Composition: Ärgre dich, o Seele, nicht, BWV 186 (Bach, Johann Sebastian)
| Title | Ärgre dich, o Seele, nicht |
| Alternative title | Fret not, O soul |
| Creators | Johann Sebastian Bach (composer) and Paulus Speratus (librettist) |
| Opus | BWV 186 |
| Instrumentation | soprano, alto, tenor, bass, mixed chorus and orchestra |
| Number of movements | 11 |
| Keys | G minor |
| Composed | 1723 |
| First published | 1891 |
| Dedication | — |
| Tempo markings | — |
| Metronome markings | — |
| Time signatures | — |
| Average duration (sec) | — |
| Number of measures | — |
| Composition types | Sacred cantatas |
| Language | German |
| Period | Baroque |
| View on IMSLP |  |
| Code |  |
Sections
Arrangements
| Details | Section | Arranged for | Arranger |
|---|---|---|---|
| view | Chorus: 'Ärgre dich, o Seele, nicht' (No.1) | 2 violins, 2 violas and 2 cellos | Russ Bartoli |
| view | Chorus: 'Ärgre dich, o Seele, nicht' (No.1) | 2 violins, viola and 2 cellos | Russ Bartoli |
| view | Aria: 'Bist du, der mir helfen soll' (No.3) | violin and viola violin and cello 2 violas viola and cello 2 cellos |
Peter Lang |
| view | Aria: 'Mein Heiland lässt sich merken' (No.5) | violin, viola and cello violin and 2 cellos oboe, viola and cello oboe and 2 cellos 2 violas and cello viola and 2 cellos violin and 2 violas oboe and 2 violas |
Peter Lang |
| view | Aria: 'Mein Heiland lässt sich merken' (No.5) | trumpet and organ | Michel Rondeau |
| view | Chorale: 'Ob sichs anliess, als wollt er nicht' (No.6) | organ | Peter Bækgaard |
| view | Aria: 'Die Armen will der Herr umarmen' (No.8) | 2 violins and cello violin, viola and cello 2 violins and viola |
Peter Lang |
| view | Aria: 'Die Armen will der Herr umarmen' (No.8) | keyboard and soprano | Alain Brunet |
Scores
| Details | Section | Type | Publisher | Date | File |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| view | Complete | — | Manuscript | — | Complete Score · view |
| view | Complete | — | Manuscript | — | Complete Score · view |
| view | Complete | — | — | — | Complete Score · view |
| view | Complete | — | — | — | Complete Score · view |
| view | Complete | — | — | — | Complete Score · view |
| view | Complete | — | Ramon Casadesus-Masanell | 2021 | 1. Chorus: 'Ärgre dich, o Seele, nicht' · view 2. Recitative: 'Die Knechtsgestalt, die Not, der Mangel' · view 3. Aria: 'Bist du, der mir helfen soll' · view 4. Recitative: 'Ach, daß ein Christ so sehr' · view 5. Aria: 'Mein Heiland läßt sich merken' · view 6. Chorale: 'Ob sichs anließ, als wollt er nicht' · view 7. Recitative: 'Es ist die Welt die große Wüstenei' · view 8. Aria: 'Die Armen will der Herr umarmen' · view 9. Recitative: 'Nun mag die Welt mit ihrer Lust vergehen' · view 10. Aria: 'Laß, Seele, kein Leiden' · view Engraving files (MuseScore) · view |
| view | Complete | parts | Breitkopf und Härtel | — | Oboe 1, 2, Taille (English Horn) · view Bassoon · view Violins I · view Violins II · view Violas · view Cellos/Basses · view |
| view | Complete | vocal score | Breitkopf und Härtel | — | Complete Score · view |
| view | Chorus: 'Ärgre dich, o Seele, nicht' (No.1) | Arrangement for 2 violins, 2 violas and 2 cellos |
Peter Lang | 2015 | Complete Score and Parts · view |
| view | Chorus: 'Ärgre dich, o Seele, nicht' (No.1) | Arrangement for 2 violins, viola and 2 cellos |
Peter Lang | 2017 | Complete Score and Parts · view |
| view | Aria: 'Bist du, der mir helfen soll' (No.3) | Arrangement for violin and viola violin and cello 2 violas viola and cello 2 cellos |
Peter Lang | 2014 | Complete Score and Parts · view |
| view | Aria: 'Mein Heiland lässt sich merken' (No.5) | Arrangement for violin, viola and cello violin and 2 cellos oboe, viola and cello oboe and 2 cellos 2 violas and cello viola and 2 cellos violin and 2 violas oboe and 2 violas |
Peter Lang | 2014 | Complete Score and Parts (original key) · view Complete Score and Parts (in A minor ) · view |
| view | Aria: 'Mein Heiland lässt sich merken' (No.5) | Arrangement for trumpet and organ |
— | — | Complete Score and Trumpet Part · view Engraving files (Finale & XML) · view |
| view | Chorale: 'Ob sichs anliess, als wollt er nicht' (No.6) | Arrangement for organ |
— | — | Complete Score (tune in left hand) · view Complete Score (l.h, transposed to D major ) · view Complete Score (tune in pedal) · view Complete Score (pedal, transposed to D major ) · view Transcription Infromation · view Engraving files (Finale) · view |
| view | Aria: 'Die Armen will der Herr umarmen' (No.8) | Arrangement for 2 violins and cello violin, viola and cello 2 violins and viola |
Peter Lang | 2014 | Complete Score and Parts (original key) · view Complete Score and Parts (in D minor ) · view |
| view | Aria: 'Die Armen will der Herr umarmen' (No.8) | Arrangement for keyboard and soprano |
— | — | Complete Score · view |
Recordings/Performances
©2025 David P. Anderson