Composition: Selig ist der Mann, BWV 57 (Bach, Johann Sebastian)
| Title | Selig ist der Mann |
| Alternative title | Blessed is the man, ‘’Dialogus’’ |
| Creators | Johann Sebastian Bach (composer) and Georg Christian Lehms (librettist) and Ahasverus Fritsch (librettist) |
| Opus | BWV 57 |
| Instrumentation | soprano, bass, mixed chorus and orchestra |
| Number of movements | 8 |
| Keys | G minor |
| Composed | 1725 |
| First published | 1863 |
| Dedication | — |
| Tempo markings | — |
| Metronome markings | — |
| Time signatures | — |
| Average duration (sec) | 1680 |
| Number of measures | — |
| Composition types | Sacred cantatas |
| Language | German |
| Period | Baroque |
| View on IMSLP |  |
| Code |  |
Sections
| Title click for details |
Metronome | Key | Measures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aria (bass): Selig ist der Mann | — | G minor | — |
| Recitativo (soprano): Ach! dieser süße Trost | — | E flat major | — |
| Aria (soprano): Ich wünschte mir den Tod, den Tod | — | C minor | — |
| Recitativo (sopranobass): Ich reiche dir die Hand | — | G minor | — |
| Aria (bass): Ja, ja, ich kann die Feinde schlagen | — | B flat major | — |
| Recitativo (sopranobass): In meiner Schoß liegt Ruh und Leben | — | E flat major | — |
| Aria (soprano): Ich ende / Behende / Mein irdisches Leben | — | G minor | — |
| Chorale: Richte dich, Liebste, nach meinem Gefallen | — | B flat major | — |
Arrangements
| Details | Section | Arranged for | Arranger |
|---|---|---|---|
| view | Aria: 'Selig ist der Mann' (No.1) | 2 violins, 2 violas and cello 2 violins, viola and 2 cellos 2 oboes, 2 violas and cello 2 oboes, viola and 2 cellos oboe, violin, 2 violas and cello oboe, violin, viola and 2 cellos |
Peter Lang |
| view | Aria: 'Ich wünschte mir den Tod, den Tod' (No.3) | 3 violins, viola and cello 2 violins, 2 violas and cello 2 violins, viola and 2 cellos violin, 3 violas and cello violin, 2 violas and 2 cellos |
Peter Lang |
| view | Aria: 'Ja, ja, ich kann die Feinde schlagen' (No.5) | 2 violins, 2 violas and cello 2 violins, viola and 2 cellos |
Peter Lang |
| view | Aria: 'Ja, ja, ich kann die Feinde schlagen' (No.5) | 2 violins, viola and cello 2 violins and 2 cellos violin, 2 violas and cello violin, viola and 2 cellos |
Peter Lang and Russ Bartoli |
| view | Aria: 'Ich ende / Behende / Mein irdisches Leben' (No.7) | 2 violins and cello violin, viola and cello violin and 2 cellos |
Peter Lang |
| view | Aria: 'Ich ende / Behende / Mein irdisches Leben' (No.7) | trumpet and organ | Michel Rondeau |
Scores
| Details | Section | Type | Publisher | Date | File |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| view | Complete | — | Manuscript | 1700 | Complete Score · view |
| view | Complete | — | — | — | Complete Score · view |
| view | Complete | — | — | — | Complete Score · view |
| view | Complete | — | Ramon Casadesus-Masanell | 2021 | 1. Aria: 'Selig ist der Mann' · view 2. Recitativo: 'Ach! dieser süße Trost' · view 3. Aria: ' Ich wünschte mir den Tod, den Tod' · view 4. Recitativo: 'Ich reiche dir die Hand' · view 5. Aria: 'Ja, ja, ich kann die Feinde schlagen' · view 6. Recitativo: 'In meiner Schoß liegt Ruh und Leben' · view 7. Aria: 'Ich ende / Behende / Mein irdisches Leben' · view 8. Chorale: 'Richte dich, Liebste, nach meinem Gefallen' · view Engraving files (MuseScore) · view |
| view | Complete | parts | — | — | Oboe 1, 2, Taille (English Horn) · view Violins I · view Violins II · view Violas · view Cellos/Basses · view Harpsichord · view Organ · view |
| view | Complete | vocal score | Breitkopf und Härtel | 1892 | Complete Score · view Complete Score (alternate scan) · view |
| view | Chorale: 'Richte dich, Liebste, nach meinem Gefallen' (No.8) | — | — | — | Study Choral Score (Textless) · view |
| view | Aria: 'Selig ist der Mann' (No.1) | Arrangement for 2 violins, 2 violas and cello 2 violins, viola and 2 cellos 2 oboes, 2 violas and cello 2 oboes, viola and 2 cellos oboe, violin, 2 violas and cello oboe, violin, viola and 2 cellos |
Peter Lang | 2013 | Complete Score and Parts · view |
| view | Aria: 'Ich wünschte mir den Tod, den Tod' (No.3) | Arrangement for 3 violins, viola and cello 2 violins, 2 violas and cello 2 violins, viola and 2 cellos violin, 3 violas and cello violin, 2 violas and 2 cellos |
Peter Lang | 2013 | Complete Score and Parts · view |
| view | Aria: 'Ja, ja, ich kann die Feinde schlagen' (No.5) | Arrangement for 2 violins, 2 violas and cello 2 violins, viola and 2 cellos |
Peter Lang | 2013 | Complete Score and Parts · view |
| view | Aria: 'Ja, ja, ich kann die Feinde schlagen' (No.5) | Arrangement for 2 violins, viola and cello 2 violins and 2 cellos violin, 2 violas and cello violin, viola and 2 cellos |
Peter Lang | 2013 | Complete Score and Parts · view |
| view | Aria: 'Ich ende / Behende / Mein irdisches Leben' (No.7) | Arrangement for 2 violins and cello violin, viola and cello violin and 2 cellos |
Peter Lang | 2013 | Complete Score and Parts · view |
| view | Aria: 'Ich ende / Behende / Mein irdisches Leben' (No.7) | Arrangement for trumpet and organ |
— | — | Complete Score and Trumpet Part · view Trumpet · view Organ · view Engraving Files (Finale) · view |
Recordings/Performances
| Details | Type | Section | Performers | Arranged for | Files | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| view | Synthesized | — | Maria Stader (soprano) | — | Complete Performance · file | |
| view | Synthesized | — | — | Complete Performance · file | ||
| view | Synthesized | Aria: 'Ich ende / Behende / Mein irdisches Leben' (No.7) | Michel Rondeau (trumpet) and Jeffrey Campbell (organ) | For Trumpet and Organ (Rondeau) | Complete Performance · file | |
| view | Synthesized | Synthesized | Selections (Nos.1, 7) | For Trumpet and Organ (Rondeau) | Synthesized Performance · file |
©2025 David P. Anderson