Non sa che sia dolore

^{Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)}

^{Cantata no. 209, Non sa che sia dolore (1729)} 

^{J.S. Bach composed over two hundred cantatas, the vast majority on sacred texts and themes. At least sixteen, though possibly upwards of thirty, of them involve secular themes, commemorating (or celebrating) a range of things from birthdays to political events – one  even extols the benefits of coffee. Non sa che sia dolore, or “He who knows not what sorrow is,” was most likely written to mark the departure of Bach’s friend, Johannes Matthias Gesner, who left Leipzig to take a teaching post in the town of Ansbach. It was first performed sometime during the spring of 1729.}

^{The cantata opens with a fairly involved sinfonia that, with its scoring for flute and strings, calls to mind the orchestral Suite no. 2. Then follow two pairs of recitatives and arias. The first pair focuses on the nature of human sorrow (in the recitative) and the sadness of parting (in the aria); the latter also anticipates the promise of the departer’s future achievements. The second recitative offers another brief meditation on sorrow and farewell, but the closing aria shifts into a happier character: upbeat, looking forward to the future and the joys, despite the sorrows of imminent departure, to come.}

^{© Jonathan Blumhofer}

^{Reproduction Rights: This program note may be reproduced free of charge in concert programs with a credit to the author.}