Composition: Wo Gott der Herr nicht bei uns hält, BWV 178 (Bach, Johann Sebastian)
| Title | Wo Gott der Herr nicht bei uns hält |
| Alternative title | If God the Lord is not on our side |
| Creators | Johann Sebastian Bach (composer) |
| Opus | BWV 178 |
| Instrumentation | alto, tenor, bass, mixed chorus and orchestra |
| Number of movements | 7 |
| Keys | A minor |
| Composed | 1724 |
| First published | 1888 |
| Dedication | — |
| Tempo markings | — |
| Metronome markings | — |
| Time signatures | — |
| Average duration (sec) | — |
| Number of measures | — |
| Composition types | Sacred cantatas |
| Language | German |
| Period | Baroque |
 |
View |
| Code |  |
Sections
| Title click for details |
Metronome | Key | Measures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chorale: Wo Gott der Herr nicht bei uns hält | — | — | — |
| Recitative and Chorale (alto): Was Menschenkraft und -witz anfäht | — | — | — |
| Aria (bass): Gleichwie die wilden Meereswellen | — | — | — |
| Chorale (tenor): Sie stellen uns wie Ketzern nach | — | — | — |
| Chorale and Recitative (altotenorbass): Aufsperren sie den Rachen weit | — | — | — |
| Aria (tenor): Schweig, schweig nur, taumelnde Vernunft! | — | — | — |
| Chorale: Die Feind sind all in deiner Hand | — | — | — |
Arrangements
| Details | Section | Arranged for | Arranger |
|---|---|---|---|
| view | Chorale: 'Wo Gott der Herr nicht bei uns hält' (No.1) | 3 violins, viola and cello 2 violins, 2 violas and cello |
Russ Bartoli |
| view | Aria: 'Gleichwie die wilden Meereswellen' (No.3) | violin and 2 cellos viola and 2 cellos violin, viola and cello viola and 2 cellos 2 violas and cello |
Peter Lang |
| view | Chorale: 'Sie stellen uns wie Ketzern nach' (No.4) | 2 violins, viola and cello 2 violins and 2 cellos violin, 2 violas and cello violin, viola and 2 cellos oboe damore, violin, viola and cello oboe damore, violin and 2 cellos oboe damore, 2 violas and cello oboe damore, viola and 2 cellos |
Peter Lang |
| view | Chorale: 'Sie stellen uns wie Ketzern nach' (No.4) | violin, viola and cello violin and 2 cellos oboe damore, viola and cello oboe damore and 2 cellos |
Peter Lang |
| view | Chorale: 'Sie stellen uns wie Ketzern nach' (No.4) | trumpet and organ | Michel Rondeau |
| view | Chorale: 'Sie stellen uns wie Ketzern nach' (No.4) | organ | Peter Bækgaard |
| view | Aria: 'Schweig, schweig nur, taumelnde Vernunft!' (No.6) | 2 violins, 2 violas and cello 2 violins, 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. Chorale: 'Wo Gott der Herr nicht bei uns hält' 2. Recitative and Chorale: 'Was Menschenkraft und -witz anfäht' 3. Aria: 'Gleichwie die wilden Meereswellen' 4. Chorale: 'Sie stellen uns wie Ketzern nach' 5. Chorale and Recitative: 'Aufsperren sie den Rachen weit' 6. Aria: 'Schweig, schweig nur, taumelnde Vernunft!' 7. Chorale: 'Die Feind sind all in deiner Hand' Engraving files (MuseScore) |
| view | Complete | parts | — | — | Oboe/Oboe d'amore 1, Oboe/Oboe d'amore (or English Horn) 2 Violins I Violins II Violas Cellos/Basses Harpsichord Organ |
| view | Complete | parts | — | — | Corno da caccia |
| view | Complete | vocal score | Breitkopf und Härtel | — | Complete Score |
| view | Chorale: 'Wo Gott der Herr nicht bei uns hält' (No.1) | Arrangement for 3 violins, viola and cello 2 violins, 2 violas and cello |
Peter Lang | 2016 | Complete Score and Parts |
| view | Aria: 'Gleichwie die wilden Meereswellen' (No.3) | Arrangement for violin and 2 cellos viola and 2 cellos violin, viola and cello viola and 2 cellos 2 violas and cello |
Peter Lang | 2013 | Complete Score and Parts (original key) Complete Score and Parts ( C major ) |
| view | Chorale: 'Sie stellen uns wie Ketzern nach' (No.4) | Arrangement for 2 violins, viola and cello 2 violins and 2 cellos violin, 2 violas and cello violin, viola and 2 cellos oboe damore, violin, viola and cello oboe damore, violin and 2 cellos oboe damore, 2 violas and cello oboe damore, viola and 2 cellos |
Peter Lang | 2016 | Complete Score and Parts |
| view | Chorale: 'Sie stellen uns wie Ketzern nach' (No.4) | Arrangement for violin, viola and cello violin and 2 cellos oboe damore, viola and cello oboe damore and 2 cellos |
Peter Lang | 2016 | Complete Score and Parts |
| view | Chorale: 'Sie stellen uns wie Ketzern nach' (No.4) | Arrangement for trumpet and organ |
— | — | Complete Score and Trumpet Part Engraving files (Finale & XML) |
| view | Chorale: 'Sie stellen uns wie Ketzern nach' (No.4) | Arrangement for organ |
— | — | Complete Score (tune in left hand) Complete Score (tune in left hand, G minor ) Complete Score (tune in pedal) Complete Score (tune in pedal, G minor ) Transcription Information Engraving files (Finale) |
| view | Aria: 'Schweig, schweig nur, taumelnde Vernunft!' (No.6) | Arrangement for 2 violins, 2 violas and cello 2 violins, viola and 2 cellos |
Peter Lang | 2016 | Complete Score and Parts |
Recordings/Performances
| Details | Type | Section | Arranged for | Files (click to listen) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| view | Synthesized | Chorale: 'Sie stellen uns wie Ketzern nach' (No.4) | For Trumpet and Organ (Rondeau) | Synthesized Performance |
©2026 David P. Anderson