Composition: Was frag ich nach der Welt, BWV 94 (Bach, Johann Sebastian)
| Title | Was frag ich nach der Welt |
| Alternative title | What need I of this world |
| Creators | Johann Sebastian Bach (composer) |
| Opus | BWV 94 |
| Instrumentation | soprano, alto, tenor, bass, mixed chorus and orchestra |
| Number of movements | 8 |
| Keys | D major |
| Composed | 1724 |
| First published | 1875 |
| Dedication | — |
| Tempo markings | — |
| Metronome markings | — |
| Time signatures | — |
| Average duration (sec) | 1380 |
| Number of measures | — |
| Composition types | Sacred cantatas |
| Language | German |
| Period | Baroque |
 |
View |
| Code |  |
Sections
| Title click for details |
Metronome | Key | Measures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chorus: Was frag ich nach der Welt | — | D major | — |
| Aria (bass): Die Welt ist wie ein Rauch und Schatten | — | B minor | — |
| Chorale e Recitativo (tenor): Die Welt sucht Ehr und Ruhm | — | G major | — |
| Aria (alto): Betörte Welt, betörte Welt! | — | E minor | — |
| Chorale e recitativo (bass): Die Welt bekümmert sich | — | D major | — |
| Aria (tenor): Die Welt kann ihre Lust und Freud | — | A major | — |
| Aria (soprano): Es halt es mit der blinden Welt | — | F sharp minor | — |
| Chorale: Was frag ich nach der Welt! | — | D major | — |
Arrangements
| Details | Section | Arranged for | Arranger |
|---|---|---|---|
| view | Chorus: 'Was frag ich nach der Welt' (No.1) | trumpet and organ | Michel Rondeau |
| view | Aria: 'Die Welt ist wie ein Rauch und Schatten' (No.2) | violin and viola violin and cello 2 violas viola and cello 2 cellos |
Peter Lang |
| view | Aria: 'Betörte Welt, betörte Welt!' (No.4) | 2 violins and cello violin, viola and cello violin and 2 cellos flute, violin and cello flute, viola and cello flute and 2 cellos |
Peter Lang |
| view | Aria: 'Betörte Welt, betörte Welt!' (No.4) | flute and piano | André Papillon |
| view | Aria: 'Die Welt kann ihre Lust und Freud' (No.6) | 2 violins, 2 violas and cello 2 violins, viola and 2 cellos |
Peter Lang |
| view | Aria: 'Es halt es mit der blinden Welt' (No.7) | 2 violins and cello violin, viola and cello violin and 2 cellos oboe, violin and cello oboe, viola and cello oboe and 2 cellos 2 violas and cello viola and 2 cellos |
Peter Lang |
Scores
| Details | Section | Type | Publisher | Date | File (click to view) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| view | Complete | — | — | — | Complete Score |
| view | Complete | — | — | — | Complete Score |
| view | Complete | — | — | — | Complete Score |
| view | Complete | — | Ramon Casadesus-Masanell | 2021 | 1. Chorus: 'Was frag ich nach der Welt' 2. Aria: 'Die Welt ist wie ein Rauch und Schatten' 3. Chorale e Recitativo: 'Die Welt sucht Ehr und Ruhm' 4. Aria: 'Betörte Welt, betörte Welt!' 5. Chorale e recitativo: 'Die Welt bekümmert sich' 6. Aria: 'Die Welt kann ihre Lust und Freud' 7. Aria: 'Es halt es mit der blinden Welt' 8. Chorale: 'Was frag ich nach der Welt!' Engraving files (MuseScore) |
| view | Complete | parts | — | — | Flute Oboe 1, 2, Oboe d'amore Violins I Violins II Violas Cellos/Basses |
| view | Complete | vocal score | Breitkopf und Härtel | — | Complete Score |
| view | Chorale: 'Was frag ich nach der Welt!' (No.8) | — | — | — | Study Choral Score (Textless) |
| view | Chorale: 'Was frag ich nach der Welt!' (No.8) | — | — | — | Study Choral Score (Textless) |
| view | Chorus: 'Was frag ich nach der Welt' (No.1) | Arrangement for trumpet and organ |
— | — | Complete Score and Trumpet Part Engraving files (Finale & XML) |
| view | Aria: 'Die Welt ist wie ein Rauch und Schatten' (No.2) | Arrangement for violin and viola violin and cello 2 violas viola and cello 2 cellos |
Peter Lang | 2015 | Complete Score and Parts |
| view | Aria: 'Betörte Welt, betörte Welt!' (No.4) | Arrangement for 2 violins and cello violin, viola and cello violin and 2 cellos flute, violin and cello flute, viola and cello flute and 2 cellos |
Peter Lang | 2015 | Complete Score and Parts |
| view | Aria: 'Betörte Welt, betörte Welt!' (No.4) | Arrangement for flute and piano |
André Papillon | 2017 | Complete Score Flute Part |
| view | Aria: 'Die Welt kann ihre Lust und Freud' (No.6) | Arrangement for 2 violins, 2 violas and cello 2 violins, viola and 2 cellos |
Peter Lang | 2015 | Complete Score and Parts |
| view | Aria: 'Es halt es mit der blinden Welt' (No.7) | Arrangement for 2 violins and cello violin, viola and cello violin and 2 cellos oboe, violin and cello oboe, viola and cello oboe and 2 cellos 2 violas and cello viola and 2 cellos |
Peter Lang | 2015 | Complete Score and Parts |
Recordings/Performances
| Details | Type | Section | Arranged for | Files (click to listen) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| view | Synthesized | Chorus: 'Was frag ich nach der Welt' (No.1) | For Trumpet and Organ (Rondeau) | Synthesized Performance |
©2026 David P. Anderson