}

{{cite web

| url = http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Texts/Chorale096-Eng3.htm

| title = Gott Vater, sende deinen Geist / Text and Translation of Chorale

| publisher = Bach Cantatas website

| year = 2010

| access-date = 30 April 2012

}}

{{cite web

| last = Hofmann

| first = Klaus

| author-link = Klaus Hofmann

| url = http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Pic-Rec-BIG/Suzuki-C36c%5BBIS-SACD1611%5D.pdf

| title = Es ist euch gut, dass ich hingehe / It is expedient for you that I go away, BWV 108

| publisher = Bach-Cantatas

| page = 7

| year = 2006

| access-date = 1 May 2012

}}

{{cite web

| last = Mincham

| first = Julian

| url = https://www.jsbachcantatas.com/documents/chapter-44-bwv-8587108

| title = Chapter 44: BWV 85, BWV 108 and BWV 87, each commencing with a bass aria.

| publisher = jsbachcantatas.com

| year = 2010

| access-date = 25 August 2022

}}

{{cite web

| last = Oron

| first = Aryeh

| url = http://www.bach-cantatas.com/BWV108.htm

| title = Cantata BWV 108 – Es ist euch gut, daß ich hingehe

| publisher = Bach Cantatas website

| access-date = 23 April 2016

}}

{{cite web

|last=Wolff

|first=Christoph

|author-link=Christoph Wolff

|url=http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Pic-Rec-BIG/Koopman-C15c[AM-3CD].pdf

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110829041729/http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Pic-Rec-BIG/Koopman-C15c%5BAM-3CD%5D.pdf

|url-status=dead

|archive-date=29 August 2011

|title=The transition between the second and the third yearly cycle of Bach's Leipzig cantatas (1725)

|publisher=Bach Cantatas website

|page=2

|access-date=1 June 2011

}}

{{cite web

| url = http://www.bach-cantatas.com/CM/Kommt-her-zu-mir.htm

| title = Chorale Melodies used in Bach's Vocal Works / Kommt her zu mir, spricht Gottes Sohn

| publisher = Bach Cantatas website

| year = 2005

| access-date = 30 April 2012

}}

}}

• {{IMSLP|work=Es ist euch gut, daß ich hingehe, BWV 108 (Bach, Johann Sebastian)|cname=Es ist euch gut, daß ich hingehe, BWV 108 (J. S. Bach)}}
• [http://www.bach-digital.de/receive/BachDigitalWork_work_00000133?lang=en Es ist euch gut, dass ich hingehe BWV 108; BC A 72 / Sacred cantata (4th Sunday of Easter)] Bach Digital
• [http://www.uvm.edu/~classics/faculty/bach/BWV108.html BWV 108 Es ist euch gut, daß ich hingehe] English translation, University of Vermont
• Luke Dahn: [http://www.bach-chorales.com/BWV0108_6.htm BWV 108.6] bach-chorales.com

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Category:Church cantatas by Johann Sebastian Bach

Category:1725 compositions