Mein Odem ist schwach

In the new series Beyond Bach – A musical expetiton, Schott Music accompanies the many years of research of Prof. Wolfgang Helbich who has intensively studied the 'apocryphal' works by Johann Sebastian Bach. This term refers to the works contained in J. S. Bach's personal library, evidently performed by him and included in the BWV catalogue, but very likely or certainly not composed by him.

Beyond Bach will publish these works in practical editions in no particular order, thus contributing to not only studying, but also performing this varied and rich repertoire. The editor Wolfgang Helbich is both a renowned discoverer of previously unknown music and mainly an experienced and highly esteemed choir director. With his Alsfelder Vokalensemble, he has already released some of Bach's apocryphal works on CD on the label CPO.

The series starts with the cantata Mein Odem ist schwach (BWV 222), the authorship of which can be confidently attributed to Johann Ernst Bach. This member of the Bach family was the son of a cousin of Johann Sebastian Bach. His cantata has no recitatives and leaves the choir unusually much room. The choral pieces are only reinforced by the instruments which explains the fact that some movements of this cantata also exist in an a cappella version.