Non sa che sia dolore, BWV 209
A farewell cantata
First performance: Unknown
For soprano, flute, strings, and continuo.
***
Sinfonia
Recitative
Aria
Recitative
Aria
Program Notes by Martin Pearlman
This work is one of only two cantatas by Bach that are in Italian. The text of Non sa che sia dolore (One knows not what sorrow is) makes it clear that it was in honor of someone who was departing. Who that person was has been a matter of speculation. One candidate has been Johann Matthias Gesner, a classical scholar and friend of Bach. He was originally from Ansbach, a town that is mentioned in the cantata, and was for several years the rector at the Thomasschule in Leipzig, where Bach also was employed. He left Leipzig for Göttingen in 1734, so if this cantata was indeed written to honor him, it would likely date from that year. On the other hand, the text also mentions sailing away on the sea and serving one's country, mentions Minerva, the goddess of defensive war, and implies that the person may be young. Thus the dedicatee might well be a young man going off to serve in the military.
Why the text is in Italian no one knows, but it is clear that the anonymous author was not a native Italian. While there are a few lines that quote Italian poetry, the grammar for the rest is often poor, and the text is sometimes odd and difficult to decipher.
However, Bach's music is, as one would expect, very fine. The work is for a soprano soloist with flute, strings and continuo. It opens with a lengthy da capo instrumental sinfonia that sounds like it could have been a movement from a (lost?) flute concerto. There then follow two soprano arias, each preceded by a recitative. The flute is a prominent soloist in both arias.
Boston Baroque Performances
Non sa che sia dolore, BWV 209
January 21, 1992
St. Anselm’s College, Manchester, NH
Martin Pearlman, conductor
Soloists:
Sharon Baker, soprano
Christopher Krueger, flute
July 29, 1990
Castle Hill, Ipswich, MA
Martin Pearlman, conductor
Soloists:
Nancy Armstrong, soprano
Wendy Rolfe, flute
January 16, 1990
Gardner Museum, Boston, MA
Martin Pearlman, conductor
Soloists:
Sharon Baker, soprano
Christopher Krueger, flute
December 31, 1988
St. Paul’s Cathedral, Boston, MA
Martin Pearlman, conductor
Soloists:
Nancy Armstrong, soprano
Christopher Krueger, flute
July 15, 1987
George’s Island, Boston, MA
Martin Pearlman, conductor
Soloists:
Nancy Armstrong, soprano
Christopher Krueger, flute
January 1, 1986
Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, East Boston, MA
Martin Pearlman, conductor
Soloists:
Sharon Baker, soprano
Christopher Krueger, flute
December 30, 1984
Mechanics Hall, Worcester, MA
Martin Pearlman, conductor
Soloists:
Sharon Baker, soprano
Christopher Krueger, flute
July 12, 1983
Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis, IN
Martin Pearlman, conductor
Soloists:
Sharon Baker, soprano
Nancy Joyce, flute
November 3, 1982
State Street Church, Portsmouth, NH
Martin Pearlman, conductor
Soloists:
Janet Brown, soprano
Christopher Krueger, flute
November 1, 1982
Bay Chamber Concerts, Rockport, ME
Martin Pearlman, conductor
Soloists:
Janet Brown, soprano
Christopher Krueger, flute
April 3, 1982
NEC’s Jordan Hall, Boston, MA
Martin Pearlman, conductor
Soloists:
Nancy Armstong, soprano
Nancy Joyce, flute