Der Geist hilft unser Schwachheit auf, BWV 226

Johann  Sebastian  Bach  has  bequeathed us six motets.  They were first
published in 1803 by Breitkopf u. Härtel in an edition by Schicht,  the
Thomaskantor  at  the  time.   The  manuscripts  of two of them survive,
including that of Der Geist hilft unser Schwachheit auf, and  its  parts
are  marked  Motette  bei  Beerdigung des seel. Professoris und Rectoris
Ernesti, who died in October 1729.  In the  score  a  figured  bass  for
organ is written out, and the first choir is to be supported by strings,
and the second by oboes, taille (cor‐anglais, roughly) and bassoon.

Several of the  expressive  motifs  that  Schweizer  discusses  make  an
appearance,  for example the step‐motif in denn er vertritt (e.g. in the
alto at bar 178) and the Joy‐motif of Heiligen (e.g.  in  the  tenor  at
180).

This  edition  makes  the  motet available for recorders.  The words are
mostly omitted, but the ends of phrases, where breaths would usually  be
taken,  have  been indicated with breath‐marks.  Some implied legato has
been made explicit with slurs, though choirs do not always  sing  legato
in  extended passages on one vowel.  In general, quavers joined by beams
should be slurred together, according to the  conventional  notation  of
vocal   music.    In  the  first  movement  the  quavers  Bb‐A‐Bb  occur
frequently; there is an alternative fingering on the  C‐recorders  which
might be useful, using half the right ring‐finger, and the A played with
the middle finger.  The Allabreve, in order to retain rhythmic vitality,
needs clear articulation of its phrases.

The  thrilling,  jubilant eight‐voice counterpoint of the first movement
gradually merges to four‐voice counterpoint during  the  course  of  the
motet.   The  basses unite in bars 132, the tenors in bar 134, the altos
in 136 and the the sopranos finally in the  Allabreve,  bar  146.   This
complicates the distribution of Parts:
    Soprano and Alto of choir 1 need pages 19‐24, 25‐27
    Tenor and Bass of choir 1 need pages 19‐24, 34‐36
    Soprano and Alto of choir 2 need pages 28‐33, 25‐27
    Tenor and Bass of choir 2 need pages 28‐33, 34‐36

                             Peter J Billam

                             ‐2‐

                           www.pjb.com.au/mus