About this edition
Composed in 1727 for the Feast of the Purification of Mary, Ich habe genug, BWV 82, is among the most personal and affecting works Bach ever wrote for a single voice. Taking the words of the aged Simeon — who, holding the infant Christ, declares himself ready to depart this life in peace — as its point of departure, the cantata unfolds as an intimate meditation on contentment, longing, and the acceptance of death. Its central aria, "Schlummert ein, ihr matten Augen," with its hushed oboe obbligato and lullaby-like tenderness, has long been regarded as one of the most quietly profound movements in the entire cantata repertoire.
This edition reproduces the score as published in the Bach-Gesellschaft Ausgabe, Volume 20.1, issued by Breitkopf & Härtel in Leipzig in 1872 (plate B.W. XX (1)). Edited by Wilhelm Rust — the eminent Bach scholar and later Thomaskantor of Leipzig, who edited many of the most significant volumes of the series — this was the first published edition of the cantata and formed part of the landmark project to issue a complete critical edition of Bach's works, undertaken by the Bach-Gesellschaft to mark the bicentenary of the composer's birth. Rust's editorial work, grounded in careful study of Bach's autograph and original performing parts, established the text that generations of conductors, scholars, and performers have relied upon, and it remains a touchstone for anyone approaching this cantata in its original form.
About this edition:
- Full orchestral score, engraved and typeset for study and performance use
- Page size: 8.5 x 11 inches
- Reproduced from a public domain historical source
- Published by Purple 4R Publishing
Because this score belongs to the public domain, we're able to bring Rust's fine 1872 edition back into print, keeping this beautiful and deeply human work within easy reach of conductors, orchestral musicians, students, and anyone who loves discovering Bach's music through its historical sources.
