Composition: Jesus schläft, was soll ich hoffen?, BWV 81 (Bach, Johann Sebastian)
| Title | Jesus schläft, was soll ich hoffen? |
| Alternative title | Jesus sleeps; what hope have I? |
| Creators | Johann Sebastian Bach (composer) and Johann Franck (librettist) |
| Opus | BWV 81 |
| Instrumentation | alto, tenor, bass, mixed chorus and orchestra |
| Number of movements | 7 |
| Keys | E minor |
| Composed | 1724 |
| First published | 1872 |
| Dedication | — |
| Tempo markings | — |
| Metronome markings | — |
| Time signatures | — |
| Average duration (sec) | 1140 |
| Number of measures | — |
| Composition types | Sacred cantatas |
| Language | German |
| Period | Baroque |
| View on IMSLP |  |
| Code |  |
Sections
| Title click for details |
Metronome | Key | Measures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aria (alto): Jesus schläft, was soll ich hoffen? | — | E minor | — |
| Recitativo (tenor): Herr! warum trittest du so ferne? | — | A minor | — |
| Aria (tenor): Die schäumenden Wellen von Belials Bächen | — | G major | — |
| Arioso (bass): Ihr Kleingläubigen, warum seid ihr so furchtsam? | — | B minor | — |
| Aria (bass): Schweig, aufgetürmtes Meer! | — | E minor | — |
| Recitativo (alto): Wohl mir, mein Jesus spricht ein Wort | — | G major | — |
| Chorale: Unter deinen Schirmen | — | E minor | — |
Arrangements
| Details | Section | Arranged for | Arranger |
|---|---|---|---|
| view | Aria: 'Die schäumenden Wellen von Belials Bächen' (No.3) | 2 violins, 2 violas and cello 2 violins, viola and 2 cellos |
Peter Lang |
| view | Arioso: 'Ihr Kleingläubigen, warum seid ihr so furchtsam?' (No.4) | violin and cello viola and cello 2 cellos violin and viola 2 violas |
Peter Lang |
| view | Arioso: 'Ihr Kleingläubigen, warum seid ihr so furchtsam?' (No.4) | trumpet and organ | Michel Rondeau |
Scores
| Details | Section | Type | Publisher | Date | File |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| view | Complete | — | Manuscript | 1700 | Complete Score · view Part 1 (full Bach Digital resolution) · view Part 2 (full Bach Digital resolution) · view |
| view | Complete | — | — | — | Complete Score · view |
| view | Complete | — | — | — | Complete Score · view |
| view | Complete | — | — | — | Complete Score · view |
| view | Complete | — | Ramon Casadesus-Masanell | 2021 | 1. Aria: 'Jesus schläft, was soll ich hoffen?' · view 2. Recitativo: 'Herr! warum trittest du so ferne?' · view 3. Aria: 'Die schäumenden Wellen von Belials Bächen' · view 4. Arioso: 'Ihr Kleingläubigen, warum seid ihr so furchtsam?' · view 5. Aria: 'Schweig, aufgetürmtes Meer!' · view 6. Recitativo: 'Wohl mir, mein Jesus spricht ein Wort' · view 7. Chorale: 'Unter deinen Schirmen' · view Engraving files (MuseScore) · view |
| view | Complete | parts | Breitkopf und Härtel | — | Flute 1 · view Flute 2 · view Oboe d'amore 1 · view Oboe d'amore 2 · view Bassoon · view Violins I · view Violins II · view Violas · view Cellos/Basses · view Continuo · view Organ · view |
| view | Complete | vocal score | Breitkopf und Härtel | — | Complete Score · view |
| view | Chorale: 'Unter deinen Schirmen' (No.7) | — | — | — | Study Chorale Score (Textless) · view |
| view | Aria: 'Die schäumenden Wellen von Belials Bächen' (No.3) | Arrangement for 2 violins, 2 violas and cello 2 violins, viola and 2 cellos |
Peter Lang | 2015 | Complete Score and Parts · view |
| view | Arioso: 'Ihr Kleingläubigen, warum seid ihr so furchtsam?' (No.4) | Arrangement for violin and cello viola and cello 2 cellos violin and viola 2 violas |
Peter Lang | 2015 | Complete Score and Parts · view |
| view | Arioso: 'Ihr Kleingläubigen, warum seid ihr so furchtsam?' (No.4) | Arrangement for trumpet and organ |
— | — | Complete Score and Trumpet Part · view Engraving files (Finale & XML) · view |
Recordings/Performances
©2025 David P. Anderson