Salomon Franck
Encyclopedia
Salomon Franck, 6 March 1659 – 11 July 1725), was a German lawyer
, scientist, and gifted poet.
His name is widely associated with some of Johann Sebastian Bach
's best-known cantata
s, mainly those composed as of 1714 in Weimar.
. After studying law
and theology
at Jena
he held government posts at Zwickau
, Arnstadt
, Jena and Weimar, where he died. Records show that, as of 1702, Franck was secretary of the high Consistory
, managing the numismatic collection and the library records for the court of Duke of Saxe-Weimar, William Ernest
.
Franck had already written several secular cantata texts prior to his association with Johann Sebastian Bach
, e.g. Himmelsflammende Wunschopfer, which was performed at Weimar castle in 1697.
He wrote the text for Bach's earliest secular cantata (1713), Was mir behagt, ist nur die muntre Jagd
(BWV 208) in which, following the custom of the day, he drew upon mythological characters. The cantata was composed for the 31st birthday celebration of Duke Christian of Sachsen-Weissenfels
.
In 1717, he published a collection of sacred texts titled Evangelische Sonn- und Festtages Andachten auf Hochfürstliche Gnädigste Verordnung zur Fürstlich Sächsischen Weimarischen Hof-Capell-Music in Geistlichen Arien erwecket von Salomon Francken, Fürstlich Sächsischen Gesamten Ober-Consistorial-Secretario in Weimar. Weimar und Jena bey Johann Felix Bielcken. 1717.
His earliest church-cantata texts were written in the older form, consisting of verses from the Bible
and strophic songs.
In 1711 he used for the first time the new form introduced by Erdmann Neumeister
.
Bach, after his appointment as Konzertmeister at Weimar in 1714, often set his sacred texts, including those of the cantatas BWV 31, BWV 70a, BWV 72, BWV 80, BWV 132, BWV 147, BWV 152, BWV 155, BWV 161, BWV 163, BWV 164, BWV 165, BWV 168, BWV 182, BWV 185, and BWV 186. He also wrote most likely the text for BWV 12, BWV 172 and BWV 21.
From Evangelisches Andachts-Opffer (1715)
From Evangelische Sonn- und Fest-Tages-Andachten (1717)
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, scientist, and gifted poet.
His name is widely associated with some of Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity...
's best-known cantata
Bach cantata
Bach cantata became a term for a cantata of the German Baroque composer Johann Sebastian Bach who was a prolific writer of the genre. Although many of his works are lost, around 200 cantatas survived....
s, mainly those composed as of 1714 in Weimar.
Biography
Franck was born in WeimarWeimar
Weimar is a city in Germany famous for its cultural heritage. It is located in the federal state of Thuringia , north of the Thüringer Wald, east of Erfurt, and southwest of Halle and Leipzig. Its current population is approximately 65,000. The oldest record of the city dates from the year 899...
. After studying law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
and theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
at Jena
Jena
Jena is a university city in central Germany on the river Saale. It has a population of approx. 103,000 and is the second largest city in the federal state of Thuringia, after Erfurt.-History:Jena was first mentioned in an 1182 document...
he held government posts at Zwickau
Zwickau
Zwickau in Germany, former seat of the government of the south-western region of the Free State of Saxony, belongs to an industrial and economical core region. Nowadays it is the capital city of the district of Zwickau...
, Arnstadt
Arnstadt
Arnstadt is a town in Ilm-Kreis, Thuringia, Germany, situated on the Gera River. It is one of the oldest towns in Thuringia and is nicknamed Das Tor zum Thüringer Wald, The Gate to the Thuringian Forest....
, Jena and Weimar, where he died. Records show that, as of 1702, Franck was secretary of the high Consistory
Consistory
-Antiquity:Originally, the Latin word consistorium meant simply 'sitting together', just as the Greek synedrion ....
, managing the numismatic collection and the library records for the court of Duke of Saxe-Weimar, William Ernest
William Ernest, Duke of Saxe-Weimar
Wilhelm Ernst, Duke of Saxe-Weimar was a duke of Saxe-Weimar.He was born in Weimar, the eldest son of Johann Ernst II, Duke of Saxe-Weimar and Christine Elisabeth of Holstein-Sonderburg....
.
Franck had already written several secular cantata texts prior to his association with Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity...
