Aria "Alles mit Gott und nichts ohn' ihn" BWV 1127
The fame of Johann Sebastian Bach has only grown in the centuries since his death, and few things bring about as much excitement in the music world as the discovery of a previously-unknown Bach manuscript. This manuscript, discovered in Weimar in 2005, is especially fascinating because it represents the only strophic aria composed by Bach. Made for the Duke of Saxe-Weimar’s birthday, it is a pièce d’occasion of exquisite quality.
Aria "Alles mit Gott und nichts ohn' ihn" BWV 1127
In May 2005, the Leipzig-based musicologist Michael Maul made a sensational discovery in Weimar. He unearthed a manuscript of a sacred aria by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750), which was previously completely unknown, while sifting through the Herzogin Anna Amalia Library. It was the first time since 1935 that a new Bach vocal work had been discovered. The aria consisting of twelve verses is written for solo soprano, strings and basso continuo and opens with the words Alles mit Gott und nichts ohn’ ihn – “everything with God and nothing without him”. It was composed in 1713 to celebrate the 53rd birthday of Duke Wilhelm Ernst of Saxe-Weimar (1662–1728), who employed Bach as court organist from 1708 until 1717. This vocal work represents Bach’s sole contribution to the genre of strophic aria. Each verse is accompanied by basso continuo and followed by a lively string ritornello, making this work a pièce d’occasion of exquisite quality. Not only is the original, recently discovered manuscript presented here, but it is accompanied by a recording of the world première with the soprano Elin Manahan Thomas and The English Baroque Soloists conducted by Sir John Eliot Gardiner.
A theological birthday poem
Bach's aria is based on the poem of the same name by Johann Anton Mylius, which he dedicated to the Duke for his birthday. Mylius composed twelve stanzas of eight lines each around the Duke's motto: Omnia cum Deo et nihil sine eo or Alles mit Gott und nichts ohn' ihn (Everything with God and nothing without him). As an acrostic, the poem contains numerous allusions and references not only to Wilhelm Ernst of Saxe-Weimar, but especially to biblical texts, which is not surprising given the ducal motto, but also Mylius's work as pastor and superintendent in Buttstädt. A six-page reproduction of the first original print from 1713 precedes Bach's score in this facsimile edition.
Codicology
- Alternative Titles
- Alles mit Gott und nichts ohn' Jhn : Aria Soprano Solo é Ritornello
- Type
- Manuscript on paper
- Size / Format
- 2 pages (+ 6 printed pages) / 31.5 × 19.5 cm
- Origin
- Germany
- Date
- 1713
- Epochs
- Style
- Genre
- Language
- Content
- Johann Anton Mylius poem "Alles mit Gott und nichts ohne ihn" and Johann Sebastian Bach's corresponding strophic aria for solo soprano, strings and basso continuo
- Patron
- Wilhelm Ernst, Duke of Saxe-Weimar
- Artist / School
- Johann Sebastian Bach (composer)
Johann Anton Mylius (poet)
Aria "Alles mit Gott und nichts ohn' ihn" BWV 1127
Wilhelm Ernst Duke of Saxe-Weimar
Apart from the A-initial at the beginning of the first stanza of Mylius' acrostic, the second line is particularly emphasized here by setting the initial letters of the individual words in a particularly airy manner. In addition to this visual cue, a footnote also points to the deeper meaning of the emphasis: the majuscules W, E, H, W, S, and Z correspond to the initials of the duke's full name: Wilhelm Ernst Herzog Zu Sachsen-Weimar - even if only almost in the correct order.

Aria "Alles mit Gott und nichts ohn' ihn" BWV 1127
Score manuscript by Johann Sebastian Bach
In his two-page score, Bach underlay only the first stanza of Mylius's poem, the text of which is housed almost entirely on the first page, yet the lively string ritornello follows on the verso. Between Bach's composition, the poet's lines appear in the composer's handwriting:
Alles mit Gott und nichts ohn' ihn (Everything with God and nothing without him)
wird einher Wundersegen ziehn. (Will draw wondrous blessings here.)
Denn Gott, der Wunder tut im Himmel und auf Erden, (While God, who performs miracles in heaven and on earth,)
will denen Frommen, selbst, zum Wundersegen werden. (Wants to become a wondrous blessing to the pious.)
Der Mensch bemühet sich, will Wunder viel verrichten, (Man toils, and wants to realise many miracles,)
und voller Unruh ist sein Sinnen, Denken, Dichten. (and his mind, thoughts, poetry, are full unrest.)
Soll einher Wundersegen ziehn, (Must draw wondrous blessings here.)
alles mit Gott und nichts ohn' ihn. (Everything with God and nothing without him)

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