Composition: Liebster Gott, wenn werd ich sterben?, BWV 8 (Bach, Johann Sebastian)
| Title | Liebster Gott, wenn werd ich sterben? |
| Alternative title | Beloved God, when will I die? |
| Creators | Johann Sebastian Bach (composer) |
| Opus | BWV 8 |
| Instrumentation | soprano, alto, tenor, bass, mixed chorus and orchestra |
| Number of movements | 6 |
| Keys | E major (1st version); D major (2nd version)* |
| Composed | 1724 |
| First published | 1851 |
| Dedication | — |
| Tempo markings | — |
| Metronome markings | — |
| Time signatures | — |
| Average duration (sec) | 1080 |
| Number of measures | — |
| Composition types | Sacred cantatas |
| Language | German |
| Period | Baroque |
| View on IMSLP |  |
| Code |  |
Sections
| Title click for details |
Metronome | Key | Measures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chorus: Liebster Gott, wenn werd ich sterben? | — | E major | — |
| Aria (tenor): Was willst du dich, mein Geist, entsetzen | — | C sharp minor | — |
| Recitative (alto): Zwar fühlt mein schwaches Herz | — | E major | — |
| Aria (bass): Doch weichet, ihr tollen, vergeblichen Sorgen! | — | A major | — |
| Recitative (soprano): Behalte nur, o Welt, das Meine! | — | E major | — |
| Chorale: Herrscher über Tod und Leben | — | E major | — |
Arrangements
| Details | Section | Arranged for | Arranger |
|---|---|---|---|
| view | Chorus: 'Liebster Gott, wenn werd ich sterben?' (No.1) | piano | Camille Saint-Saëns |
| view | Aria: 'Was willst du dich, mein Geist, entsetzen' (No.2) | oboe damore, viola and cello oboe damore and 2 cellos violin, viola and cello violin and 2 cellos |
Peter Lang |
| view | Aria: 'Was willst du dich, mein Geist, entsetzen' (No.2) | trumpet and organ | Michel Rondeau |
| view | Aria: 'Doch weichet, ihr tollen, vergeblichen Sorgen!' (No.4) | flute, 2 violins, viola and 2 cellos flute, violin, 2 violas and 2 cellos 3 violins, viola and 2 cellos 2 violins, 2 violas and 2 cellos |
Peter Lang |
| view | Aria: 'Doch weichet, ihr tollen, vergeblichen Sorgen!' (No.4) | 2 violins, 2 violas and cello 2 violins, viola and 2 cellos |
Peter Lang and Russ Bartoli |
| view | Aria: 'Doch weichet, ihr tollen, vergeblichen Sorgen!' (No.4) | flute and piano flute and organ |
André Papillon |
Scores
| Details | Section | Type | Publisher | Date | File |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| view | 1st Version (BC A 137a) | — | — | — | Complete Score · view |
| view | 1st Version (BC A 137a) | — | — | — | Complete Score · view |
| view | 1st Version (BC A 137a) | — | — | — | Complete Score · view |
| view | 1st Version (BC A 137a) | — | Ramon Casadesus-Masanell | 2021 | Chorus: 'Liebster Gott, wenn werd ich sterben?' · view Aria (tenor): 'Was willst du dich, mein Geist, entsetzen' · view Recitative (alto): 'Zwar fühlt mein schwaches Herz' · view Aria (bass): 'Doch weichet, ihr tollen, vergeblichen Sorgen!' · view Recitative (soprano): 'Behalte nur, o Welt, das Meine!' · view Chorale: 'Herrscher über Tod und Leben' · view Engraving files (MuseScore) · view |
| view | 2nd Version (BC A 137b) | — | — | — | Complete Score · view |
| view | 1st Version (BC A 137a) | parts | Manuscript | — | Flute · view |
| view | 1st Version (BC A 137a) | parts | — | — | Oboe d'amore (or Oboe) 1, 2 · view Bassoon 1/2 · view Horn (E) · view Violins I · view Violins II · view Violas · view Cellos/Basses · view Harpsichord · view Organ · view |
| view | 1st Version (BC A 137a) | parts | Breitkopf und Härtel | — | Flute · view Oboe d'amore 1 · view Oboe d'amore 2 · view Horn (E) · view Violins I · view Violins II · view Violas · view Cellos and Basses · view |
| view | Complete | parts,selections | Manuscript | — | 4. Aria: Doch weichet, ihr tollen, vergeblichen Sorgen! · view |
| view | 1st Version (BC A 137a) | vocal score | Novello | — | Complete Score · view |
| view | Complete | — | — | — | Complete Book, with score examples · view |
| view | Chorale: 'Herrscher über Tod und Leben' (No.6) | — | — | — | Study Choral Score (Textless, Version 1) · view Study Choral Score (Textless, Version 2) · view |
| view | Chorale: 'Herrscher über Tod und Leben' (No.6) | — | — | — | Study Choral Score (Textless) · view |
| view | Chorus: 'Liebster Gott, wenn werd ich sterben?' (No.1) | Arrangement for piano |
J. Rieter-Biedermann | — | Complete Score · view |
| view | Aria: 'Was willst du dich, mein Geist, entsetzen' (No.2) | Arrangement for oboe damore, viola and cello oboe damore and 2 cellos violin, viola and cello violin and 2 cellos |
Peter Lang | 2013 | Complete Score and Parts (original key) · view Complete Score and Parts ( E minor ) · view |
| view | Aria: 'Was willst du dich, mein Geist, entsetzen' (No.2) | Arrangement for trumpet and organ |
— | — | Complete Score and Trumpet Part · view Engraving files (Finale & XML) · view |
| view | Aria: 'Doch weichet, ihr tollen, vergeblichen Sorgen!' (No.4) | Arrangement for flute, 2 violins, viola and 2 cellos flute, violin, 2 violas and 2 cellos 3 violins, viola and 2 cellos 2 violins, 2 violas and 2 cellos |
Peter Lang | 2013 | Complete Score and Parts · view |
| view | Aria: 'Doch weichet, ihr tollen, vergeblichen Sorgen!' (No.4) | Arrangement for 2 violins, 2 violas and cello 2 violins, viola and 2 cellos |
Peter Lang | 2013 | Complete Score and Parts · view |
| view | Aria: 'Doch weichet, ihr tollen, vergeblichen Sorgen!' (No.4) | Arrangement for flute and piano flute and organ |
— | — | Complete Score (piano) · view Complete Score (organ) · view Flute Part · view |
Recordings/Performances
©2025 David P. Anderson