, e.g. Himmelsflammende Wunschopfer, which was performed at Weimar castle in 1697.
He wrote the text for Bach's earliest secular cantata (1713), Was mir behagt, ist nur die muntre Jagd
Was mir behagt, ist nur die muntre Jagd
Was mir behagt, ist nur die muntre Jagd , BWV 208, also known as the Hunting Cantata, is a secular cantata composed in 1713 by Johann Sebastian Bach for the 31st birthday of Duke Christian of Saxe-Weissenfels. Aria 5, "Schafe können sicher weiden" , is the most familiar part of this cantata...
(BWV 208) in which, following the custom of the day, he drew upon mythological characters. The cantata was composed for the 31st birthday celebration of Duke Christian of Sachsen-Weissenfels
Christian, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels
Christian, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels , was a duke of Saxe-Weissenfels-Querfurt and member of the House of Wettin....
.
In 1717, he published a collection of sacred texts titled Evangelische Sonn- und Festtages Andachten auf Hochfürstliche Gnädigste Verordnung zur Fürstlich Sächsischen Weimarischen Hof-Capell-Music in Geistlichen Arien erwecket von Salomon Francken, Fürstlich Sächsischen Gesamten Ober-Consistorial-Secretario in Weimar. Weimar und Jena bey Johann Felix Bielcken. 1717.
His earliest church-cantata texts were written in the older form, consisting of verses from the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
and strophic songs.
In 1711 he used for the first time the new form introduced by Erdmann Neumeister
Erdmann Neumeister
Erdmann Neumeister was a German Lutheran theologian and hymnologist.He was born at Uichteritz near Weißenfels in the province Saxonia of Germany. As a 15 years old boy he started his studies in Schulpforta - an old humanistic gymnasium. He becomes a student of poetology and theology in the...
.
Bach, after his appointment as Konzertmeister at Weimar in 1714, often set his sacred texts, including those of the cantatas BWV 31, BWV 70a, BWV 72, BWV 80, BWV 132, BWV 147, BWV 152, BWV 155, BWV 161, BWV 163, BWV 164, BWV 165, BWV 168, BWV 182, BWV 185, and BWV 186. He also wrote most likely the text for BWV 12, BWV 172 and BWV 21.
Works
- Madrigalische Seelen-Lust über das heilige Leiden unsers Erlösers (1697)
- Cycle of cantatas for the Liturgical yearLiturgical yearThe liturgical year, also known as the church year, consists of the cycle of liturgical seasons in Christian churches which determines when feast days, including celebrations of saints, are to be observed, and which portions of Scripture are to be read. Distinct liturgical colours may appear in...
1714/1715: Evangelisches Andachts-Opffer - Cycle of cantatas for the Liturgical year 1715/1716: Evangelische Seelen-Lust
- Cycle of cantatas for the Liturgical year 1716/1717: Evangelische Sonn- und Fest-Tages-Andachten
- Heliconische Ehren-, Liebes- und Trauer-Fackeln, Weimar, Jena (1718)
Texts set to music by Johann Sebastian Bach
probably by Salomon Franck (1714)- Himmelskönig, sei willkommen, BWV 182Himmelskönig, sei willkommen, BWV 182Himmelskönig, sei willkommen , BWV 182, is a church cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach. Bach composed the cantata in Weimar for Palm Sunday, and first performed it on 25 March 1714.-History and words:...
, 25 March 1714 - Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen, BWV 12, 22 April 1714
- Erschallet, ihr Lieder, erklinget, ihr Saiten! BWV 172Erschallet, ihr Lieder, erklinget, ihr Saiten! BWV 172Erschallet, ihr Lieder, erklinget, ihr Saiten! , BWV 172, is a church cantata of Johann Sebastian Bach, written for Pentecost Sunday in Weimar, first performed there in the Schlosskirche on 20 May 1714.- History :In Weimar, Bach was the court organist of Johann Ernst von Sachsen-Weimar...
, 20 May 1714 - Ich hatte viel Bekümmernis, BWV 21, 17 June 1714
From Evangelisches Andachts-Opffer (1715)
- Bereitet die Wege, bereitet die Bahn! BWV 132Bereitet die Wege, bereitet die Bahn! BWV 132Bereitet die Wege, bereitet die Bahn! , BWV 132, is a church cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach. He wrote it in Weimar in 1715 for the fourth Sunday in Advent and first performed it on 22 December 1715....
- Tritt auf die Glaubensbahn, BWV 152
- Mein Gott, wie lang, ach lange? BWV 155Mein Gott, wie lang, ach lange? BWV 155Mein Gott, wie lang, ach lange , BWV 155, is a church cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach. He first performed it in Weimar on the Second Sunday after Epiphany, on 19 January 1716.-History and words:...
- Alles, was von Gott geboren, BWV 80a
- Der Himmel lacht! Die Erde jubilieret, BWV 31
- O heilges Geist- und Wasserbad, BWV 165
- Barmherziges Herze der ewigen Liebe, BWV 185Barmherziges Herze der ewigen Liebe, BWV 185Barmherziges Herze der ewigen Liebe , BWV 185, is a church cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach. He composed it in Weimar for the fourth Sunday after Trinity and first performed it on 14 July 1715.-History and words:...
- Komm, du süße Todesstunde, BWV 161Komm, du süße Todesstunde, BWV 161Komm, du süße Todesstunde , BWV 161, is a church cantata written by Johann Sebastian Bach in 1715 in Weimar for the 16th Sunday after Trinity.-History and words:...
- Ach! ich sehe, itzt, da ich zur Hochzeit gehe, BWV 162Ach! ich sehe, itzt, da ich zur Hochzeit gehe, BWV 162Ach! ich sehe, itzt, da ich zur Hochzeit gehe , BWV 162, is a church cantata written by Johann Sebastian Bach in Weimar for the 20th Sunday after Trinity.-History and words:...
- Nur jedem das Seine, BWV 163
- Tue Rechnung! Donnerwort, BWV 168Tue Rechnung! Donnerwort, BWV 168Tue Rechnung! Donnerwort , BWV 168, is a church cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach. He composed it in Leipzig for the ninth Sunday after Trinity and first performed it on 29 July 1725.-History and words:...
- Ihr, die ihr euch von Christo nennet, BWV 164Ihr, die ihr euch von Christo nennet, BWV 164Ihr, die ihr euch von Christo nennet , BWV 164, is a church cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach.He composed it in 1725 in Leipzig for the 13th Sunday after Trinity and first performed it on 26 August 1725....
- Alles nur nach Gottes Willen, BWV 72
From Evangelische Sonn- und Fest-Tages-Andachten (1717)
- Wachet! betet! betet! wachet! BWV 70a
- Ärgre dich, o Seele, nicht, BWV 186aÄrgre dich, o Seele, nicht, BWV 186Ärgre dich, o Seele, nicht , BWV 186, is a church cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach. It was written originally in Weimar in 1716 for Advent, BWV 186a, and expanded in 1723 in Leipzig for the seventh Sunday after Trinity, where it was first performed on 11 July 1723.-Weimar:The cantata is based on a...
- Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben, BWV 147a
Sources
- Ian F. Finlay. Bach's Secular Cantata Texts. Music & Letters, Vol. 31, No. 3 (Jul., 1950), pp. 189-195.
- Alfred DürrAlfred DürrAlfred Dürr was a German musicologist. He was a principal editor of the Neue Bach-Ausgabe, the second edition of the complete works of Johann Sebastian Bach.- Professional career :...
: Die Kantaten Johann Sebastian Bachs, dtv/Bärenreiter, München und Kassel, 6. Auflage, 1995 - Christoph Wolff (Hrsg.): Die Welt der Bach-Kantaten, Metzler/Bärenreiter, Stuttgart und Kassel, 3 Bände Sonderausgabe 2006 ISBN 3-476-02127-0
- Luigi Ferdinando Tagliavini. Studi sui testi delle Cantate sacre di J. S. Bach. Università di Padova, pubblicazioni della Facoltà di Lettere e Filosofia, vol. XXXI, Padova & Kassel, 1956, xv-291.
- Geoffrey Turner. Singing The Word: The Cantatas of J S Bach. New Blackfriars, volume 87, issue 1008, pages 144-154.
- J. C. J. Day. The texts of Bach's Church cantatas: some observations. German Life and Letters, volume 13 (1960), num. 2, pages 137-144.
- Harald Streck. Die Verskunst in den poetischen Texten zu den Kantaten J. S. Bachs. Dissertation: Universität Hamburg 1971, 214 pages.